Voice of the People - February 24, 2009
Obama receptive to new ideas
I was very happy to submit my national debt tax idea for publication in the president's "Citizen's briefing book," which had many ideas from citizens and was presented to the president. My last idea, which I e-mailed to him, was for some of the stimulus money to be used for low-interest loans to businesses that want to expand. It would be good for the government to get back some of that money with interest even if it was minimal.
I heard that over millions of jobs have been lost in this country and the government needs to act now. I think it pays to e-mail President Obama. He is going to tax the rich to pay off some of the deficit by 2013. I would consider it a patriotic privilege to contribute toward that. I may become a Democrat, not being pleased with the last president. Obama is open to ideas, and I like that.
Marty Boone
Fort Mill
Tax cuts work better
I am convinced that the "stimulus" package will devastate our economy.
I am certain that President Obama means to do the right things to recover our economy. The problem is that he wants to spend money we don't have on things we don't need that do nothing to create jobs or stimulate the economy. Everyone knows that you cannot create lasting jobs by taking taxpayer money to build things like dog parks, bike trails and pedestrian trails, or developing smoking cessation programs or researching STDs, and the list of nonsense goes on. Any jobs that these may create (few though they will be) will be very short-lived.
It is estimated that only 11 percent of the total stimulus money will do anything to rescue the nation from this recession.
History proves that government revenues go up when taxes go down. Economies have responded positively every time taxes are lowered. It worked when John F. Kennedy did it; it worked when Ronald Reagan did it, and even the demonized George W. Bush tax cuts created a six-year rising economy. It comes down to this: Some believe that a dollar spent by the individual who earns it is not as productive as a dollar confiscated and then spent by government.
Mark D. Palmer
York
People too quick to label others
In today's society, I see a disturbing tendency to label everything by vague judgmental terms. I'm not referring to racism, because it is easy to see the ignorance in judging someone by the color of his or her skin. However, in recent years political stances have been used to make judgment calls.
People spew out words, such as conservative, liberal and moral relativist, without knowing what they mean. These people tend to try to categorize everyone into a neatly defined labeling. Many people don't fall into one category perfectly; they may have a conservative view on abortion and a liberal view on gun control. If the only way you can define yourself or others is in a one-word label, then what does that say about you? Some people say that cursing is a sign of unintelligence; I disagree and believe that viewing the world in general labels and stereotypes is a sign of unintelligence.
Marvin Jones
Rock Hill
Art project should have been approved
The Rock Hill City Council should vote yet again to spend the $50,000 on public art for the Cherry Road water treatment plant. This is an obvious use of the hospitality tax money and attracts business. The funds have already been collected and would be spent in Rock Hill putting people to work.
The council showed sensitivity to the economic situation by reducing the amount to be spent. I am sorry council members were harassed into changing their votes and hope they vote yet again and vote to commission the art.
Virginia S. Moe
Rock Hill
This story was originally published February 24, 2009 at 1:36 AM with the headline "Voice of the People - February 24, 2009."