The Courier Electronic Edition

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

After reading thousands of syndicated columns, "letters to the editor" and opinionated bylines concerning how the Bush tax cuts for the rich caused deficits, I wondered why the other side of the equation was never discussed, i.e., spending.

For the record, when the Jobs and Growth Act was enacted in 2003, federal income tax revenues were less than $1.8 trillion. In FY 2005, they had reached a record level of $2.16 trillion, an increase of about 20 percent.

Furthermore, the highest tax rate was reduced from 39.6 percent to 35 percent, a reduction of 12 percent, while the lowest rate dropped from 15 percent to 10 percent, a reduction of 33 percent.

Also, child tax credits were reduced and the marriage penalty virtually eliminated. The rich didn't benefit any more than other taxpayers.

While tax revenues increased, spending, primarily for defense and homeland security due to 9/11, significantly increased. Spending was then, and is now, the problem.

American industry still pays one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, which is a disadvantage when competing in the global economy. When global markets are declining, the private sector will find ways to survive. They sell off non-performing assets, ask their workers to take days off, eliminate overtime, cut travel and other expenses and hundreds of other cost-cutting ways to stay afloat. Government, on the other hand, can only seem to find political so-called "solutions" -- raise taxes on the rich (who create the jobs), subsidize "green" industries while adding more bureaucracies. Worst of all are the near-trillion-dollar stimulus packages.

The president claimed to have created two million new jobs in his first year, but since the unemployment rate jumped from 8 percent to 10 percent, it looks more like a loss of two million jobs. Let us hope that new leaders will emerge out of this chaos who understand that when you put too much money in the hands of government, you divert it directly from the private sector that creates all the jobs, pays the taxes and produces efficiently.

Ed Nye

Upper Sandusky

DECISION WAS BASED ON MONEY

I can remember a number of occasions when Level 3 snow emergencies were declared when the road conditions were much less severe than what they were on Friday night.

A Level 3 was conveniently declared shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday when third shift and the "normal" work week were over.

However, my place of employment, like others, runs 24/7 and requires its employees to report to work during a Level 2, which resulted in over half the shift getting stuck on the roadways in an attempt to make it to work by 6 a.m.

Our safety has taken a back seat to the almighty dollar. A few years back, Sheriff Heldman was berated by local corporate bigwigs for his Level 3 snow emergencies. He was costing them money by declaring our roads unsafe to drive.

Now money is a key factor in determining road conditions. The man who we elected to protect and serve has put the protection of big money before the safety of the working people of this county.

Patrick Danzy Findlay

CITY NEEDS TO PLOW SIDE STREETS

I can't understand why our side streets do not get plowed the same day that the main streets do.

Findlay is not that big, and there is no reason a plow should not come down a side street until the day after the snow fell. We wouldn't have so many people getting stuck and needing help, and emergency workers could actually get to the people they need to help if the streets were plowed!

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and could potentially go into labor at any time now. What would happen if we couldn't get down our street to get me to the hospital? It could be a bad situation!

Feather Brown Findlay

WELCOME ABOARD, NOW HOLD ON!

Welcome aboard the finest ship ever constructed, the USS Progressive.

Enjoy your dinner with Captain Barack while First Mate Nancy confidently steers the ship, under the fine tutelage of Company Representative Harry, of course.

The ship is sitting a little low in the water but not to worry, it can stay afloat with the first four compartments filled.

There are reports of icebergs and we're in uncharted waters. The ship is overladen, going too fast for conditions, and has shown signs of neglect of late.

Mate Nancy says not to worry because she has heard the voice of the passengers and they say "git-r-done."

If anything unexpected happens, Captain Barack will hop up and orate while the band plays on deck. Lifeboats? We don't need no stinkin' lifeboats -- we're unsinkable!

Obviously, it's more important for the crew to establish precedents and set records than to safely reach port. They know what's best for "We the Passengers." Listen to the Captain. Eat your spinach ... and finish your Kool-Aid!

Thom Bissell Findlay

GOD'S WORD STILL RELEVANT

What is the real reason gays want equal rights? The answer is very clear: they want the government to deny that God's word is the truth and that it is relevant to this day and age.

Wrong! This life on earth was created by God so that his wishes could be fulfilled by male and female multiplying, not female and female or male and male. The gay and lesbian lifestyles are not and never will be a part of the will of God.

As long as gays continue to live in rebellion to him, their peace will be insignificant and meaningless.

William Stock Findlay