Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Elect someone who'll dig us out of debt
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Elect someone who'll dig us out of debt
Spring is traditionally the time for house cleaning. This year, House cleaning needs to be moved to November. And don't forget the Senate. At this moment, the national debt is $13 trillion and growing at $4.1 billion a day. The burden for every man, woman and child is more than $42,000. This is unsustainable and can never be repaid unless we cut spending.
Moody's is considering downgrading the United States' AAA credit rating, and China is threatening to stop buying our debt. Also, there is a move to eliminate the dollar as the standard for world currency.
In the 5th District Republican primary on June 8, the best candidate to defeat Rep. Tom Perriello on Nov. 2 is state Sen. Robert Hurt. He has a voting record as a true conservative for reduced spending and limited government. He also has an "A" rating as pro-life and from the NRA and the NFIB small business federation.
We need to elect representatives with the courage to cut taxes and slash domestic spending.
Private sector restricted
The growth of government reduces taxpayers' standard of living. Imagine there are 25 workers, 20 who work in the private sector and five who work for government. Each worker makes $30,000 and pays 20 percent tax or $6,000. The private sector pays $120,000 in taxes and the government workers pay $30,000, and the total tax revenue of $150,000 pays the five government workers.
Now imagine a new law restricts business and causes two private-sector workers to be laid off. If a stimulus allows those two workers to get jobs in government, the private sector will then be 18 people and the government seven people. The private sector will pay $108,000 in taxes and the government workers will pay $42,000, so the total tax revenue remains $150,000. However, the total government wages are now $210,000. There is a deficit of $60,000 unless taxes go up to 28 percent. Each worker will need to pay $8,400 per year or $2,400 more than before.
So what is our government doing? Restricting private business and growing government. This is not a minor issue. If you think so, consider the situation in Greece.
Boyd will best represent the 5th
The measure of discontent with the promised vs. actual performance of 5th District Rep. Tom Perriello among grass-roots voters can be gauged by the emergence of seven enthusiastic Republicans vying to be his opponent. Voters are fed up with a mock representative who promised to be a moderate reflecting the views of his district, but consistently ignores the views of those attending his own town hall meetings.
Republican candidates have abundant enthusiasm and join in reflecting the common core principles of less government, less wasteful spending, less governmental intrusion into the affairs of citizens, and more accountability of the government to its citizens. However, enthusiasm is not enough to win elections nor to govern effectively in Washington.
Among the Republican candidates in the June 8 primary, Ken Boyd stands out as a principled fiscal conservative with a visible track record in political office of holding true to his moral compass. At numerous Albemarle County supervisors meetings, Boyd has stuck to his conservative principles, working effectively and graciously even when outnumbered by liberal board members.
Boyd's experience in finance and his ability to bring disparate views together are the qualities needed to work effectively in Congress.
Mailings are an incumbent perk
If Sid Mason believes Rep. Tom Perriello is taking advantage of taxpayers by mailing them "report to constituents" publications, he has a lot to learn about the perks provided to incumbent elected officials ("Wrong to mail with tax money," May 25 letter).
All members of Congress are entitled to produce and distribute mailings to inform their constituents of topical issues and legislation under consideration. In addition to production and postage for such mailings, members have access to congressional television and radio studios and Web sites to inform their constituents -- all paid for by the taxpayers.
My representative, Bob Goodlatte, has also produced and distributed slick mailing pieces, dealing with such issues as energy production (he follows the current industry line) and health care reform (he voted against it), under the guise of constituent information. He even distributed a constituent survey, featuring leading questions intended to solicit answers that support Republican positions on issues ranging from immigration to jailing convicted terrorists on American soil.
I fully expect our representatives to communicate with their constituents, even if those communications reflect the party line. It's just one of the advantages of being an incumbent at election time.
Israel should be less warlike
Too much of our money is sent to the Israelis. They do not get along well with their neighbors; in fact, they harass their neighbors. They are arrogant toward us to the extent of lying to us about their intentions.
I resent that American-made bulldozers, planes and munitions are used by Israel to keep hostilities open. Israel should make concessions toward Palestine or we should reduce the funds we send the Israelis.
They are not behaving as our friends should behave.
People cared for less than animals
Re: "Hunting is worse from a wheelchair," May 26 letter:
I cannot begin to tell you how much I was overcome by Rita Ross's caring and compassion for her fellow man. She has sunk to a new low by attacking the handicapped.
I doubt that Ross has ever given any thought to the chance that some of those handicapped hunters may have been handicapped while serving in the military. Serving to defend her right to write The Roanoke Times and whine.
I am always amazed at how some people can care so much for animals and so little for their fellow man or woman.
