The country is caught in Republican gridlock

The country is caught in Republican gridlock

Washington is gridlocked because the Republican Party is consumed by obstruction.

Congress has left town for a five-week recess with a gridlocked Republican Party leaving the country paralyzed: Republicans in the Senate blocked a vote on an appropriations bill that would have stopped the sequester; Republicans in the House blocked an appropriations bill that would have continued it.

So, Republicans won’t fund the government above sequester levels, but they won’t fund the government at sequester levels either. The House vote was particularly illustrative of the Republicans’ disarray, since the bill they blocked would have funded the government consistent with the official House budget they voted for only a few months ago — with much ballyhoo.

And the Republicans have great plans for the country’s near future. In October, the Republicans are planning to shut down the government, demanding that the government of the United States not follow a constitutional law (the Affordable Care Act). Then, in November, they are planning for the United States to fail to honor its debt obligations.

TOM JOYCE
HARDY

Taxes on the rich are just a yarn

It’s not the people’s fault when they holler they want a raise. They want a raise because the government has imposed a tax on some corporation or company and, of course, that corporation or company passes that tax on to its product or service, which “we the people” pay for. Seems here lately we are gluttons for punishment. We hear our government say, “We are going to tax the wealthy,” and we all holler hurrah! Are we really so jealous of rich folks that we can’t see we are the ones who are going to pay that tax? No one takes into consideration that the price of a loaf of bread might be affordable if the government would leave the bakery alone. The dollar would be worth something, and we wouldn’t have to ask for more money.

This fairy tale that we have been told for so long about how the government is going to tax businesses and all will be better because of it is just that — a fairy tale. We all are paying for the prince to slay the supposed dragon, and that dragon is burning our butts up at the store. Businesses don’t pay the taxes; we do.

KEITH CARVER
VINTON

Dealings with China won’t help McAuliffe

Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe’s relationship with China won’t enhance his qualifications for Virginia governor.

BOB KROEGER
BLACKSBURG

Final exams prepare students for college

Just a few weeks ago, the Class of 2013 graduated from James River and Lord Botetourt high schools. The academic standing of Lord Botetourt compared with other state high schools is good but can definitely be improved. One way this improvement can take place is with re-implementation of final and midterm exams.

The lack of final exams in Botetourt County Public Schools puts graduating students at a disadvantage when entering college.

Yes, a final exam will hurt students’ grades if they don’t study or visit their professor during office hours.

However, students from Botetourt County have no experience in studying for these critical exams.

Even if county schools made final exams a smaller portion of the grade than in college, just the experience of taking the exam would provide a huge benefit to students.

Some will ask, “Isn’t that the purpose of the Standards of Learning?” — to simply test the knowledge of students without damaging their grades?

These tests are not tests of knowledge; these are tests of memorization.

On behalf of all students in Botetourt County schools, I strongly urge the school board to reconsider adding final exams to the curriculum in our schools.

JOSH HUMPHRIES
2012 graduate
Lord Botetourt High School
DALEVILLE

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