Recently it has become in vogue to refer to the elected officials in Washington, D.C., as “the dysfunctional Congress.”
This, of course, is because the deficit is out of control, the economy is a disaster, the middle class is shrinking by the day and the future is a nightmare for most Americans.
Nowhere do I read articles that, for 30 years, American voters — led by far-left and far-right blowhards on radio and cable TV — keep voting intransigent candidates into office, often lunging from one end of the spectrum to the other every two years.
America used to have moderate politicians, who in times of need put the welfare of the country first. Now we have narrow-thinking, poorly educated people wedded to ideologies that are marketed by highly paid public relations people working in concert with said non-credentialed, entrepreneurial perception-makers on radio and television.
So, it has been 30 years of voting against the other candidate, who is worse then a disease-infected mongrel dog, resulting in the constant cutting of taxes (and loopholes for existing taxes) along with never-ending ways of spending government money, from fighting questionable wars to giving assistance to people who now find it more profitable to fill out forms at government agencies than to work.
And, of course, there was the part where American companies were given tax breaks to move jobs overseas.
Hard to believe, but the government is experiencing major cash flow problems.
So do we blame this on “the dysfunctional Congress”? Do we blame this on “the government”?
I thought that in America “the government” is the people.
As Alexis de Tocqueville once said: “In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.”
Ken Zelman
Akron
Tax incentives need review
After reading the Nov. 15 editorial “Big spending,” I have to admit I was somewhat surprised that no one in the state is reviewing the efficacy of tax breaks given to businesses.
As a member of the Stow City Council, I realized years ago that the only reviews of tax incentives were done by the county, and were very cursory, at best. The city Planning and Economic Development Department also looks them over, but with no elected officials overseeing the process, it had become a “forgive the debt” program because the department’s job is (as it should be) geared toward business and retention.
When the Stow City Council asked for a yearly review of all businesses receiving tax incentives, we found that not every business was living up to its promise to bring in so much revenue or create so many jobs. These businesses were all in different stages of multiyear contracts.
In some cases, we can look at the business, find out if the contract needs to be revised, and do so. In other cases, especially in this economy, the city may be willing to give more time for the company to fulfill its obligations. In all cases, the review at least puts businesses on notice that we are watching. This is, after all, taxpayers’ money.
In one case, a business was about to leave the city without fulfilling its financial obligation, and we were able to get at least part of what was owed.
I can’t believe that the state has ignored this revenue source. Ohio needs to have the legislature review these tax incentives for businesses on a yearly basis. After all, lawmakers are supposed to be the watchdogs of our dollars, and a legislative committee should report its results to the whole, suggesting any changes its members deem necessary.
Janet M. D’Antonio
President, Stow City Council
Stow
Warming to the trend
Surely you folks who deny global warming aren’t enjoying this late November weather in Akron, are you?
Bob Crawford
Akron
Thanks to God’s grace
During this Thanksgiving season, I hope we won’t forget to thank God for this blessed country and bountiful provisions.
We’re not without our problems, but go to any Third World country and see what we could become except for the grace of God.
While our founders wanted to prohibit the establishment of an official national church, they had absolutely no intention of separating God from the American government.
President George Washington issued the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation, declaring in part: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor … Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November, 1789 … that we may all unite to render unto him our sincere and humble thanks for his kind care and protection.” It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.
Joseph L. Kulasa
Akron
Now expand the money supply
Since Democrats and Republicans on the congressional supercommittee, including Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, were unable to find common ground on spending reductions and tax increases to reduce the debt, Congress should now focus on an arena where both Democrats and Republicans might agree — monetary reform.
Passage of the National Emergency Employment Defense (NEED) Act, H.R. 2990, would eliminate the national debt by authorizing the government to print U.S. dollars (different from the Federal Reserve notes in our wallets) to pay off U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes.
Virtually all of our nation’s money is currently created by banking corporations as debt to people, businesses and governments, to be paid back with interest that over time often becomes an inflationary debt trap.
Democratic Presidents Jefferson and Jackson felt the people, not banks, should create our own money, while Republican President Lincoln created debt-free public money (greenbacks) in an effort to preserve the Union. The U.S. Constitution empowers the government to coin money.
Canadian economist William Hixson has said, “The very idea of a government that can create money for itself, allowing banks to create money that the government then borrows, and pays interest on, is so preposterous that it staggers the imagination.”
Congressional passage of the NEED Act would create a policy most people believe has existed since the nation’s founding — creation and issuance of U.S. money — which is both progressive and conservative.
Greg Coleridge
Director
Northeast Ohio American
Friends Service Committee
Cuyahoga Falls
Insensitive and unnecessary
I am sorely disappointed in the Beacon Journal for printing and then reprinting the name of the student recently charged in relation to his half-sister’s death. Since when does the Beacon Journal print the names of minors charged in crimes?
And for what purpose would it repeat his name in Bob Dyer’s Nov. 17 column (“Tune out Penn State, tune in this”)? It seems insensitive, sensational and completely unnecessary. Parallels to circumstances be damned — there’s no good reason to treat a child in that fashion.
And please don’t say that the student is a public figure, just because he happens to be a member of a school sports team.
In the end, he’s still a minor and still only charged — and in a nonschool, nonsports incident, to boot. What in heaven’s name has induced the newspaper to stray so far from what are sound, appropriate journalism standards?
It’s not only disappointing; it’s also damaging to the level of overall public discourse. Do we really want to live in a community where the name of a child (or of anyone still presumed innocent, for that matter) is tossed about willy-nilly, simply to advance the agenda of a writer or publication?
I don’t want to. And I don’t want to read a newspaper that’s willing to do so.
Beth Ann Earle
Wadsworth
Editor’s note: The newspaper prints the names of juveniles charged with crimes on a case-by-case basis. Among the factors is the severity of the offense.
Charge into the game
I read Ken Tillman’s Nov. 20 letter “Sub for the NBA,” suggesting a new basketball league. It is a great idea, but we already have it in the form of the Canton Charge, the Cavs NBA D League team. They start play on Friday.
They have court-side, tipoff-line seats for $25, and the prices go down from there. You will see the next Cavs stars and a good game.
Dan Gilbert has spent a lot of money on this team, and everyone should support them. I have been to their practice facilities, and they are as good as Cleveland Clinic courts.
It will be like going to minor league baseball, with food that will not cost an arm and a leg. It’s is less of a drive than going to Cleveland, and you will not have to spend a lot on parking.
Gary Conner
Akron
