Truth in a congressional fable
President Barack Obama and the liberal Democrats forever complain that the rich do not pay their fair share of federal income taxes. "More, more, more," they shout. Well, what about that? What is a fair share?
According to the Tax Foundation's statistics, the upper 5 percent of federal income taxpayers pay more than 50 percent of the total tax receipts. The lower 50 percent of federal income taxpayers pay less than 3 percent of the total tax receipts.
In recent years, as much as 47 percent pay no federal income tax whatsoever. Zero! Zip!
Remember the fable about what happened to the goose that laid the golden eggs? It's no fable. It's true. Today's marauding congressional foxes not only eat all of the golden eggs, but they want the goose, too.
Contrary to these foxes' belief, geese are not dummies. They fly away to goose-friendly neighborhoods far from the voracious foxes in Congress. There, geese grow strong and lay golden eggs for everyone to enjoy. Sly, tax-hungry foxes begin to disappear. Soon, their species is added to the endangered species list, with skunks, weasels and boa constrictors.
Peace and prosperity once again graces the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. All hail the founders' dream of limited federal government!
John Y. McCollister, Omaha
2nd District, U.S. House, 1971-77
Just waiting for 2012 elections
I like President Obama, and I think he is working very hard for the good of our country in spite of the most worthless Congress I have seen in all of my 77 years.
I can hardly wait for the 2012 elections.
Joseph Hiykel Sr. Omaha
Push legislators, not taxpayers
I don't have to eat my peas, contrary to what President Obama said July 11. I faithfully paid money into Social Security every paycheck.
Instead of hardworking U.S. citizens being held hostage in fear of their monthly Social Security check, I suggest the president and Congress go without their paychecks until they have reached agreement on the debt ceiling.
Be assured, agreement would then be reached.
Jean Chalupsky, Omaha
Join together as American team
Only a team of Democrats and Republicans working together will heal our economic crisis. The best interests of America must be at the core of political decisions and actions.
I can't imagine the trauma millions of Americans would experience if the government shut down in August. My 81-year-old mom is a military widow who depends on a Veterans Affairs pension and Social Security. My 86-year-old mother-in-law is residing in an assisted-living facility and depends on her Social Security check.
The rhetoric on the news is disheartening. One side purports it won't agree on deficit reduction until the president is out of office. The other side declares it won't budge an inch on regulating certain programs.
My loved ones can't wait for a solution. They need one now. I'm tired of partisan polarization that creates havoc with our economy and could devastate the lives of millions.
Please write to our leaders and let them know that now is the time to work together as an American team.
Lisa Fricke, Lexington, Neb.
Adjust spending with debt limit
Aug. 2 is an arbitrary date. Reaching the debt limit is not the same as defaulting on the federal debt. Republicans and Democrats are using the Aug. 2 deadline to negotiate terms. The fact is that both sides are trying to get something out of the current moment.
A February 2011 Government Accountability Office report on the debt limit found that in some (though not all) recent cases where debt-issuance auctions were delayed, markets responded by increasing the government's borrowing costs. However, procedural changes adopted from other countries might help to actually link spending to its effect on national debt.
The debt-limit debate has to be properly understood in its larger context of a country whose spending has effectively run amok for at least the past 10 years. During that time, federal spending has increased by more than 60 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars.
A.D. Vinke, Omaha
Pipeline goes 1 way or another
A Wall Street Journal editorial, "Influx of jobs among pipeline pluses" (July 13 More Commentary), completely missed or ignored an important point.
If the permit to build the pipeline straight across the Ogallala Aquifer were denied, the Keystone XL pipeline would still be built. TransCanada has stated this. It would just take a more circuitous route and cost more, which would mean more jobs and more revenue to the workers and the state.
The Wall Street editorial implied that if this permit were denied, no line would be built. Does anyone really think TransCanada would just stop mining the oil sands?
Jack Cudaback, Riverdale, Neb.
Stop unneeded federal spending
A July 3 news story reported how the Omaha Public Schools spent $130,000 in federal stimulus funds on books about cultural diversity.
It did not say how many other school districts around the country have bought these books. Basic math shows that if 100 districts of similar size did this, it would cost $13 million. A thousand districts would add up to $130 million.
Our nation faces a debt crisis. The president said people on Social Security might not get their checks if there is no tax increase.
If this book is an example of how people in government spend our tax money, they do not need any more of it. It is time for them to stop this foolish spending.
Rick Vogan, Omaha
Focus on academic performance
The Omaha Public Schools' judgment that a book on cultural competence represents the best investment of $130,000 and innumerable staff hours for an academically underperforming school district explains a lot about why that district is underperforming academically.
Tim R. Riley, Omaha
How teaching gets lost in shuffle
I thank Jeff Koterba for his July 12 editorial cartoon that showed the teacher who is asked to evaluate her cultural sensitivity and perspective.
Whether he is focusing on a local issue — such as our weather, Nebraska football or city politics — or a national topic, Jeff Koterba is always insightful, relevant and timely.
I am certain that many, many teachers were nodding their heads in agreement with the cartoon statement, "And to think all I ever wanted to do was teach."
Stephanie Rarick, Omaha
Improve transportation for U.S.
In response to Mary Louise McNeill's July 10 letter about the United States adopting European driving policies, there is certainly room for improvement in the U.S. public transportation system.
However, we should avoid modeling our system after the Europeans' for a number of reasons. First and foremost, many European cities are laid out are quite differently from our sprawling suburban cities. Many European countries are barely larger than the state of Nebraska, while some are even smaller.
If we're going to improve public transportation and encourage people to walk and ride bicycles, let's develop a plan that works for us, not cobble something together that's based on a very different culture and city structure.
Passing more ineffective laws is not the answer. We already have too many invasive laws that dictate how we live. Government should encourage public and private companies to encourage their employees to use alternative types of transportation.
Employees and companies should be rewarded for supporting and using alternative modes of transportation.
Steve Hudson, Omaha
Gaining appreciation for OPPD
We give many thanks for the good job that the Omaha Public Power District did in restoring power as soon as possible to our area in Florence on July 11.
In particular, we gained an appreciation by periodically watching the work that was done on many downed trees and wires and a broken power pole along North Ridge Drive during very hot and humid weather.
Dick and Carol Behrens, Omaha
Government at our convenience
I'm sure I'm not the only one who saw the irony in Rhonda Dugger's July 13 letter. Ms. Dugger was upset that the public restrooms at Walnut Grove Park weren't open during a July 3 Tea Party rally.
As it turns out, the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department doesn't have the staff to maintain restrooms at city parks.
It seems to me that Ms. Dugger should be thrilled that the City of Omaha isn't spending her tax dollars on such wasteful things as restroom maintenance.
I guess this falls into the category of "I'm against government spending — except for those times that it benefits me."
Brent Orme, Holdrege, Neb.
Fireworks celebrate the USA
In regard to people complaining about fireworks, I say, "Welcome to America." Those who don't want to celebrate our country's independence day don't have to.
For those bothered by fireworks, I am sure Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Turkey are looking for more citizens. I promise those countries won't be lighting off fireworks on July 4 each year.
There is a simple solution for those who don't want to hear or see fireworks: It's a free country. They have the right to leave.
Ryan Lee, Bellevue
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