Obama’s jobs bill will just make things worse Re: “Obama’s tax hike Trojan horse,” Sept. 19
President Obama’s Jobs Act should not be taken seriously. No less than $240 billion (or 54 percent) of its $447 billion price tag is a one-year, 50 percent cut in payroll taxes. This simply worsens the financial condition of Social Security, the only safety net for American workers, for no net gain in jobs.
A worker with an earned income of $50,000 will pay $129 per month less in payroll taxes, which is supposed to rejuvenate the economy — if the rich pay their share of new taxes. Presumably, “fairness” requires that the top 6 percent of taxpayers do more than pay their usual 50 percent.
The bill also contains $35 million for hiring unionized teachers and firemen in states where budgets are crippled by union-mandated benefits. More money would also go to the states to pay union workers to repair school buildings. And there is $60 billion for Davis-Bacon jobs in infrastructure projects that are nowhere near shovel-ready.
The only worthwhile item in the bill is money to extend unemployment benefits. For this, the president called together both houses of Congress. Nobody should be asked to vote on this absurdity.
Bill Smith
McLean
No comparison between Presidents Truman, Obama
Re: “Obama tries to channel President Truman,” Sept. 14
Any comparisons between President Truman and the present holder of that office are ridiculous. Truman had principles and, being a man of action, bucked the tide when required, while President Obama has proven to be a feckless leader, particularly when it comes to foreign affairs.
While Truman may have come into office based on being a surprise vice presidential nominee, he had a record in the Senate, ran a business, and was a veteran of World War II. The political and legislative experience of our current president is not only limited, but of little use in the Oval Office. Obama operated on the fringe of American enterprise, mouthing words of support when he has little appreciation of the meaning of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Truman was a “give them hell” leader, while Obama watches the polls for guidance and leaves decision-making to foreign nations. He’s no Harry Truman.
Nelson Marans
Silver Spring
Thank armed citizens for reduced crime rates
The ignorance and naivete of the “experts” who are not sure why violent crime rates have fallen during the past 15 years can be explained by their blindness to recognize this correlation: as “concealed carry” laws go up, crime goes down.
Forty-one states have implemented unrestricted concealed carry laws, up from eight in 1986. Thirty-seven states have “shall issue” laws; eight states have “may issue” laws; and four (Vermont, Wyoming, Arizona and Alaska} have unrestricted permitting.
As more law-abiding citizens are able to protect themselves, more criminals think twice, recognizing the fact that they may get hurt or killed in the commission of their crime. When law-abiding citizens are armed, society is safer.
Jeff Underwood
Columbia
