THE DAILY STANDARD welcomes letters to the editor. Letters will be edited for length and clarity and must include the writer’s name, city, and state.
*1*
I would like to thank Katherine Mangu-Ward for her article The Secret Life of Newt Gingrich. I was not aware that the Newt Gingrich who shared Reviewer Position 488 with me was the Newt Gingrich.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her for being so polite. While I realize it was done as a humorous notation, which I do not mind, Mangu-Ward did it without the usual words that some attach to who I am.
Once again, thanks for noticing me. It’s fun to find yourself sharing the spotlight with one so well known and respected as Mr. Gingrich.
–Boudica
Reviews Editor, TWPT.com
Owner, Zodiac Bistro.com
*2*
One way to put the fear of Allah into the Saudi royals (Stephen Schwartz, Push the Princes) would be to circulate the following rumors: In the event of the fall of the House of Saud, Western governments are considering seizing Saudi assets, including the personal riches of all the princes. As compensation, they would receive quick immigration processing, eligibility for welfare benefits, job retraining assistance, and a small stipend from the proceeds of the sale of their assets. Most of the money would be made available to a friendly and democratic successor regime, which no doubt the West would be doing everything in its power to bring into existence.
–Lawrence Young
*3*
William J. Walsh is wise to advocate that the United States should prioritize Turkey among our Eurasian allies. (Americans in Turkey) In addition, we should encourage Turkey, Iraq, Israel, and at some point Jordan, to form a Middle East Democratic Free Trade Area, in eventual association with Afghanistan and the other democratizing -Stans. This will provide Turkey with a realistic and potent alternative to the European Union, which fundamentally doesn’t want Turkey as a member, and will provide an organized economic future and regional incentive for the democratizing Middle East.
–Eric Field
*4*
Time out. Gingrich is small potatoes compared to Harriet Klausner. Harriet has written 7,107 reviews. Harriet, a former librarian, claims she reads two books a day. Good for her.
Of course Harriet has some catching up to do to equal Lawrance Bernabo, who’s reviewed 8,157 books. Lawrance, more verbose than Harriett, probably has his own dedicated server at Amazon just to hold this stuff.
Jeez people, get a life.
–J. Stephen Clayton
*5*
I an experience similar to Jonathan V. Last’s with Maryland’s tax dept (Oh, Maryland!). I moved from Virginia in January of 1996 and mailed my 1995 Federal Tax forms from my Maryland home, but of course the only state taxes I paid were to Virginia. A couple years later, Maryland was saying I owed the state 1995 taxes–it seems they get a list from the feds of Maryland residents who sent in Federal taxes and use that as the basis for who owes them (regardless of where the residents lived the previous year). Eventually I had a collection agency calling me. I had to send Maryland a copy of my 1995 W-2 from my former employer, showing what my address was in 1995.
–Richard Hunter
*6*
In Learning the Hard Way, Irwin M. Stelzer gives a pretty good overview of the current dilemma. Yes, the war in Iraq wasn’t or isn’t directly about oil, but it does position the United States on land next door to Saudi Arabia.
As to refineries, there is a reluctance to build more sweet crude refineries in the United States if the transition to heavy crude is about to be made. Heavy oil “upgraders” will most likely be sited nearer the wellhead for a number of reasons, and the price differential between light sweet and heavy sour will widen inevitably. It is understandable that the large concerns capable of building new refineries are reluctant to do so; thus, there is as much of a price hike due to refinery shortage as feedstock shortage. The happy days of glut in both feedstock and processing capacity are now history. That is not to say that there won’t be price drops, but the risk premium is here to stay for both political and technical reasons.
–John Park
*7*
I read with interest Jonathan V. Last’s saga to clear his tax lien. This kind of government insensitivity is one reason I am no loner in business. For over 20 years I operated a small real estate firm. Things were great at first–I felt really good about helping low income families become first time home owners. However, those last few years were a nightmare.
–Donald Scoggins
*8*
Jonathan V. Last’s article reminds me of my episode with the State of New Hampshire. I have held the same license plates for over 25 years. When I purchased a new car, I decided to sell my old one privately. It took longer than the 20 days allowed by temporary plates, so I registered the new car.
Finally, I sold my old one. I took the initial plates to the state office in order to have the registration changed so I could use the old plates.
The clerk at the state office told me that the only way she could do it was by a special order from the state commissioner of motor vehicles. I was a little upset, but like Last, I put on a good face and asked if there was some other way. She replied “Oh, yes. If you buy another car we can switch the plates between them.”
I wanted to keep the plates so I went to a friend at the local junk yard and purchased an immovable junk car. He agreed to purchase it back after the plate switch. I then went back to the state with my new title. Alas, I needed a certification from the police that the car existed. And so on.
The lesson is: It is possible to outwit the system if you are not a media person, but it is a pain.
–Bruce Perlo
*9*
My husband and I entered the bureaucratic maze of Broward County to protest our property taxes years ago. The first time we went in, I had done all the research and did all the talking. Unfortunately, the property appraiser only looked at my husband when responding to my questions.
After that my husband would return to protest our property taxes each year. The last time he ate lots of garlic for lunch and moved his chair real close to the clerk.
We haven’t had any problems since.
–Cathy Whalen
*10*
I’m a tax accountant with plenty of experience resolving government “snafus.” Here’s a few pointers:
(1) Never assume that no response means the problem has been fixed. You should receive a letter showing that the problem has been fixed and don’t give up until you get one.
(2) Clerical staff on the front lines vary in the amount of knowledge they have regarding tax procedures. If you are not getting a satisfactory answer or enough information, simply try calling the 800 number again. This works especially well in large states such as California.
(3) Try to get the problem bumped up to a higher level of bureaucrat. The first person with whom you come in contact is usually relatively inexperienced and worried about getting in trouble for not going by the rules. If you have a problem where the procedure for resolution is not clear cut, you can get bounced around because no one wants to risk a reprimand. Usually a staffer will push a problem up on their own but when different departments are involved, it may go sideways.
(4) Always be nice, regardless of what’s at stake. These are people and if you explain your situation calmly, you at least get their compassion and willingness to do whatever they can for you. If they can’t do much, they may be explaining your case to a superior who can do much.
(5) If all else fails, contact your local, federal, or state representative. Again, calmness is important and be sure you have documented steps taken and people contacted within the taxing authority. I have never had to take this step, but it should get you a quick response. Taxing authorities get a black eye when members of the legislature have to approach them on behalf of constituents. It signifies a real failure on their part to serve the taxpayer and they have to recover somehow. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a high-powered journalist to take this step.
–Trena Bristol
