Columnist unfairly attacks mayor’s security detail
Re: “Gray’s security detail keeps him safe from D.C. crime,” Aug. 7
The only one living in his own fantasy world is Harry Jaffe. In his recent column, he attacks Mayor Vincent Gray for saying that D.C. homicides are down — while admitting that they are.
Then Jaffe quotes Ron Moten, who is running for the D.C. Council on the Republican ticket, saying that crime in impoverished neighborhoods is worse. But the blame doesn’t lie with Mayor Gray or Police Chief Cathy Lanier. Crime is down from what it was years ago when many gave Moten credit for starting Peaceoholics. But he seems to have gone way off track in his efforts to become a politician.
Attacking Gray for having a security detail, which is determined by the Police Department, is sinking low, even for Jaffe. The mayor’s security detail has nothing whatsoever to do with crime statistics. At least the mayor doesn’t take his security detail on out-of-town trips like our last mayors did.
Any crime is one crime too many, but a cop on every corner won’t end it. We need to get citizens involved in working to end crime in their own neighborhoods by teaching their children tolerance and to not use guns.
If I remember correctly, Jaffe wants more cops — but is against higher taxes. Maybe he will dig deep into his own pocket and make a contribution to pay for them.
Peter D. Rosenstein
Washington
Great wealth comes with great responsibility
With Barack Obama and company railing against rich people daily, the issue of wealth in America should be addressed.
First of all, we should be entitled to know how wealthy the president is himself. Then, we should acknowledge that in Congress, great wealth is found on both sides of the political aisle. Rich people do not form a unified political bloc against the rest of America.
There are many noble endeavors that require prodigious sums of money to bring into fruition. For example, establishing and staffing educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and even restaurants is not free and the funds do not materialize out of thin air. Taking priestly vows of poverty will not allow one to accomplish these great achievements.
An important issue is how we make money and what we do with it. Few if any Americans have trouble with Herman Cain making his vast wealth by selling pizza. On the other hand, pornography king Larry Flynt generally does not enjoy similar public approbation from the sale of his Hustler magazine.
If America is to be acknowledged as a nation under God, it would be well for everyone to remember the biblical admonition that to whom little is given, little is required; and to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
Lawrence K. Marsh
Gaithersburg
Time for Congress to finally consider Fair Tax
This country is broke. The national debt is growing so fast it will take a miracle for us to survive. While Congress and the Obama administration seem to have no answers when it comes to solving our financial woes, the real solution is pending in Congress.
The Fair Tax has been ignored for several years by Congress. Why should they pass something that takes away their ability to buy votes via the federal income tax, which the Fair Tax would replace?
But more and more taxpayers are finding out that the Fair Tax will do away with the Internal Revenue Service and give each individual their full paycheck with no deductions for Uncle Sam ever again. At the same time, those living below the poverty level will pay no taxes at all.
Leaders in Congress continue to ignore this solution to the financial mess this country is in.It will take a large grassroots effort to get it enacted, but think how great it will be never to have to keep records or report anything to the IRS.What you do with your own money will be none of their business.
Roy T. Newsom
Granbury, Texas
