To the Editor:
 
In regard to Celia Murray’s column about the debt ceiling, on this issue I agree with Senator Barack Obama who, on March 16, 2006, said:
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. . . It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies.”
“This year, the Federal Government will spend . . . more money to pay interest on our national debt than we'll spend on Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. That is more money to pay interest on our debt this year than we will spend on education, homeland security, transportation, and veterans benefits combined. .  . “
“[I]t took 42 Presidents 224 years to run up only $1 trillion of foreign-held debt. This administration did more than that in just five years . . .”
“Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”
“I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit.”
To paraphrase Ms. Murray, it does appear that the Democrats have a different set of rules when a Democrat is in the White House. I believe that is called “hypocrisy.”
http://www.mrbatten.com/Pages/HypocrisyinAction.aspx
 
George Batten
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition

Having procrastinated until the very last minute, Congress finally did address the “fiscal cliff,” although in a short-term and unsatisfactory manner. Now, the country faces another crisis of Washington’s making – the nation’s debt ceiling.
Let’s be very clear – raising the debt ceiling has absolutely nothing to do with spending. Congress already voted to spend the money. Raising the debt ceiling merely allows the country to borrow money to pay bills already incurred. And that we must do. As President Obama said recently, “The issue here is whether or not America pays its bills. We are not a deadbeat nation.”
So what do Republican lawmakers say about the debt ceiling?
• Speaker John Boehner: Failure to raise the debt ceiling "would be a financial disaster, not only for our country but for the worldwide economy."
• Paul Ryan: "Obviously, you can’t default. You can't not raise the debt ceiling."
• Lindsey Graham: "Let me tell you what's involved if we don't lift the debt ceiling: financial collapse and calamity throughout the world.”
Now, GOP leaders threaten to hold hostage the nation’s ability to pay its bills. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell boasted in August 2011, "I think some of our members may have thought the default issue was a hostage you might take a chance at shooting," he said. "Most of us didn't think that. What we did learn is this – it's a hostage that's worth ransoming."

To the Editor:

Christopher Murray,
Your letter regarding your view of Conservatives does not even deserve a response except to say that I believe it was the most hateful and ignorant letter I have ever read.

Julie Vice
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the January 24, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

Some people who would like to replace our Income Tax with a—much fairer- consumption tax, suggest the VAT. After all, the Value Added Tax is very common in Europe and the usual system of taxation in most advanced nations of the world. So shouldn’t the U.S. adopt a tried and tested system rather than introduce a totally innovative—revolutionary some would say-system such as the FairTax (FT)? After all, both are consumption taxes, true. But there the similarity ends. Let us make three comparisons:
1. VAT— At each step of production and manufacturing, the various merchants (businesses) increase the cost to cover the taxes they owe. The final price (which includes all the increases) is paid by you—the consumer.
FT— There is no business-to-business tax. (Goodbye paperwork!) The end product is taxed once by the retailer and paid once by you—the consumer.
2. VAT— is a hidden tax
FT— is printed right on the sales receipt. (Transparency)
3. VAT— Easy to increase, almost without anyone noticing. Presently the highest VAT is levied in Hungary where it constitutes 27 percent of the final price.
FT— Hard to increase: The FT bill HR-25 specifies 23 percent. To increase the FT above 23 percent would take an Act of Congress. Also, it would increase the taxes of every single consumer in the U.S. (Quite a challenge for Congress).
Now that you understand the difference between the VAT and the FT, which do you like better?            

Carroll B. Simpson
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the January 24, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

Your article about Albert Goudelock and his family travels was a breath of fresh air. In this era of gloom and doom and negative stories it is refreshing to hear about families that share their time together.

I first met Albert when we returned to Madison in 1989. He is a delightful person with a wonderful smile and a warm spirit.  It was always a pleasure to chat with him when I had shoes or other leather goods to be mended. However, I was not aware of his travels. Being a person who has traveled around the world it has been my pleasure to know this kindred spirit. So travel on Albert– the best is yet to come!
Sincerely,

Paul Gilmore
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the January 17, 2013 edition.

To the Editor:

    Who’s more likely to be overly concerned about oppression, the oppressor or the oppressee? Those who are in the business of controlling and policing for the benefit of the privileged and powerful spend more time complaining about being oppressed than all the people they themselves have spent a lifetime oppressing. They spend every waking hour terrified that something or someone is going to come along and turn the tables on them and level the playing field. That something is called elections and that someone is called President Obama.
    It is the stuff status-gouda nightmares are made of. So it’s no surprise that people like Fred Johnson is having nightmares about runaway horses with no reins and a government intent on income redistribution and strangling the free enterprise system with rules and regulations.
    Those who’ve been in the position of telling everybody else what to do are the last people on earth who wanted to be told what to do! But there is such a thing as turnabout is fair play and you reap what you sow. So if your children and grandchildren suffer it’s because of the sin of your own greed and abuse of power, not because of Obama. We have no sympathy for politics only serving the will of capitalism and not the people. So sweet dreams all you Obama haters out there. Looks like you’re going to need them.

Christopher Murray
Madison
Hand-delivered

Printed in the January 17, 2013 edition.