Taxing questions
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 1:16 AM PDT
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Taxing questions
I’m told a federal tax deduction of state sales taxes for Washingtonians is only “fair.” However, this deduction is usable only for itemizing filers. About the only way to make itemization worthwhile is to be up to your ya-ya in debt, usually incurred by buying a house.
So, how is it “fair” to force someone else to pay for your house? If Congress was interested in “fair,” there would be no deductions. Period. Of course, that would partially negate Congress’ power to buy votes and control lives, eh?
And why would anyone advocate for spending the hours and hours for record-keeping, code research, form gathering and etc. necessary to comply with a state income tax system? Washingtonians already get a considerable tax break by not having to pay for an income tax collection system that wastes their precious time complying with yet another bureaucratic nightmare to say nothing of opening ourselves up to jail terms and fines for non-compliance and the vagaries of political manipulation.
Doug Spittler
Kalama
Just a thought
While sitting here planning out our family Thanksgiving Dinner, this thought came to me and thought I’d share it with your readers.
Each year about this time, different groups ask for food donations for the less fortunate to make their holidays a little better. And, at the same time, some of our grocery stores offer complete holiday meals for sale.
So, I was thinking rather than throw a can of sweet taters in a barrel, one could purchase a complete meal and donate to those in need. In turn, the help groups could hand out complete holiday meals to those in need and maybe these grocery stores could put together special dinner donation packages along with the dinners they sell the public.
I’m sure one of the local help/volunteer groups could fine tune this and make it work.
Put me down for a full dinner.
Jim Anderson
Kelso
All are socialists
John McCain implies that Barack Obama is a socialist who will increase taxes on those who make more than $250,000 yearly to spread the wealth.
Socialism is a word that evokes the tyranny of Stalin and Mao. Republican king makers know this. However, socialism is an economic system, not a military dictatorship.
Words not found in the Constitution: Socialism, Capitalism, Communism, Fascism. Some that are: “The Congress shall have Power To: regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.” There is no pre-ordained economic system in the Constitution but Congress should regulate whatever we have.
Under-regulated capitalist crooks have recently been exposed as hypocrites by having their tremendous losses bailed out, “socialized” by Congress with the willing votes of Barack Obama and “it takes a socialist to know a socialist, let’s spread the wealth up” John McCain.
Some examples of socialism that benefit us: roads, postal system, schools, military, police, libraries, dikes, hydro-electric dams and Social Security.
Think we’d be better off with these privatized? Then vote Republican.
Dave Van Curen
Longview
Scary election
The Nov. 4 election should have been held on Halloween. Either way it goes, it is scary.
Dean Messinger
Kelso
Liberals and gun ownership
Ken Spring recently wrote a letter (Oct. 21) with the claim that, “As you well know, liberals hate guns, citizens’ gun ownership and hunting.” I find it quite the bold statement to assert that liberals hate guns and the ownership thereof. I wonder how Spring reached this conclusion, as I consider myself significantly more liberal than conservative and I’m not aware that I’ve ever had a conversation with Spring on my views regarding guns and guns ownership.
Guns that have legitimate purposes, such as personal protection, hunting and target shooting, should be able to be lawfully acquired by those who have the mental capacity to understand the proper handling of firearms and by those who have not been convicted of a crime. Military-grade firearms have no place in the civilian world. For the government to make certain only mentally stable and law-abiding citizens obtain firearms, it has to have processes in place to screen purchasers.
There are some liberals, to be sure, that do feel like civil society should have no firearms. But there are also conservatives who argue for restrictions on gun ownership as well because it places law enforcement at risk.
The Second Amendment is a delicate balance between freedoms and rights and the privilege of being trusted with a lethal device.
Mike Chess
Longview
Lesson learned?
When Bill Clinton took big contributions from the Chinese Communist government, you just shrugged. No big deal. But then, he delivered and gave China enough secret U.S. technology to spring them from the 19th clear into the 20th century. They could then threaten the U.S.A. and anybody else they pleased.
Now, Barack Obama is receiving gobs of laundered campaign contributions from the Muslim world. What will he have to deliver for it, hmm?
Mrs. Earl Lohrey
Kelso
Picking associates
My mother gave me some great advice when I was entering the teen years that has been with me ever since. It was very good advice.
She said, ”If you are thinking of associating with someone, check first to see who they associate with. That will give you a true picture of them, and make up your mind as to who they really are.”
I use this advice in voting. It is sometimes hard to get a real picture, but see who got them into a job? Who paid their entry into politics? Who influenced earlier years? This will tell you who still has strings on them that could be used to influence them. Who has used their position to gain wealth, or to get re-elected with “earmarks”? Wouldn’t it be great to have a rundown on each congressman?
Oregon had a congressman named Wendell Wyatt. He, to me, was the epitome of what a congressman should be. Every so often, when something came up that he needed advice on, he sent a letter to his constituents and they framed his vote. He finally said the Congress was getting too crooked for him, and he quit running.
Theda L. Williamson
Ryderwood
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