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Opinion
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- Written by: Nina Bouska
Income taxes have been on a steady downward trend since the early 1980s. Our tax rate now is lower than it was in 1955. The upward trend started because of the war in Iraq.
You might also want to look into Jane Bryant Quinn’s analysis for CBS Money Watch: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/investing/blog/make-money/your-federal-income-taxes-are-lower-than-you-think/109/?tag=content;col1.
Or be brave and get into the comparison of U.S. personal income tax rates between 1975 and 2008 with those elsewhere in the world, at: www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/Content/PDF/oecd_historical_toprate.pdf.
While our rates are certainly not the lowest, they’re far from being the highest.
On another note: it’s interesting to look at the U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics on unemployment now and during the Reagan years: http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/data/UNRATE.txt.
When Barack Obama took office in January of 2009, the unemployment rate stood at 7.4 percent. It climbed to 10.1 percent by October but dropped to 10.0 in November and December. At the end of September 2010 it stood at 9.6 percent.
When Ronald Reagan took office in January of 1980, the unemployment rate stood at 6.3 percent. By September of 1982, the unemployment rate reached 10.1 percent, stood at 10.8 percent in November and December. It remained over 10 percent for 10 months. It took 46 months to push the rate back down to 6.3 percent.
Perhaps we should show some patience.
Nina Bouska lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Brian Foster
This of course is very, very illegal. Had I been home, I certainly would have called the police (not that they would understand what to do).
It may not seem at first to be a big deal, but there are numerous places to put a flyer – on the fence, on a car or even directly on my door. But to put it in a mailbox without postage is tampering with the mail and subject to considerable fines as well as jail time!
Brian Foster lives in Clearlake, Calif.
Editor's note: U.S. Postal Service regulations state, “no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.” The Clearlake Post Office also confirmed that use of a mailbox to deliver flyers such as is described in the letter above is not permitted.
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- Written by: Ron Green
District Attorney Jon Hopkins, who along with Sheriff Rod Mitchell, tried to scapegoat and destroy Clear Lake sailing enthusiast Bismarck Dinius of Carmichael, was successfully removed by the voters in the primary election. That’s a good thing.
Now, we have two choices to replace Hopkins – Doug Rhoades and Don Anderson.
They are both nice guys, and if I were voting strictly on the basis of who’s the nicer guy, it would be a close call, but I just might vote for Don. And, if I were voting on the basis of who was a hero as a deputy sheriff 30 years ago, I would surely vote for Don.
But, as an attorney, I know these are poor reasons to decide who to vote for in the district attorney’s race.
I view this election as an opportunity to elect the best possible attorney and an experienced criminal trial lawyer as district attorney. It is important to have a bright and accomplished criminal lawyer in this position who can immediately command the respect of all the tenured attorneys in the District Attorney's Office. Doug Rhoades is the only candidate who can do so.
Doug Rhoades is an experienced criminal lawyer who will bring intelligence, good judgment and common sense to the District Attorney’s Office. I am confident that he will set the right priorities for the District Attorney's Office and will not waste taxpayer money on frivolous prosecutions. He will bring respect back to the District Attorney's Office.
Although Don is a really nice guy and was a genuine hero 30 years ago, he is not the best man for this job. We need an intelligent and well-organized attorney with extensive criminal law experience, and from my vantage point as an attorney, Doug Rhoades far surpasses his opponent in these qualifications. Incidentally, Rhoades is endorsed by the Democratic Party.
I’m voting in the district attorney's race for the better attorney with the most relevant criminal law experience. Without a doubt, that’s Doug Rhoades.
Ron Green is an attorney. He lives in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Dave Gebhard
We feel entitled to our parent’s love, we feel entitled to have a good life, a good education and someday a good family.
It is only after we grow up, that we learn that nothing is free or easy, that even love needs to be earned, except for a mother’s love, of course. (She earned the right to love unreservedly, by bearing and rearing us.)
We are so enthralled with the rich 1 percent that we all aspire to be one of them, especially with the example of real Horatio Algers: Bill Gates and Mark Funderberg. We even give them tax breaks, even though it means the middle class has to make up the difference, or we must cut social programs. Something has to give, someone has to pay the piper.
Americans feel entitled, due to our forebears paying in blood for our freedoms. Regretfully, entitlements are paid for by someone, and if not shared equably, become a burden for those who do pay.
Are we a third world country that allows the 1 percent that have the freedom to jet set, own multiple homes, cars, boats, etc. to skate free on taxes?
America needs a flat tax, a flat percentage of their income that everyone has to pay. That is the fairest way to tax. Instead we have the rich paying expensive specialists who assist them in not paying taxes, finding loopholes that congress leaves deliberately for themselves and their peers to use. We lose untold billions thanks to the tax evading industry.
In Congress, the price the Republicans are asking for their support is that the rich be included in the new tax bill. We must hold firm and allow the tax breaks for the overburdened middle class to be retained, while eliminating the free ride for the rich. Just return to the Clinton level of taxes, remember how well the country was doing then?
I sometimes feel we are a country ruled by lobbyists; Congress has such a sense of entitlement, that perks, such as vacations, golf weekends and the use of corporate jets are felt to be justifiable perks of the job.
Congress opts itself out of Social Security, yet is charged with the job of rescuing it. Ever wonder why they have no sense of urgency? They have no worries about Medicare or retirement, as they voted themselves guarantees for life, even after serving just one term.
We need to grow up, and stop dreaming of being included in the upper 1 percent, as they will continue having all the freedoms of great wealth, even after paying their fair share. They will still have just as many luxuries.
Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.