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Tax political contributions, ads to reduce deficit, spare voters
While the political classes are considering new sources of revenue, we the people should press them to tax campaign contributions and paid political advertising to share the pain.
Political spending at all levels set new records in 2012, despite continuing high unemployment. America should be able to significantly reduce deficits by a tax of around 35 percent on all political spending. That should leave plenty to effectively communicate with the voters, and would spare us the tedious repetition of political ads.
Edward T. Hinson Jr.
Charlotte
In response to “U.S. needs true conservative party, not Democrats-lite” (Dec. 2 Viewpoint):
Frank Dowd makes great case for a true Republican Party
Frank Dowd enunciated, with great clarity and simplicity, the necessity for the Republican Party to reassert itself as the leader of government “of the people, by the people, for the people!”
Our most recent round of slander, pander and raised dander masquerading as a presidential election should be enough to convince anyone that our present methods can lead only to fiscal and social disaster.
Of particular significance was Dowd’s paragraph about the “bedroom.” Female sexual activities should not be fodder for presidential campaigns. A woman’s body should not be subject to governmental interference of any kind – that includes not paying for contraceptives, abortions and an unlimited number of children born without a responsible male parent.
G. Wilson Miller
Charlotte
Dowd sounds like a sore loser; GOP is complicit in U.S. woes
Frank Dowd says the election results “cemented in place higher spending and debt, increased regulation and federal control over health care.” He fails to admit the wars his Republican Party got us into and the deregulation they initiated during Reagan and Bush administrations. These are some critical reasons why our debt is so high.
“Government benefits?” Social Security actually has a surplus. Where is that extra money going? Maybe it’s funding the Bush tax cuts on Dowd’s capital gains.
Mr. Obama’s health care program will not only provide more people with coverage, but will also put more dollars into the economy instead of the “over-charging” health care industry!
Gary DeShazer
Charlotte
A musical representation of
the current economic divide
On Sunday’s Carolina Living front was an article about wealthy people who pay $550 each to attend concerts by musicians who haven’t produced anything new in decades.
Buried on page 6 was an article about singer Lee Fields, who worked day jobs for 40 years while struggling to maintain a career and whose “comeback” has people paying $13-$15 a seat.
I like Glenn Frey, Aretha, etc. as much as anyone, but give us a break here. Should the placement of these articles not have been reversed? This contrast is a perfect musical representation of the difference between the “1 percent” and the rest of us.
Carl King
Charlotte
When we all work together fewer go hungry in Charlotte
The writer is CEO of Piedmont Natural Gas.
A new holiday tradition took root last December when Piedmont Natural Gas and other Piedmont Town Center businesses hosted a week of events supporting Charlotte-area nonprofit organizations.
The community gave generously and our food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina collected enough to feed a family of four 3,428 meals.
But the need remains great. Today, as part of our second “Holiday Week of Giving,” we again invite the community to bring canned goods and other nonperishables to Piedmont Row Drive between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Volunteers will accept your drive-through donations with smiling faces and grateful hearts.
It’s hard to imagine an easier way to help the needy this holiday season – or to become part of a holiday tradition worth continuing for many years.
Tom Skains
Charlotte
In response to For the Record “Streetcar could help parts of city, but how do we pay for it?” (Dec. 2 Opinion):
If fares won’t cover operating cost, then forego streetcar
In his op-ed piece, Charlotte City Council member Michael Barnes says “We also anticipate that the fares would help offset operating costs.” So the “plan” is to not even charge enough to offset operating costs?
Why do we continue to build these projects if only to dig a deeper hole for capital debt that operating only adds to?
This proves a lack of stewardship of the taxpayers’ resources by the flower children we’ve elected to office. Beg, borrow and steal from the producers to subsidize those who already receive too much.
David L. Jacocks
Charlotte
There’s nothing like a sunny December day in the South
There is something quintessentially Southern about sitting in the backyard in the late afternoon on Dec. 3, wearing short sleeves and flip-flops, while making a big ol’ wreath from the Christmas tree trimmings.
Roe Boothby
Wadesboro
