Don’t buy the myth that tax cuts will pay for themselves

Our kids will pay for those yacht parties

Most everyone likes the idea of a tax cut, but our kids won’t thank us for the “tax reform” bill being rushed through Congress.

The planned cut in corporate and high tax bracket rates will create a sugar high on Wall Street and in the White House, but most of the income benefit will go to the wealthy and members of the investor class.

U.S. tax cuts have never paid for themselves through additional economic activity, so the next few generations will be paying the bill for 2018 yacht parties rather than finding the good jobs, affordable health care, and reliable safety net they’ll expect.

It’s hard to believe that citizens in this family-friendly city would wish this hoax perpetrated on their children.

So now the national debt worries you?

For the Observer editorial board to worry about the national debt is laughable. President Obama raised the debt substantially and the liberals had no problem with it.

The only way to lower the debt is to reduce the growth of entitlements, and if the Republicans did that the headline of the Observer would scream “Republicans hate old people and the poor.”

Fed up with Duke’s coal ash shell game

Duke Energy wants to raise our bills on average $20 per month so they can clean up their coal ash dumps, which jeopardize several key watersheds.

Did Duke ever lower their rates due to their cutting-corners on ash disposal? No, profits were always paramount in their quest to take over other power companies to become the largest utility.

Profits and stock prices have always been this company’s paramount concern, as opposed to providing reliable and efficient energy coupled with humane customer service. This rate increase is nothing more than a corporate welfare scam.

Ode to the life of a local musician

I doubt many of you knew of John Alexander. John died much too young last week at the age of 69. He was an incredible jazz musician in so many ways: performer, composer, teacher and mentor. His contributions to others in his hometown of Gastonia and the broader area through his teaching and his music were many and invaluable.

I simply wanted to call attention to John’s life and the way little-known artists in our community are a treasure in the creative gifts they give us.

2 wants, 1 solution: Medicare for All

Nov. 20 Forum writer Doug Riley wants an affordable ACA.

Another Nov. 20 Forum writer, Ken Rutherford, wishes we could spark a price war among health care providers.

Both desires can be met, without war, by a well-designed single-payer system. Urge your representatives to support expanded and improved Medicare for All.

Health Dept., do better on HIV drug

Health Director Gibbie Harris is refusing to allow the prescription of PrEP by the Health Department. PrEP is an antiretroviral drug that reduces the risk of HIV.

We have $248,000 set aside for promotion of HIV education, but Harris states that the cost of educating doctors about PrEP and providing a public awareness campaign would be “a little challenging.”

It’s also “challenging” to live with HIV/AIDS, and Ms. Harris should be ashamed that she is responsible for withholding this valuable drug.

More women in power might help

What is happening to our society? When did political dominance outweigh morality and true biblical values? The dirty underbelly of politics has finally shown itself in its true colors.

The male, by nature, is an aggressive species. When you add wealth, power and position to this attribute, you get predators, abusers and molesters, with little limitations. Sad but true, in most cases.

If this tendency is a product of testosterone, maybe a good dose of estrogen could curb the sexual abuse being perpetrated by the leaders of this country.

This story was originally published November 25, 2017 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Don’t buy the myth that tax cuts will pay for themselves."