Dan’s Papers February 18, 2011 danspapers.com Page 49
LETTERS MAMMA ALWAYS KNOWS BEST Dear Dan, I think your mother got it right. Discussing the creation of an eruv for a community where 90% of the residents (including Jews) are opposed, could possibly inflame anti-Semitic feelings. I think it’s disingenuous of Marvin Tenzer to say that those opposed to the eruv “obstruct our ability to practice our religion.” Times change, laws change, and it makes no sense to insist on complying with the letter of the law if it is simply inconvenient to obey in practice. Patricia Mason Hampton Bays Some do insist and it is their right. – DR REPORT OF HIS DEATH GREATLY EXAGGERATED Dear Dan, First off, I love Dan’s Papers. I even buy Dan Rattiner’s books. But please, just some basic research to make your articles accurate would be appreciated, Mr. Rattiner. I’d love to know where you got your information about the passing of Marc Schneier’s father, the legendary Rabbi (who goes nameless in your Eruv article, but that would also require some basic research). As far as I know, Rabbi Arthur Schneier is alive and kicking, probably more so than your good self. Please keep up the good work, Mr. Rattiner, however your facts should be checked out. Sincerely, Laurence Passer This was in error. The man is up and running. God bless him. – DR HE’S ALIVE! Dear Dan, If someone else has not already advised you, the esteemed Rabbi Arthur Schneier, father of Rabbi Marc Schneier has been the Rabbi at the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan since the 60s. Not to be confused with Park Avenue Synagogue as your article states. And contrary to your calling him “the late....” he is still alive. L.C. Goldsmith Sag Harbor I know now. – DR ESTATE TAX REPEAL? BAD IDEA! Dear Dan, The Estate Tax has been an important source of revenue for the federal government, in one form or another, since 1916. Once again, the GOP is stepping up its calls to make tax cuts (for the rich) permanent, and are aggressively promoting a repeal of the estate tax. The estate tax, now dubbed the ‘Death Tax’ by neo-conservatives, affects only the very richest of Americans – and then only the heirs of multi-millionaires and billionaires. As if it really matters. The deceased is not affected at all by the estate tax, since he/she is now pushing up daisies – only his/her heirs may be affected by the estate tax. I’m not so sure the overwhelming majority of Americans have any interest in perpetuating what has become an aristocracy of overwhelming wealth, power and influence. So, one might ask, “Why tax inheritors of large fortunes?” Because it’s still an important source of federal revenue. Conservatives deceitfully portray the estate tax as a ‘death tax’ on small family-owned businesses. The fact of the matter is that less than 1% of the people that inherit an estate pay any estate tax at all, and half of
the revenue from that tax comes from estates valued at $10 million or more. As the estate tax law is now constituted, only an individual inheriting more than $5 million dollars (couples, $10 million dollars) will pay the estate tax. The current inheritance tax on estates is 35%, but only on the amount exceeding $5 million dollars ($10 million for couples). The consequence of repealing the estate tax is this: the loss in federal revenue would be staggering – an estimated $680 billion dollars over the next decade. This loss of revenue, combined with the tax reductions on unearned income, is going to bring us to the point of no return; adding further to our national debt is unsustainable. We may have already reached that point of no return. Paul G. Jaehnert Vadnais Hts., MN
Send your letters to askdan@danspapers.com (e-mails only, please) OUR FRIEND IS BACK? Dear Dan, Hi Dan: Thanks once again for putting my letter to you onto the editorial page. Once Danny is back, and hopefully he will be, it will be my pleasure to contact you and set up that date so that we can enjoy that meal at Fairway. In the interim keep up the good work and wishing you another 50 years of success with Dan’s Papers. Stay well. Garry Shelley
Let’s throw the estate tax into Boston Harbor.– DR Thank you. – DR CONVINCED! Dear Dan, I have always thought you were one of the worst “journalists” on the South Fork! I am now totally convinced that you are! Or, perhaps, you can’t see! Your interpretation of Linda Kabot’s arrest is wrong! I believe you are the only person in the world who saw it the way you describe! Of course, you are one of the left-leaning, progressives who despise Republicans! Shame on you! A jury rightfully, after seeing and hearing all evidence, acquitted Ms. Kabot! How dare you think you are the all-mighty? We don’t care what you thought! Time to retire and move down to Florida! Enjoy the lifestyle there! Hope you don’t return! Harry Curry Hampton Bays What? – DR
FACT vs. FICTION Dear Dan, In your story of last week titled “Sag Harbor Defiantly Celebrates Its Misery,” in regard to the Quiz Bowl competition held during HarborFrost you write: “Pierson High School fought for victory over a team from the (Sag Harbor) Farmers Market.” Fight they did, but victory they had none. As that day’s captain of the Sag Harbor Farmers Market team, you have my assurance that we beat those whiz kids down. This was a particularly sweet victory for me as my 16-year-old genius played for the school team. This is your captain speaking, Stacy Dermont Sag Harbor Fight ‘em, Fight ‘em, Fight Team Fight! – DR
POLICE BLOTTER Really Wanted To Stay In School A 16-year-old boy was arrested after he simply refused to leave school grounds in East Hampton. The boy was dismissed for being drunk and began to cause a scene after he was asked by the principal to leave and after his father showed up to take him home. So instead of going home to his family’s house, he went to a jail cell. Shelter Island While on his African Safari where he hunts live elephants, Old Man McGumbus of Shelter Island, 97 years old, reportedly received a leg injury after a rhinoceros attacked his Jeep. He was forced to fly back to Shelter Island via a B-29 bomber, which is owned and was piloted by McGumbus’ lifelong friend, WWII pilot, and fellow Shelter Island League of Extraordinary Gentlemen member, Dick Wilmington. McGumbus received medical treatment and as of yesterday was back in his house, where he lives alone year-round. Last night, McGumbus reported to police that he saw two hippies on Main Street and demanded that they be arrested. Door To Door A woman in East Hampton reported last week that a man claiming to be a representative from Chase Bank knocked on her door and needed bank information from her. The woman gave it to him and
later noticed that unauthorized charges were made to her credit card. This is not all that different from the very deceptive fraud that happened last year, where a man would walk up to a person and politely ask the victim for all of their money and belongings. The victim, unknowing what is going on around him, would fall for the trick, and then later on would be shocked and chagrined to discover that he had just been robbed. Punched While at a meeting of the Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee, a man punched another man directly in the face. Hearing this news about the WCAC meeting made me say WTF? Hold It! Right There! A new law that is being proposed which will allow police to ticket public urinators in Southampton, with the money from the fines going directly into the town to increase revenue, made me laugh. DWI A man in Hampton Bays was arrested for DWI after he told police that he had nothing to drink, then opened the door to his car only to reveal a can of open beer in his hand. – By David Lion Rattiner