4 I OPINION I
FEBRUARY 2, 2011 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM
letters to the editor Problems with problem gambler program To the Editor: Regarding the article about the Voluntary Exclusion Program (“Missouri program for problem gamblers remains strong,” West Newsmagazine, Jan. 12), I wanted to write in and let people know it sounds good in theory, but in reality, the whole program is a complete joke. The program is totally ineffective. I have been a problem gambler since I can remember and was one of the first to sign up for this. However, when the casinos got rid of swipe cards to gain entry, I would just waltz right in and head to the table games. I avoided slots because if I won a taxable amount, I’d have gotten caught and arrested, but it never stopped me from playing the table games, even when I’d cash in for several hundred dollars. Security at all casinos never once caught me, and I even have ATM receipts to prove I was there indulging in my vice. Being a bigger guy, I stick out like a sore thumb too, and I’d secretly hope I’d get caught to be relieved of the misery, but to no avail. The only thing that will help a problem gambler, in my opinion, is to have a desire and willingness to get well. This, coupled with going to Gamblers Anonymous meetings, has been the best (and only) way for me to recover. There is a list of meetings and more information at stlga.com Name withheld
Tax cuts 101
of “trickle-down” economic benefit that didn’t work for Reagan and certainly did not work for the duration of the “Bush tax cuts” scheduled (by the Bush administration) to expire at the end of 2010. We are still in that economic dive, Sally, even though the rate of descent is not nearly as steep. It has taken the Obama administration two years to get the economy on the rise and the unemployment rate in decline. We are still well below acceptable levels on the economic front and well above acceptable levels on the unemployment front and it will take a lot of time and sacrifice to get back where we need to be. It will not be quick and it will not be easy. Mr. LaVanchy states that tax cuts and reduced government spending works as proved by the Bush (Sr.), Reagan, Kennedy and Clinton administrations. I think you will find, Sally, that history tells a different story. If you look at the facts concerning those administrations, you will find either increased taxation or increased government spending and in some cases both. During the administration of George W. Bush you saw an unsuccessful tax cut benefit and a huge increase in spending. And the lack of regulation (a horrible word to some) led to a tragic burst of the housing bubble, primarily at the expense of the middle and lower income groups. Credit, a prime mover of the economy, dried up. When Congress allocated funds to save the banks and free up credit money, they instead used the money to increase their own profits both here and abroad. Now about the recent vote to return tax levels to pre-G.W. Bush levels … The initial vote was to restore those tax levels for those earning more than $250,000. The Republicans said, “No.” Then the bill was amended to apply only to those making over $1 million a year. The Republicans said, “No.”… If you can’t stay in business making over $1 million a year, Sally, I think perhaps you should not be in business. Finally, Mr. Lavanchy stated that there is no reason to go back to policies that do not work. I agree. The Bush tax cuts did not work. The wealthy held on to their money or invested it abroad. The “trickle-down” did not happen. I’m sorry you can’t keep your $250,000plus business, Sally. But I feel more sorry for the employees you fire that made much less. John F. Doolittle Grover
To the Editor: Noel LaVanchy’s recent (letter to West Newsmagazine, Jan. 12) titled “Tax cuts 101” should have been titled “Misunderstandings and misinformation.” He talks about “Sally,” a hypothetical business owner, who decides to close her $250,000plus business rather than pay a higher tax rate. According to Mr. LaVanchy, when Uncle Sam said he needed more money, Sally asked, “For what?” and got a lot of political talk with no real answer. Well, Sally, I think you heard the answer but didn’t like what you heard because it is painfully true. Our country is in deep financial trouble, Sally. The previous administration of George W. Bush came into office with a sizeable budget surplus but in just eight years put our country into a death spiral of increasing debt and skyrocketing unemployment. How did he do this? Well, Sally, he got us into two unpaid wars, he passed a huge unpaid prescription drug bill and he To the Editor: got an enormous tax cut passed that went I’d like to thank Noel LaVanchy for his primarily to the wealthy with the promise letter to the editor, “Tax cuts 101,” in the
Jan. 12 edition of your magazine. As the owner of a small business, I explain this to “non-business owners” whenever I get the chance and am happy that Noel has informed that many more people. However I still remain convinced that people will never understand how much the government is in everyone’s pockets until they have to actually “pay” their taxes and not just have them taken out of their paychecks. If they had to pay their portion of the difference between gross pay and net pay … the tax revolution would begin. Krista Abney Ballwin
Repealing bad legislation To the Editor: I see where repeal bills are being readied by the new Congress regarding Obamacare and the Finance Reform Act. (Sen. Claire) McCaskill is already backpedaling from Obamacare as she is seeing the writing on the wall for the 2012 elections. I trust that repeal of either of these legislative failures by supportive votes form those who voted for them in the first place will not fool the voters. What does it say of these lawmakers who spent considerable taxpayer money working on these bills and voting them into existence, against taxpayer wishes, only to later vote against them because they found out the voters were actually serious? That they ignored job creation opportunities to do this when such efforts are still sorely needed? That these bills actually killed jobs and raised costs when just the opposite effects were needed? It speaks volumes, and what it says is this: These idiots must be removed from office regardless of how they vote on the repeal bills. John Schulte Manchester
Race-specific school assignments To the Editor: The letter to the editor concerning the African-American science teacher at Crestview Middle School who required his students to, “Write any essay on any scientist you want, the only stipulation is
the scientist must be black” (West Newsmagazine, Jan. 12) left out some important information. I talked with the highly qualified AfricanAmerican teacher and here are his exact words concerning the assignment: “I said that the report on (an) African-American scientist will be done during the February celebration of Black History Month, also for extra credit students can do reports from their own culture. We also discussed popular scientist(s) such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Ben Franklin, to name a few, before we talked about the Black History assignment.” The letter quoted the parent as saying, “How long do you think it would take for the NAACP to get involved if this was given by a white teacher to read, ‘The scientist must be white’? Why even get started with such nonsense in school?” The parent saying that studying the contributions that African-Americans have made to science is nonsense is exactly why Congress got involved and declared February as Black History Month. …. President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5443, which proclaimed that the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity. This proclamation stated further that this month was a time to celebrate the many achievements of African-Americans in every field, from science and the arts to politics and religion. Many Americans would miss the opportunity to be exposed to the many wonderful contributions African-Americans have made to science and to the United States of America if special attention was not given to their scientific contributions during the month of February. However, it is my opinion that the achievements of AfricanAmericans should be integrated into the curriculum of public schools throughout the year, not just in February. On another note, this parent needs to know that it is not necessary for whites to have an assignment on (a) white scientist because the textbook industry and the curriculums of most public school districts are replete with the contributions of whites, and this is all that was taught prior to the designation of February as Black History Month. I sincerely hope that you print my response to this parent who appears to have a problem recognizing all Americans who have shared in the development of our great country. Evelyn Hinton-Cook, Ph.D. Leon County