April 24, 2009 02:56 pm
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Obama’s ‘hope’ has a high price tag
Ed Edwards’ April 19 said taxes have been cut for 99 percent of Americans.
Does he mean the $13 a week that’s not being taken out of the paychecks of those who work? Just wait until you have to pay your income taxes in 2010 and find you’ll pay for the $13 a week then.
Don’t take my word for this. Look at the tax structure for 2009 and you will find that it hasn’t been changed. To give people hope that they’ll pay no tax below even $45,000 is just words. When you get your bill next year, don't cry, just put your faith in words, not deeds.
Mr. Edwards also believes it’s wrong for people who work for a living to try and get ahead, even if it means starting your own company and hiring people to work for them. It would seem that the employee should make just as much as the owner, and if not, tax employers to the brink of not being able to hire anyone else.
Mr. Obama has given people so much “hope” but at what cost? Economists tell us he’ll run a deficit for well beyond his 4 or 8 years.
If you raise taxes to where he wants them to be on the wealthy — from 28 to 39 percent — this will not be one third of the amount that he will need. Who do you think will pick up the rest?
Words are cheap, but reality will set in when you get your 2009 1040 tax
booklet. Don’t cry — this is that “change you voted for.”
There are too many people who want a hand out, and not a hand up.
Homer Campbell, Ironton, Ohio
Bill would stop raid on trust fund
For years, short-sighted politicians in Washington — both Democrats and Republicans — have “raided” the Social Security Trust Fund to the tune of $2.48 trillion and will take another $227 billion again this year for their pet projects (earmarks). They’ll fight tooth and nail to keep their hands in the Social Security “till” regardless of what it will mean for taxpaying Americans who are counting on their retirement benefits they deserve.
Despite all the talk in Washington about “fixing” Social Security, most politicians don’t want us to know about the Social Security Preservation Act (H.R. 219), which would force them to put an end to their freewheeling, irresponsible spending of our Social Security savings. Instead, they are scaring present and future retirees with talk of benefit cuts and tax hikes, rather than cutting themselves off from raiding the Social Security Trust Fund.
So far, they’ve spent trust fund money to fund projects like $50 million to build an indoor rain forest in Iowa, $223 million for a “bridge to nowhere” in Alaska from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, population 50, $800,000 for an outhouse.
If corporate leaders raided their company’s pensions, they’d be thrown in jail. Our politicians, however, seem to believe they can act outside laws that the rest of us abide by.
Pressuring the new Congress to pass the Social Security Preservation Act (H.R.219) now pending in the U.S. House of Representatives is the only way to stop this outrageous abuse of our Social Security savings. H.R.219 would require 100 percent of our trust fund money to be saved, ensuring there would be enough money to pay all our Social Security benefits for decades to come, without cutting benefits or raising taxes.
Contact your representatives in Washington ASAP.
Kitty Kouns, Ashland
KDE has failed taxpayers, others
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will be reviewing with the governor the new state-mandated student information system called Infinite Campus.
What KDE likely won’t tell him is that it has failed students, educators and taxpayers and displayed a total lack of concern regarding the needs of parents by implementing this system.
The governor needs to understand that parents, who once were able to check their child’s grades online, were told they would have to wai, in some cases six to eight months, for access.
KDE failed taxpayers. Infinite Campus will cost $5.5 million yearly for licensing and maintenance, approximately $3 million more than the previous system, STI. According to KDE, STI provided the necessary reports required by the state and federal government.
KDE failed school districts. The state has not allocated any funding for the yearly licensing and maintenance costs. Our school districts are now responsible for paying the $5.5 million fee. Many school districts will have to make cuts or raise funds to pay for the increased costs. Even if KDE finds money for the system, taxpayers’ money could have been better spent.
KDE failed many graduating seniors. In school districts that had trouble implementing Infinite Campus, students had difficulty in getting current transcripts for college scholarship and applications, resulting in missed opportunities.
KDE failed teachers. This labor-intensive program did not provide adequate training. This has resulted in teacher frustration, parent stress, and student aggravation.
KDE failed the governor. As the gatekeeper for the governor on this school issue, KDE has led the governor down a path of folly.
The combined voices of educators, parents and taxpayers contacting the governor’s office at (502) 564-2611 or e-mail: connie.rakes@ky.gov will be heard. It’s important we don’t allow another mistake like Infinite Campus.
Rebecca Hearn, Catlettsburg
Boy Scout Road called dangerous
I have traveled Boy Scout Road coming off Terrace Boulevard and find it to be very dangerous, There is a big dropoff on the right side of the road which could lead to a very serious accident, especially in winter weather when the roads are slick. Guardrails need to be placed on the side of the road.
Do not wait for an accident to happen. Action should be taken as soon as possible. A life could be saved.
I hope this problem can be solved — and soon.
Charles J. Wellman, Flatwoods
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