Readers views: Morality dangers + jobs + basic economics
Not an issue
Several weeks ago I had a letter published here. In it I listed several of the reprehensible behaviors of the president, in hopes that his supporters might be shamed into repudiating him.
What I found, to my surprise, was that many people just don’t care about our leader’s morality.
The economy is fine, the military is strong, optimism is high and the rest doesn’t matter. Part of the rest is this: deficit spending has increased from $665 billion in 2016 to $1.1 trillion in 2020; deficit as a percent of GDP has increased from 3.1% in 2016 to 5.1% in 2019.
I also received an anonymous letter to my home from a self-described elderly gentleman. He warned me, with unwitting irony, that Trump was a bulwark against communism. He also included three leaflets from the neo-Nazi group, National Vanguard. One of them was anti-black, one was anti-Jew, and the last said that “they” were coming for our guns.
The only thing necessary for tyranny to thrive is for good men to do nothing -- quoted by many, origin unknown.
John Coleman
Gulfport
One good thing
The one and only thing that caught my attention in the democratic debate in South Carolina was that someone mentioned term limits.
It reminded me of the late Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee who did two terms in the U.S. Senate and tried his best to pass a term limit bill. You may remember him as a the admiral in the movie “The Hunt for Red October”and a judge on the hit series “Law and Order.” He had many roles in movies and was a friend of mine, whom I met while in the military.
As a fellow Tennessean, he chose me to show him the workings of a combat unit while my commander tagged along. Senator Thompson had no effect on my career, but my commander was impressed that I could relate to the senator while showing both of them respect.
During the debate I was taken back by the hate for my country and wondered how did we get this far, with so much wrong. No free college or $15 minimum wage. It is my opinion that by making college free, that degree will become worthless or the equivalent to a high school diploma.
And minimum wage is supposed to be a entry level starting position for young people, not to be able to buy a house but a stepping stone in life. Lastly, Bernie Sanders has never held a real job, his only pay has been a government check. Now that’s socialism, yes?
Malcolm McBee
Gulfport
More jobs
Those who complain that rich people don’t pay their fair share of taxes must not understand basic economics.
A major principle is that to confiscate the extra wealth of rich people is to destroy the opportunities and aspirations of others who need those funds to survive and prosper.
Rich people create opportunities for others when they use their excess funds. The more they have, the more they must invest or spend. Those funds are then borrowed by others to create new businesses or to buy homes and automobiles. Their purchases support more jobs for people who create those items or services they purchase, turning over seven times. Those who create businesses also establish more jobs and opportunities for others.
Assume someone has earned and paid taxes on a million dollars and invests half of what’s left into a lending institution. That’s enough money for many people to borrow and buy vehicles to get to their jobs. Then they pay taxes on income from those jobs, and on purchases. The government then gets their taxes. If those investments were not made, how could people buy vehicles to get to their jobs to make a living and pay those taxes? Many borrow from those funds to invest in a home mortgage. Rent is money lost forever.
More taxes result from more jobs. Jobs are the lubricant that helps people fulfill their needs and aspirations. Jobs are the fair share that propels our economy to support anyone who chooses success.
Will Clark
Diamondhead