Government continues decline into tyranny
To the editor:
Sen. Harry Reid's suggestion to President Obama to bypass Congress and use executive powers to increase the national debt ceiling is so outrageous the American people should be calling for drastic measures to stop this perversion of government (Saturday Review-Journal).
Referring to government, Thomas Jefferson said: "Experience hath shown that even under the best forms those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny." The citizens of this country have elected representatives to Congress to protect and preserve the American interests in government. How dare Sen. Reid or any other elected official bypass the wishes of the people of this country.
Jim Andreas
Las Vegas
Respect the flag
To the editor:
What happened to respect for the flag?
When I was in grade school, each morning and afternoon a couple of students would raise and lower the United States flag using the American Legion flag-folding procedures. I am a little disturbed and annoyed to see that at one elementary school, those standards are no longer abided by.
The flag is up in the morning upon arrival, so I can't comment upon the morning raising. Leaving school in the afternoon, though, I constantly see the flag lowered and touching the ground while being unfastened from the rope. Apparently the procedure now is to sling it over your shoulder and, potato chips in hand, throw it in the storage space until the next morning's raising.
During the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning, there is constant chatter, milling about, late arrival, inattention and just plain disrespect for the ceremony - just about all of it from parents. I suppose we are long past the point of no return. It wasn't that long ago that these things were treated with respect. I am only 34 years old. Is there still hope?
Peter D. Kinsley
Las Vegas
Tax simplification
To the editor:
Your Thursday article about U.S. tax law was a good start to a discussion about simplifying it. However, if the tax code is now 10 times longer than the Bible, then the 10 biggest tax breaks would only fill Genesis.
When Mitt Romney was running for president, he told his accountants to keep his actual tax rate below 13 percent on his income of $20 million. If he had deducted all of his contributions to his church, the rate would have been lower. I'd like to know what other deductions he took. Can those be trimmed? Why can Mr. Romney and others park their money offshore and avoid taxes? How do some corporations get by paying zero taxes? Why is dividend income taxed at a lower rate than the income of those working 40 hours a week?
Yes, it's time to simplify the tax code, but I'm sure it will be handled as it was in past years: Those with the most money have the most influence to shift more of the tax burden onto the little guy, while keeping all the tax breaks that benefit them.
Janice Herr
Las Vegas
Minimum wage
To the editor:
So, once again, there's talk of increasing the minimum wage, this time to $10 an hour. At this time, with unemployment so high, higher minimum wages tend to eliminate the entry-level positions, just the group we're trying to help.
The minimum wage law needs to be eliminated entirely. Wages would float depending on the needs of the employer. This would help reduce the outrageous unemployment rate for teenagers just trying to earn a little money and, at the same time, get a little work experience. I'm sure there are a lot of young people out there who hunger for a job just to earn a little spending money. If an employee were to show promise, a raise would rapidly be forthcoming, as it's better to retain a good employee than to start over with another unknown.
Jack Oliver
Las Vegas
