Letters to the editor
Published on Wed, Apr 6, 2011Read More Letters
Social Security: Secure?
Mr. Hallett is wrong to merge U.S. Government and Social Security revenues and expenditures. They are separate and discrete. (“Setting up for another financial meltdown,” page A-13, March 30).
For example, Social Security has incurred a $2.6 trillion surplus over the last 28 years. The U.S. government over the same period ran up a $14 trillion deficit national debt.
The only relationship between the two was that the U.S. Government borrowed the $2.6 trillion from Social Security primarily to help finance U.S. deficits for unwise military adventures and unwarranted tax cuts especially for corporations and the wealthy.
There is absolutely no need to deal with Social Security anytime soon. It has the assets (the $2.6 trillion) to meet all of its benefit obligations through 2037.
So what is the hysteria to deal with Social Security right now? It is this. It is now time for the U.S. to begin repaying that $2.6 trillion to Social Security so that it can meet its obligations to 2037.
Some intend to avoid repayment of this debt to Social Security by slashing Social Security benefits and raising payroll taxes as soon as possible. Their concern is that repayment would have to come from U.S. federal tax revenues. Of course, they knew that when they borrowed the money from Social Security. Some regard reneging on this debt to Social Security as politics.
We can at least forthrightly call it what it is. It is fraud or theft to borrow money with the intention never to repay it.
Malcolm McPhee
Sequim
A few years ago, I was drawn to this area by all the usual enticements like the weather, rural setting and friendly people. But the clincher was this newspaper, which provided a lighthearted description of everyday life and the happenings within this wonderful community. You could read that Mrs. Brown’s cow got loose and was seen wandering about or that the liquor store was “mysteriously closed.” Where has that editor gone?
Today, the police blotter is filled with thefts and drug arrests, and week after week we are subjected to the prejudiced letters to the editor which reflect only the one-sided rantings of disgruntled political activists smearing our elected officials with out-of-context quotes and slander which, by the way, is in direct contradiction to your letters policy which states: “Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.” You might wish to keep in mind that our politicians were elected by the majority of voters, so giving such lopsided press to the malcontents is disparaging to the community, who just may not wish to read your paper anymore. It is the intent of some tabloids to incite controversy and evoke sensationalism to sell newspapers. Our old Gazette wouldn’t have done that. Where has that editor gone?
James Drew
Sequim
Guilt by association is one of the oldest propaganda ploys. March 30, Daniel Gautschi ties all of America’s missing children to Planned Parenthood, with “liveaction.org,” videos, which allege that Planned Parenthood assists sex traffickers and supports underage prostitution.
In these “undercover” videos, actors play a pimp and an underage prostitute seeking abortion counseling. The videos ask, “Will Planned Parenthood comply with the law? Help the pimp cover up his sex abuse of underage girls and become a ‘partner in crime?’ Assure the pimp that they are trusted partners with the sex industry?”
Carefully excerpted dialogue between the phony pimp/prostitute and Planned Parenthood employees seems to substantiate these foregone conclusions.
Reading the full transcripts, however, indicates that most employees tried to be neutral advisors, assuring client privacy, and providing legitimate services. One employee overreached by advising where an abortion could be obtained elsewhere and was subsequently fired for it.
Planned Parenthood does provide abortions. It does advise all citizens, including sex traffickers and prostitutes, on reproductive matters. But it doesn’t judge its clients and it doesn’t “support underage prostitution.”
Contrived “investigative reporting” has no legitimate place in public dialogue, but is increasingly common from the political right. Actors posing as rich potential donors recently suckered a National Public Radio official into making damaging statements that cost him his job and played into the hands of NPR’s political opponents.
Whatever the merits and demerits of these agencies, we should all be allowed to judge them from plain facts, not manufactured propaganda.
Roy F. Wilson
Mr. Hallett is wrong to merge U.S. Government and Social Security revenues and expenditures. They are separate and discrete. (“Setting up for another financial meltdown,” page A-13, March 30).
For example, Social Security has incurred a $2.6 trillion surplus over the last 28 years. The U.S. government over the same period ran up a $14 trillion deficit national debt.
The only relationship between the two was that the U.S. Government borrowed the $2.6 trillion from Social Security primarily to help finance U.S. deficits for unwise military adventures and unwarranted tax cuts especially for corporations and the wealthy.
There is absolutely no need to deal with Social Security anytime soon. It has the assets (the $2.6 trillion) to meet all of its benefit obligations through 2037.
So what is the hysteria to deal with Social Security right now? It is this. It is now time for the U.S. to begin repaying that $2.6 trillion to Social Security so that it can meet its obligations to 2037.
Some intend to avoid repayment of this debt to Social Security by slashing Social Security benefits and raising payroll taxes as soon as possible. Their concern is that repayment would have to come from U.S. federal tax revenues. Of course, they knew that when they borrowed the money from Social Security. Some regard reneging on this debt to Social Security as politics.
We can at least forthrightly call it what it is. It is fraud or theft to borrow money with the intention never to repay it.
Malcolm McPhee
Sequim
Where’s the old Gazette?
A few years ago, I was drawn to this area by all the usual enticements like the weather, rural setting and friendly people. But the clincher was this newspaper, which provided a lighthearted description of everyday life and the happenings within this wonderful community. You could read that Mrs. Brown’s cow got loose and was seen wandering about or that the liquor store was “mysteriously closed.” Where has that editor gone?
Today, the police blotter is filled with thefts and drug arrests, and week after week we are subjected to the prejudiced letters to the editor which reflect only the one-sided rantings of disgruntled political activists smearing our elected officials with out-of-context quotes and slander which, by the way, is in direct contradiction to your letters policy which states: “Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.” You might wish to keep in mind that our politicians were elected by the majority of voters, so giving such lopsided press to the malcontents is disparaging to the community, who just may not wish to read your paper anymore. It is the intent of some tabloids to incite controversy and evoke sensationalism to sell newspapers. Our old Gazette wouldn’t have done that. Where has that editor gone?
James Drew
Sequim
Get rid of the propaganda
Guilt by association is one of the oldest propaganda ploys. March 30, Daniel Gautschi ties all of America’s missing children to Planned Parenthood, with “liveaction.org,” videos, which allege that Planned Parenthood assists sex traffickers and supports underage prostitution.
In these “undercover” videos, actors play a pimp and an underage prostitute seeking abortion counseling. The videos ask, “Will Planned Parenthood comply with the law? Help the pimp cover up his sex abuse of underage girls and become a ‘partner in crime?’ Assure the pimp that they are trusted partners with the sex industry?”
Carefully excerpted dialogue between the phony pimp/prostitute and Planned Parenthood employees seems to substantiate these foregone conclusions.
Reading the full transcripts, however, indicates that most employees tried to be neutral advisors, assuring client privacy, and providing legitimate services. One employee overreached by advising where an abortion could be obtained elsewhere and was subsequently fired for it.
Planned Parenthood does provide abortions. It does advise all citizens, including sex traffickers and prostitutes, on reproductive matters. But it doesn’t judge its clients and it doesn’t “support underage prostitution.”
Contrived “investigative reporting” has no legitimate place in public dialogue, but is increasingly common from the political right. Actors posing as rich potential donors recently suckered a National Public Radio official into making damaging statements that cost him his job and played into the hands of NPR’s political opponents.
Whatever the merits and demerits of these agencies, we should all be allowed to judge them from plain facts, not manufactured propaganda.
Roy F. Wilson
Sequim
LETTERS POLICY
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words may be shortened. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words may be shortened. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster