Corporations, and not activists, evade taxes
Thank you, dear Editors, for printing Nathan Tabor once in awhile, and for balancing his views with others such as Peter Phillips.
That said, I want to correct some of Tabor”s misinformation (Observer*American, July 18). He infers that conscientious tax activists are costing other taxpayers $345 billion a year, when, in truth, nearly all of that evasion is by corporate and rich individuals, drug growers and importers. Most tax activists end up having their wages, bank accounts, houses, and even their shirts confiscated, because the IRS is afraid more people will get the conscience bug and try to stop paying for torture, murder, mayhem, rape, terrorism and the like.
Tabor also says that tax activists are against the freedom to pray in school. My wife and I and all the tax activists I know support optional prayer in the schools, and the foxholes. We think Jesus would not support coercion of children to pretend they are praying. Most kids I know pray better than adults until the adults tell them they have to pray.
My wife and I refuse to make the minimum taxable income. I personally think this may give me some time off from hell for good behavior. I realize that this hurts the Idol Economy, and that if everyone resisted, we would need to share and care more to survive. In fact, war and torture might show up as too expensive to our lives and souls.
Want your taxes to go to helping rather than harming? Call or write Mike Thompson and ask him to support the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill — HR 1921. And support the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund. Call toll free at (888) PEACETAX or visit www.peacetaxfund.org.
B. Edwin Christwitz
Clearlake
Readers should keep open mind on stories
I have been reading your newspaper for many years. I have never been so determined to write to the editor as now. The citizens of Clearlake and all those that read this paper need to keep an open mind. There are always many sides to every story.
I am specifically referring to numerous articles that reference mistreatment by the Police Department and City Administration.
Please keep in mind that what you may be reading may not always be the truth and that some important information might be left out. Some people have agendas and manipulate the truth. Some letters to the editor may be from family members, close friends, or coworkers. Certain information may be omitted or not provided for legal reasons.
Tracy Garcia
Sterling, Colo.
Open space can be a real asset for local community
It would seem from the existing trend that a lot of people do not want to live in a rural community. They don”t want to take care of so much land and don”t like the smell of livestock. That is their right! But the farmer and rancher also have their rights, or at least should have! Residential housing being built close to the farmers” and ranchers” adjoining property lines are intrusive and is a conflict of property uses.
Both sides, the rancher along with the established rural neighborhoods and the developer, should have rights! How about there being at least a 200-foot or more open space area between adjoining property lines when there is a conflict of use with two different properties side by side. That would at least keep the new residential noises away from the ranches and the open fields of a rural neighborhood.
There is no doubt there is a definite conflict between some of the builders and the people who want to keep some open space between their neighbors and themselves. There is also the question of where the water supply will be at and how much more outrageously costly the city water will be when the city lets this runaway building craze get done with.
When the new builders get their high-density buildings in, what happens when the precious money exchange doesn”t supply the needed amount of water because there”s not enough to go around? The row of trees with their open spaces become rows of houses crammed together with no open spaces at all. All the open spaces become obsolete in an established community because they are not bringing in enough tax money.
I just hope that before it is too late, all of the people will see that it is a real asset for the whole community, both rural and urban, to have some “open space” areas that will act as separators between communities. This way there can and will be a mutual co-existance between the two!
Judiann Bartczak
Clearlake
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to letters@clearlakeobserver.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Pleases include complete name, address and telephone number.
