Thank you Record-Bee for an entertaining, informative and thought-provoking opinion page on Tuesday. Many of the contributors touched several of my hot buttons.
Mr. Konrad hit upon one of my long standing pet peeves, corporate and rich taxation. I do not believe the top 2 percent of the nation make up the majority of our tax revenues. If GE can make $14 billion in profit and not pay taxes then they must not be part of the top 2 percent in tax revenue. How much money do you have to make before you have to pay taxes?
Mr. Valdez is on the right track by charging an even tax percentage across the board as a way for everyone to pay their fair share.
Then you have Mr. Feeney who wrote about one of Lake County”s notorious loose cannons. The mere idea that a President could be elected and not be a natural-born citizen is just absurd. Someone somewhere would have found the smoking gun if it were true. Really Randy?
As for Mr. Williams, I can”t agree or disagree with his feelings about medical marijuana dispensaries. I do believe there needs to be greater oversight and control regarding the dispensaries and the issuing of prescriptions.
Last but definitely not least, Mr. Springer touched on a subject that would take more space than this paper has available.
First, I have very little respect for most of our elected government and even less for our legislators. It seems they only have their best interest at heart. When it comes to Bush and Cheney, along with some Wall Street and banking execs I believe they belong in jail. I believe many Americans would liked to have seen President Obama take stronger action. Instead he took the high road to avoid placing the country in greater turmoil.
President Obama is not without fault regarding his bail-out plans, they needed more thought and oversight. By taking action, good or bad, he may have saved this country from much greater trouble than it is in now.
To the many people who lost their jobs and those who are still unemployed, it would be much, much greater if GM, AIG and the rest were allowed to go under.
To this day I still cannot figure out how George W. was elected to a second term considering we did not elect him to the first.
Then you have the Republicans who have forgotten” who drove the bus into the ditch” and are now complaining about how to get it out. As soon as the Republicans gained control they voted to keep the tax cuts for the rich and cut funds for seniors, education, children and the poor. I”m still waiting for the trickle down to happen.
If that isn”t bad enough you have a Supreme Court that appears to be owned by corporate America and big money, based on one of their last rulings regarding campaign contributions.
California Public Utilities Commission is another example of political pay back. The head of the CPUC, appointed to watch out for the public interest was a VP or board president of a major power company. I?m sure he has the public interest at heart, just ask PG&E.
I could go on and on but I won”t, I just hope you had a little fun reading my rant as I did reading Tuesdays opinion Page.
Ray Richards
Clearlake Park
