Linking Obama with ’60 radical wise, legit

As a proud American citizen, I firmly believe it is truly wise and legitimate to question Barack Obama’s past associations with America haters. Why? Because the old saying is still true today. “Birds of a feather flock together.” And as the beautiful, patriotic Governor of Alaska would say, “You darn betcha they do.”

Howard Steele, Monroe

‘Neophyte’ Obama’s tax plan would cripple business

We need to know the results of options before us, since this long-crafted plan brought our world’s-best economy to its knees. The need to rescue our hurt bank/loan financeries was essential to keep our independent businesses/employers going so we retain our income. The buyers who lost money will be next.

Although businesses exchange large amounts of money, their year-end profits range from 10-12 percent. Unlike corporate shareholders, who pay tax on sales of stock, businesses yearly pay on net profit; owners and employers pay on wages.

Businesses put their profits in stable banks at interest, borrowing on it as operations require. This reinvestment helps increase profit for expansion/new jobs when possible, helps balance supply/demand at affordable prices, etc.

Now, one neophyte wants to raise taxes on income over $250,000/year, crippling business! He says 35 percent don’t pay taxes (ample exemptions, 5.5 percent unemployed, balance too young or disabled!) This is an old ruse to level us equally, despite individual abilities and endeavors. Humor: “A communist is one who yearns for equal division of unequal earnings!”

When business taxes are raised (cost), profit goes down each year, forcing business to cut back on jobs, expansion (would-be jobs), raises, etc. Even government gets less tax!

Lowering taxes, however, increases profit allowing businesses to grow, adding more jobs for the hurting, increasing government tax revenue, increasing donations to those who help our needy, etc. Individuals are inevitably more fiscally sound than bureaucracies!

Joan Wheeler, Corvallis

Payouts to Wall St., ‘far left’ Obama, weaken nation

A free nation depends on accountability in its government, its news media and its productivity, as well as its citizens.

Banks must be free to lend to accountable borrowers. Coercion by government, from President Clinton on, in providing a significant portion of loans backed by citizen dollars, rather than equity, backfires when buyers can’t make payments and values crash. “Free” money destroys value.

To be accountable, government-sponsored loan-backup-financing, e.g. “fannie mae” must not raid taxpayers to cover already-inflated bundled mortgages.

Multimillion-dollar payouts to agency directors, to politicians and to far-left causes including candidate Obama, or to bail out “bonus-happy” Wall Street executives becomes a scam. Oversight? Nil.

The recent federal response? More of the same. A three-page $700 billion proposal ballooned in Congress to 448 pages; voted down. The Senate added another $150 billion, including earmarks: passed! Back in the House, this monster — passed! The president signs. All taxpayer-funded, all in haste.

The bailout bill apparently makes the treasury secretary responsible for the (whole) U.S. economy. Think about this.

Accountable, already-burdened-with-government-debt taxpayers again get stuck with the bill.

Jane Newton, Philomath