Reader Responses

Tarnish Spreads On 'American Dream'

For those who ponder such generalities "The American Dream" represents different strokes for different folks. No two are the same. A common denominator may be a utopian environment whereby each person through hard work, thrift and application of innate personal capabilities may have equal opportunity and freedom to attain the highest stature to which they can aspire.

The American Dream is the essence of opportunity for an individual to realize his/her ambitions and goals. It is the role of government to establish rules and policies that promote equal opportunity and freedom of choice among all of its constituencies with the least interferences to personal preferences, without transferring by legal mandate, inherent rights of one to another under the guise of caring for them.

Just government promotes honest efforts and good works by elevation of wealth and respect by peers. It protects from oppression and control by others as an inherent human right and punishes those who prey on the weaknesses of those least protected by nature. When government fails in its duty to these causes it should be modified or replaced.

The federal government has created significant obstacles to achieving the American Dream by millions of hard-working Americans. Tax and welfare laws have become so hopelessly complex and complicated that legislators cannot comprehend what they, themselves have enacted into legal mandates. The majority of your congressmen and senators have to pay professionals to prepare their individual tax returns.

Lawmakers under the pretense of "caring" for you have created a legacy of perpetual, unredeemable debt and it compounds daily.

The Tyler Paper editorial, "Crisis in Social Security Has Quickening Urgency," April 29, 2007, stated that in terms of net present value (the amount of money that would have to be invested today) Social Security needs immediate investment of $6.8 trillion (the shortfall) between estimated income and promised benefits) between 2017 and 2018. Quoting a Heritage Foundation report, the paper went on to say: "The Social Security program faces massive annual deficits starting in just 10 years."

In closing, the editorial stated: "It is time for the American people to send their own strong message to Washington on Social Security. Congress must face the crisis now and come up with the best solution."

The Social Security issue is merely a tip of the iceberg. The law permits business to deduct as "business expense" all wages, WHICH includes all the FIT and FICA taxes withheld from employee paychecks. These two taxes are co-mingled in a manner which makes it virtually impossible to determine the net amount of Social Security (FICA) revenues that accrue to the Treasury. The GROSS FICA tax currently exceeds the amount paid to beneficiaries and as the Heritage Foundation points out, this alleged surplus will evaporate in 2017. Because of the "business expense" deduction of FICA taxes, the net revenues to Social Security are already in deficit to paid benefits. This is an irrefutable, provable fact.

In its most recent annual report (extracts beginning on page 27) to the president and the Congress, David M. Walker, U.S. comptroller general had this to say:

"Certain material weaknesses in financial reporting and other limitations on the scope of our work resulted in conditions that, for the 10th consecutive year, prevented us from expressing an opinion on the federal government's consolidated financial statements. About $797 billion, or 53 percent, of the federal government's reported total assets as of Sept. 30, 2006, and approximately $790 billion, or 27 percent, of the federal government's reported net cost for fiscal year 2006 relate to five of the 24 Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act agencies' fiscal year 2006 financial statements that were disclaimed on or not audited."

The federal government did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (including safeguarding assets) and compliance with significant laws and regulations as of Sept. 30, 2006.

The bottom line is the annual federal deficits that are alleged to be improving are miniscule compared to the explosion of fiscal liabilities. While spending approximately $3 trillion last year, the U.S. Fiscal Exposure increased by $4 trillion. If this is not a recipe for disaster, the word has no meaning. When this cataclysmic economic event occurs, the only survivors will be those who caused it.

John T. Koraska
Tyler

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

If it were not so serious and immoral, I think the current conditions around this year's White House would be funny.

Not long back, the political attitudes of many seemed to be that anything Mr. Bush did was really good. Come to find out, Karl Rove did the manipulating that got the president elected the first go round. Karl Rove and the Evangelicals, the Jerrys and the James.' The public was so assured that Democrats were nothing less than immoral, many voted Republican to keep from going to hell.

The president was elected the second time on the basis of his replies concerning the Sept. 11 tragedy (which also vaulted "Rudy" to the president's political race). Now, years later and with the death toll of American troops rapidly approaching 5,000, what happened to the "Mission Accomplished" sign?

I would imagine a lot of good well-intentioned folk would appreciate their votes being handed back to them.

Now comes the "madam" with her black book list of clients, not to mention the interns, the Libby scandal, and others. How many names of some of the highest positions in this administration are on the list?

This entire past five or six years has been nothing more than trying to sell the American public the idea that all is well and good in Washington. What will the televangelists be saying now? I have not listened to them in the past and don't intend to but I see nothing in the newspapers or hear on TV what Jerry or James or others might be saying.

It's high time the American public wakes up to see what might be going on around them.

Leo Causey
Ben Wheeler

No To Alcohol Props

Sunday's paper mentioned Longview's May 12 alcohol vote. Here are three reasons to vote against the alcohol propositions.

First, every dollar spent on alcohol in Texas results in more than $2 in alcohol-related health costs and other damages. (Based on an alcohol industry report of Texas alcohol sales and a state of Texas report on alcohol damages.)

Second, alcohol-related health costs and other alcohol damages in Texas total about $22 billion annually, while alcohol taxes are only about $1 billion annually. Much of the difference is paid by all Texans, in higher insurance premiums and other taxes.

Third, there's been no state alcohol tax increase in 24 years and according to news from Gov. Perry's Tax Reform Commission Chairman, John Sharp, the public should not count on the Texas alcohol industry paying its fair share of taxes any time soon.

Mr. Sharp proposed a huge increase in cigarette taxes, but refused to propose an increase in alcohol taxes saying the Texas alcohol industry has a controlling influence in our state Legislature. (Feb. 9, 2007 Austin American Statesman)

Jim Haire
Tyler