Letter writer: Just trying to be fair and balanced with the news.
Democrats sound same old party line
Delegates cheer during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday.The Democrats have unleashed another Hollywood production called the Democratic National Convention. It was the same party line on display again – raise taxes, over-regulate the business community and increase spending on entitlements with no way to pay for it.
Democrats never mention any accountability about the millions of dollars spent on these programs. And, of course, in President Obama’s mind, they create jobs by growing the government.
The Obama administration has done nothing but stifle job growth. Along with small business, the private sector is the engine that drives our economy. The Democrats don’t seem to get that. As Mitt Romney has stated, the left doesn’t like people who work hard and become successful on their own because, of course, that creates “evil capitalists.”
– JIM SOTIROPOULOS, Longmeadow
Trickle-down plan hurt U.S. economy
George Bernard Shaw got it right. “If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience.”
People started panicking; economists told us not to worry. Then the banks failed. Unemployment rose. The policies of one president and his inability to understand the scope of the issues led to a slow reaction to the crisis.
A new president stimulated the economy by building infrastructure and shoring up the banks. Unemployment decreased. GDP increased. Things stabilized and were headed (slowly) in the right direction. Sound familiar?
No, it’s not 2012. This is what happened from 1929 to 1937. Then, suddenly unemployment shot up and GDP went negative. The economy went into a tailspin.
What happened? The government stopped public works deficit spending. The Fed tightened the money supply to stop inflation. Taxes on workers increased (from new Social Security taxes). How do we manage this mess? The Fed has (mostly) increased the money supply.
The wealthy should pay their fair share. We need to create jobs by repairing our roads and bridges. Trickle-down Reaganonomics didn’t work before and won’t work now. The choice is clear.
– ANDREW WILLIS, Palmer
Please, no whining from Yankee fan
This is in response to a recent letter to the editor from a Yankee fan who suggested that New York cut its budget like the Red Sox have.
In 2009, the Yankees payroll was $220 million, while the Red Sox were at $120 million. Since then the Yankees have reduced their payroll to about $195 million this year while the Red Sox have raised theirs to $175-180 million.
During this spending spree by the Red Sox, they have failed to make the playoffs, and as a result of poor play this year, unloaded some of their high priced players.
The Yankees have a goal to continue reducing their payroll to below $180 million by 2014.
In addition, a little over $100 million of the payroll goes to five players: Jeter, ARod, CC Sabathia, Mo Rivera and Teixiera, all possible Hall of Famers.
So the Yankee fan who wrote should enjoy the fact that the Yankees develop/acquire great players to watch, spend money wisely and then make the playoffs most every year, producing 27 World Championships.
– MIKE QUINLAN, Southampton
Don’t fault Mitt for eating lobster
This is to the writer who complained that Mitt Romney was eating lobster in New Hampshire:
Are you aware that lobster is very inexpensive at this time of year and that Romney was paying for his own lobster?Are you also aware that the President and invited guests very often dine on Kobe beef at Wednesday evening dinner parties?
Kobe beef is heavily marbled, exceptionally smooth beef and almost prohibitively expensive. The price for Kobe can range from $49 to $69 per pound. For the very best Kobe beef the price can be from $274 to $519 per pound. Should we ask who was paying for these dinners?
Just trying to be fair and balanced with the news.
– SUSAN J. DANTON, Springfield