Letters to the Editor
Malusinka
Published Letters: 350 Editor's Choice: 49
-
Remember the Laffer Curve
[Read the article: Why Democrats are afraid to raise taxes on the rich]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It sure sounds good, raise taxes on the filthy rich. Guess what? It doesn't work. The higher the tax rate, the more people have an incentive to avoid taxes. And, in fact, the top 1% of earners are paying a bigger share of the tax burden now than they did during the Clinton era.
Think about it: If you're paying upwards of 100,000$ in tax, you have quite an incentive to hire an expert to figure out how to cut that burden.
The current tax system is such a mess of exemptions, exceptions, definition, and regulations that even the IRS can only make a rough guess at how any change will change revenue.
The real challenge is not figuring out how to land someone else with the burden of paying for all US Gov't "services" but to cut spending. Chop pork. End subsidies to enormous factory farms, stop building bridges to nowhere. And, of course, stop funding the war in Iraq.
-
Yes, admit it.
[Read the article: Should I come out as an atheist?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If you keep on pretending you're a believer, you are going to stay surrounded by devout Christians. Everyone in your college has signed a statement of faith, like you did. If you stay in an environment full of people for whom faith is very important, the chances are that almost all of your prospective girlfriends/boyfriends will be devout. You'll either be stuck going along with the pretense of faith (and having a big issue in your marriage/relationship) or being lonely.
I do suggest you consider the practical implcations of transferring versus finishing your degree.
And, to all those who criticize you for signing a statement of faith you knew to be false, I'll assume that you wanted to believe. Perhaps you hoped that by transferring to a religious school, you'd acquire the faith that everyone you know has. Don't sweat it. Youth is meant for figuring out who we are.
-
No Christmas Presents? Huh?
[Read the article: Should I come out as an atheist?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Christmas originated as a pagan holiday. If the Christians adopted it, why can't we atheists. I give presents, sing carols, decorate my tree. Why?
Although I don't believe Jesus Christ was the son of God or that God exists any more than I believe in Santa Claus, I do believe that the message embodied in Christmas is a good one: Love, giving, sharing the light in your life.
Why invent a new holiday? Why differentiate between songs about some fairy tales (Rudolph the red nosed reindeer) and others (Away in the manger)?
And let's face it, do committed Christians give presents at Christmas (for them a religious holiday) differently than on birthdays (a secular occastion)?
You can be an atheist without being a grinch.
-
In defense of fund managers
[Read the article: Why Democrats are afraid to raise taxes on the rich]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Unlike executives of big companies, most investment fund managers operate in a very competitive and transparent market. Either they're smart enough to invest (quantitatively) better than everyone else or they're not. Where would you like to invest your money? With a fund whose "grossly overpaid" manager has consistently produced stellar returns or a "fairly" paid manager produces mediocre returns at best and occasionally loses large chunks of capital?
And let's face it, how many people earn 1B$/year? 1, 2? Is that the basis of a policy?
-
Politely Decline
[Read the article: Our office manager is a dental despot!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sound out your fellows for safety in numbers. If no one else does it, (and your refusal to pay might encourage others to refuse), then think of a nice excuse.
* My prefered charity is The American Cancer Society.
* Gee, my budget is tight and I'd rather buy my partner a birthday present/ have a beer in a bar on Friday night than sit home watching Archie Bunker re-runs.
* Feign concern about the office's finances. Are we in financial difficulties? Is there no money in the budget for advertising?
The chances are that you will get a fair amount of pressure. After all, if no one kicks in, the office manager will be on the stick for the dough.She might mutter about your ressemblance to Scrooge. But if you've sounded out your colleagues, you'll know if they are going to silently applaud your bravery or agree that you're really cheap.
You might decide to give in. If so, inform her that next time, you should be asked before your contribution is assumed. If she finds collecting money hard enough, she might think twice before committing the cash.
-
Isolate LW from Family and Friends?
[Read the article: My husband is groping my sister]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I see a pattern here. And it is not drunk husband. It is a pattern of controlling men to isolate 'their' women from their families and friends. And the husband here seems to be doing that. He's not having sex. He's just making LW's friends and family very uncomfortable with him. He's making it hard for LW to stay close to them. To offer her emotional support or advice (like divorce him) or even refuge if she decides to leave.
LW, I'd look long at hard at whether your husband is subtly isolating you from your friends and family -- leaving you dependent on him. And then I'd talk to a counsellor (alone) about whether or not your marriage can be saved.