Thoughts on drugs, taxes, GOP
To the editor:
I want to make some quick points on four issues.
First, it is the total waste of money fighting the so-called war on drugs. The New York Times reports that despite spending $25 billion in this war, the price of one gram of cocaine has actually dropped 16 percent since 2001.
The war will continue because vested interests like private prisons, prison guard unions and policing authorities at all levels want it to continue even though it is a total waste of money.
Second, we hear a lot from Republicans and conservatives that taxes need to be lower.
Well, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the average tax rate paid by all households fell to 17.4 percent in 2009, the lowest tax rate in 30 years. The national debt will never be fixed at this rate.
Third, conservatives and Republicans complain about regulations and were against more bank regulation. I suggest readers do some research on the Libor scandal now rocking banks.
As a Financial Times editorial says “Few scandals have shone such an unsparing light on the rotten heart of the financial system and has exposed nothing less than a long running confidence trick played on the public.”
Do you really think team Republican will do anything about these types of scandals given their presidential candidate and their past performance?
Fourth, I see that Republicans are now going after Mitt Romney for whining.
GOP strategist John Weaver said "There is no whining in politics. Stop demanding an apology, release your tax returns." Alabama Republican Governor Robert Bentley said “If you have things to hide, then maybe you're doing things wrong. I think you ought to be willing to release everything to the American people."
Conservative commentator George Will said on ABC "If something's going to come out, get it out in a hurry. I do not know why, given that Mitt Romney knew the day that McCain lost in 2008 that he was going to run for president again that he didn't get all of this out and tidy up some of his offshore accounts and all the rest. The cost of not releasing the returns are clear. Therefore, he must have calculated that there are higher costs in releasing them."
Since Romney appears to be afraid to show his tax returns, then he must be hiding something and whining about political attacks is not what I want in a president.
President Obama should be re-elected.
Sincerely,
John P. Hiestand
Hillsboro