The GOP's regressive tax plans | Dec. 5, editorial
Tax bill puts U.S. on right course
The Times is already crying wolf over the new tax cuts, claiming that the new laws "could" result an increase in the national debt of $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Where were you while the Obama administration added $8 trillion in just eight years?
You claim the plan "could" result in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security down the road. If something isn't done to control these programs, we will certainly go bankrupt in the next decade or so. As for partisan voting, have you forgotten the previous administration that became the poster child for never crossing the aisle (see the Affordable Care Act)?
As to the claim that 13 million "could" lose their health coverage due to repealing mandatory participation, it will be their choice not to carry insurance, not an authoritarian mandate of oppressive legislation.
The estate tax (death tax) has always been ridiculous. To tax the heirs of someone who has worked their entire lives to succeed and attain wealth is insane. Many who receive this inheritance must sell their assets just to pay taxes.
The Democrats have always maintained that taking from the rich helps the poor. Never has; never will.
Don Niemann, Seminole
Small businesses get tax relief | Dec. 6, letter
Customers, not tax rates
The letter writer says he's a small business owner and feels that the tax relief he's about to get will allow him to increase his business and hire more staff. If your business is depending on tax relief, you must not be making much money.
I also am a small business owner. I have 20 staff and I have no problem paying my taxes, because — guess what — if I pay taxes I'm making money. The only thing I need is more people to buy my products.
If there's more money in the spenders' pockets (blue collar and middle class), that will drive the need to employ more people and I will make more money.
Gerard Valente, New Port Richey
Tax bill clears Senate | Dec. 3
Middle class needs relief
Low taxes do not create jobs. We prove this every year during Christmas shopping season. Retailers, shipping companies, even the post office, hire extra workers during this season. And it has nothing to do with tax rates. It has to do with middle class Americans shopping and mailing stuff like crazy. The shopping and mailing demand goes through the roof this time of year. And it is that increase in demand that creates all these extra jobs.
Now imagine on Dec. 26, at the end of the Christmas shopping season, that we reduce the business tax rate to zero. Would all those businesses that hired those extra workers for the shopping season keep them? No, they wouldn't. The shopping demand went away. The businesses no longer need those extra workers, so they will not keep them no matter what the tax rate is.
So, if you want to grow the economy, we don't need tax cuts for the rich and businesses. We need to make sure middle class Americans have plenty of disposable income to spend. The two Republican tax bills do not do this. Both do the opposite of what is needed.
Russ A. Johnson, Hudson
How to avoid these six main causes of car crashes | Dec. 3, Perspective
Put some teeth into law
We travel on the roads frequently, and distracted driving is prevalent wherever we go. Not only the people in cars, but also the truck drivers are guilty of it.
Do we need stricter laws? You bet we do, and I think we should do as our neighbors to the north have done.
Canada has strict distracted driving laws, and I quote: "Using handheld electronic devices while driving has been outlawed in Ontario since 2009 except for 911 emergency calls. Fines range from $300 to $1,000 plus 3 demerit points."
If they are charged with careless driving involving electronic distraction, they can have their license revoked and/or their car confiscated on the spot.
We need some "bite" in our fines to get their attention. Our lives are in danger.
Carolyn Sherwin, St. Pete Beach
Christians are energized | Dec. 7, letter
Un-Christian leadership
The letter writer says that it was not the Russians but "American Christians who elected Donald Trump."
I have no doubt that it was Americans who "claim to be Christians" who elected Trump, but I would argue that anyone who professes Christian values could not possibly vote for an obnoxious, vulgar, racist, misogynistic person whose words and actions are so clearly un-Christian.
Jeff Radley, Lithia
Trump: Jerusalem is Israeli capital | Dec. 6
Palestinian refund?
The Palestininas are so uphappy with the president's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that they are burning pictures of him and the American flag.
In 2016, the United States funded the Palestinian Authority to the tune of $712 million. Since they are so disgruntled, I suggest they forgo the cash and we instead give it to our local teachers.
Meg Moskovitz, Tampa
Talk and consequences
Last week, President Donald Trump suggested that people who lost money in the stock market's slight downtick after ABC News released a discredited story about Michael Flynn should sue the network to recover the losses.
Using that same "logic," anyone in the Middle East who suffered physical injury or the loss of the life of a loved one during the violent protests that occurred after Trump "declared" Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel should sue Trump for redress.
Terry Arnold, St. Petersburg