October 17, 2012 10:42PM
Updated: November 19, 2012 1:14PM
Voter ID laws appropriate
Our democratic leaders have been resisting voter ID laws because, in their opinion, requiring a photo ID to vote is akin to the racist Jim Crow laws of the past. Unfortunately, those same politicians have been ignoring the racists who oversee Joliet garage sale permits.
My family recently had a garage sale. When purchasing our garage sale permit — required in the city of Joliet — the friendly city clerk reminded me that I needed to present my photo ID to verify my identity.
Apparently, requiring a photo ID to sell used baby clothes and toys is not racist, but it is racist to have to prove who you are when voting.
Do politicians truly think so little of minorities that the task of acquiring a photo ID is impossible for some? The fact of the matter is that our democratic politicians are aware of the ease to acquire a photo ID. If democratic politicians truly believed a photo ID is difficult to obtain, there would not be a photo ID requirement to have a garage sale, buy liquor or cigarettes or do any number of other normal activities.
Voter ID laws simply make it more difficult to commit voter fraud. That is the honest reason behind this resistance. Voter ID laws do not disenfranchise — they secure the integrity of the election.
Brandon Dolezal
Joliet
The tax man cometh
It is going to be a cold, hard winter starting Jan. 1. The taxman cometh, and you’re not going to like it. As everyone knows, the economy is weak and about to become even weaker.
First and foremost, the Bush tax-cuts will go away. The result: The lowest income tax rate will jump from 10 to 15 percent. For most, however, the immediate tax rate will be a 3 percent bump: 25 to 28 percent, etc.
It will go even higher for top wage-earners, where the rate will jump from 35 to 39.6 percent. The irony is, that for every $1 the government takes in, it spends $1.75. Our government borrows $4 for every $10 it pays out. In my opinion, we don’t have a taxing problem, but a spending problem.
Pay attention, seniors, and anyone with a dividend income. Your tax rate is going to jump from 15 percent to a maximum of 39 percent. This is going to have a major impact on fixed income.
Now, the real back-breaker — the end of the Bush tax cuts will impact itemized deductions and personal exemptions. We will experience dramatic changes to phase-outs and limitations. You can plan on losing some — or all — including mortgage interest, charitable contributions and more.
Social Security tax will increase by 2 percent for every working person, including minimum wage workers. There will also be a new 3.8 percent healthcare tax that will apply to all wages. This will increase the current Medicare hit from 2.9 to 3.8 percent. There are additional increases, as well. And the president promised no new taxes on the middle class. What a crock. Vote wisely this Nov. 6.
John Thompson
Plainfield
