Letters: Solution is in our hands
December 7, 2012 11:10PM
Updated: January 10, 2013 6:10AM
The fiscal problems, both state and federal, have risen to a critical situation. These problems need to be solved and/or resolved prior to Dec. 30. Failure to accomplish this correction may well allow us to again slip into a recession, the results of which may be drastic and very destructive to our way of life and will push us into a Spain/Greece style of living. How horrible that would be!
All branches of government need to immediately reduce their budgets by 5 percent with all public service employees earning more that $60,000 reducing their pay by 5 percent. That means even state and federal congressional, governors and the president.
All public sector pensions need to be transferred to Social Security and all public service medical plans be transferred to private insurance and/or Medicare.
Pension reform must be real. Double-dipping must be stopped and public service pensions be fully funded. Tax reform must be fair while closing improper loopholes.
Unfortunately, taxes must also rise slightly. Line 22 on your federal form should be the guide. The tax must be mandatory and not deductible, so that anyone who qualifies for no tax and/or refund must pay this extra tax.
All people over 18 must file a return. Those reporting under $50,000 might pay half of 1 percent for federal taxes. Those who report $50,000 to $100,000, pay three-quarters of 1 percent; $100,000 to $200,000, pay 1 percent; $200,000 to $500,000, pay 1 and one-quarter percent. Above $500,000 should pay 2 percent. Additional tax to the state might be half of the federal amount.
It’s unfortunate, but all of us must participate since it affects all. We must all share in the solution. If we don’t all share in the solution, we will all share in the tragic result. Regretfully, it will be much more difficult to swallow later rather than now.
Mark Turk
Joliet
Benghazi machinations
The administration and all its pundits — and the liberal media — continue to lie about what caused and what happened when our ambassador and three other Americans were murdered during the terrorist attack at Benghazi. They continue to lie and apologize to the murderers even after proof that they knew within the first two hours it was a terrorist attack. President Barack Obama referred to the incident as a “bump in the road” in an interview.
The White House press secretary, Jay Carney, lied daily, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made speeches around the world saying it was because of a video, and vowed to have the person responsible arrested. He still is in jail, violating his Second Amendment rights under the Constitution.
Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice appeared on five TV shows on Sunday, lying and blaming the video. Obama, knowing full well it was a terrorist attack, addressed the United Nations using the same lie about a video being to blame. The liberal media, by its silence, backed the lies.
Now, as more details are found, it confirms the lies that continue to be told to cover the lies told initially. This is no surprise to me, after watching politics for more than 50 years, I have witnessed many changes.
John F. Kennedy, today, would be considered conservative. The Democratic Party was infiltrated and taken over by those calling themselves progressives, who, before were communists. Since then, the basis of the Democratic Party has been built on lies to the point that truth today is considered lies.
Andrew Ottaiano
Shorewood
