May 7: Goode’s choices
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By Published by The Editorial Board
Published: May 7, 2008
Goode’s choice was correct
To the editor:
Like most, I look forward to a windfall. These $600 federal tax rebate checks will be helpful with the rising prices of everything we buy, like food and gas. It certainly will come in handy for most of us.
But in contrast to the inference of your editorial, “He voted no,” (April 30, A6), I think U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode’s vote was the right vote.
We have a country about $9 trillion in debt — and that’s trillion with a “t.” Much of it has been loaned to us by Saudi Arabia and China and our debt keeps growing.
This new windfall means again we are borrowing more than $5 billion, which adds to our national deficit. So this $600 stimulus — if it goes to the normal spending patterns we have — likely will help other countries as much if not more than it helps our economy.
We are already the greatest debtor nation in history and our economy, of course, is the strongest. But until we get our federal finances in order, it does not bode well for future generations.
If our parents and grandparents had our generation’s attitude about debt, we would not have paid for World War II by sacrifice and if we had tried to get out of the Great Depression on credit card debt, we would be a mere shadow of the nation we are today. We are living on our parents’ financial stability. The value of the American dollar has declined against other major currencies due in part to our national debt, which makes the cost of everything we buy much higher, including oil.
We cannot keep doing what we are doing. Hiding behind debt is a shield from the attacks of reality.
Congressman Goode’s vote exemplifies his concern for our debt and our future security. Like any family, a government can live above its means for a while, but in the long run we must get our financial house in order.
Goode’s actions reflect the heritage that made this country great by making hard choices.
We cannot borrow our way out of deficit spending. In my opinion, we need to look for a way to pay off our debt and live within a budget to ensure our country’s future.
CHARLES R. HAWKINS
Chatham
What do you really want?
To the editor:
Please make up your mind! The Danville Register & Bee, without doubt, has to be one of the most inconsistent, conflicting and contradictory publications that I have ever read.
In “Who wants to pay more?” (April 27, page B6), your paper criticizes U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode for “playing political games” when he supported adding a line to the federal tax return to allow those who feel they have not paid enough tax to pay more. (Although not relevant, you did conveniently fail to mention that this idea is very similar to what Virginia has been doing for years with its tax return.) The editorial stated that Goode should get the federal government to “operate within its means.”
A few days later in, “He voted no,” (April 30, A6), your newspaper was condemning Goode (again!) for his no vote for the stimulus package, which includes $125 billion of borrowed money. (That is a 125 followed by nine zeros for those of us that voted for the Marriage Amendment and then voted Democrat.)
Virgil suggested the rebate checks should be offset by cutting things like foreign aid. I am of the opinion that this is a brilliant example of getting the federal government to “operate within its means.”
It would appear that the Danville Register & Bee is in opposition to Virgil regardless of his position. Perhaps you will be satisfied if the liberal from Charlottesville were to hold Virgil’s seat?
LARRY BARTON
Danville
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Posted by ( Jayne ) on May 11, 2008 at 12:13 am
Just wanted to add in regard to the idea of cutting foreign aid and investment, its been tried, remember? Mensa candidate President Bush brilliantly called North Korea part of the (ooooohhhhhhh!) “Axis of Evil” and cut humanitarian aid, spawning North Korea to launch nuclear tests to get our attention, which were stopped, how? By restoring humanitarian aid! And you, of all people, Mr. Hawkins, should recall that the reason former Governor Warner left office in this Red state with a 70% approval rating and VA was named the best managed state in the nation was PRECISELY because some very good republicans were willing to put party aside to work with/negotiate with the democrats in the best interests of the Commonwealth. As a one-time republican who once worked for the republican party on Capitol Hill, I still appreciate sound principles of conservatism; unfortunately, the GOP has been taken over by the neo-cons to promote a narrow agenda and the Machiavellians like “The Prince” Karl Rove. Some of us still prefer the Prince of Peace, and I highly commend the book “Invasion of the Party Snatchers.“ The political ploy of claiming to be interested in “staying within our means” on this particular vote doesn’t fool some of us. Get rid of the bad apples like Goode, keep the honorable, decent Americans like our senior U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth, and maybe the GOP, and America, can get back on track. Those who put party above the common good and engage in petty political partisanship/tricks do a disservice to their constituents and our nation. Once upon a time, ol’ President Ronnie R. and Speaker Tip O. played golf together and were dear friends, despite disagreeing on almost every issue. Lee Atwater apologized on his brain tumor death bed for his behavior…others shouldn’t wait that long. Peace.
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Posted by ( Jayne ) on May 10, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Just wanted to add, as for the brilliant idea of cutting foreign aid and investment, America tried that, remember? President Bush declared North Korea part of the (oooohhhhhh) “Axis of Evil,“ cut off humanitarian aid, spawning nuclear tests in North Korea to get our attention, which we got them to agree to stop, how? By restoring humanitarian aid!!!!!! As one who worked as a Republican for the Republicans on Capitol Hill, I do appreciate the sound principles of conservativism, Mr. Hawkins. Unfortunately, they have fallen victim to the narrow agenda of the neo-cons and polluted by the Machiavellian’s like “The Prince” Karl Rove. As one of those who still prefers The Prince of Peace and misses the days when Pres. Ronnie R. and Speaker Tip O. played golf together, well I urge folks to take back the GOP, or vote Democratic! Get rid of the bad apples like Goode but keep the honorable, decent Americans like our elder U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth; just put party below the best interests of the nation! Isn’t that what the Commonwealth did under democratic Gov. Mark Warner, Mr. Hawkins? I know YOU of all people certainly recall why he left office with 70% approval rating in this Red state and VA was recognized as best managed state in the nation: PRECISELY because some very good republicans joined the good democrats in putting the best interests of VIRGINIA above the parties and partisanship. Lee Atwater issued apologies from his death bed…others shouldn’t wait that long for playing dirty political games to keep office, using their elected position to pad the bank accounts or shore up the power of the select few, and tricking the public into voting against their own best interests, and the nation’s. Maybe you could suggest that to our Congressman. Peace.
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Posted by ( Jayne ) on May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm
You really don’t have to invest in the book “What’s the Matter with Kansas?“ to understand the power of neo-con social psychological manipulation of a malleable, ill-informed public…just read the letters to the editor in our very own R & B to see how people are duped into voting against their own bests interests and the nation’s to benefit the select facist few, also intent on concentrating the wealth! The great “tax-cutters” who refuse to vote for programs like health care for the poor (which Goode did 5 times against SCHIP, to my recollection) claiming that is private responsibility, are the same ones who fail to allow charitable deductions for those who don’t itemize (while the low-income are proportionally, statistically among the greatest of givers) or place caps on charitable contribution deductions, or limit deductions for health care costs to a level that makes it out of reach for most. The same politicians who want us to live “within our means” sure don’t sing the same tune when it comes to corporate bailouts, spending 12 million dollars an hour in Iraq when there’s a diplomatic means out of that mess (3 trillion before Bush leaves office!), giving generous tax cuts for investors who shut down American plants to move to sweat shops overseas, or ensuring those same investors pay a SUBSTANTIALLY lower tax rate than hard working middle class Americans. Cut foreign aid? That makes a whole lot of sense when we consider the African continent is 40% Muslim and given the history of myopic, greedy, hoarding American interests creating/fueling many of the conflicts, we can cut off aid to help breed more international terrorism, hatred of the U.S. among those of Islamic faith, and on top of severe social injustice, just maybe create a fertile breeding ground for extremist recruitments (Osama bin Laden got his start in the Sudan, remember?)...not to mention the U.S. strategic desire to establish a military base on the continent. Cut aid for the arts? Goode sure didn’t sing that tune about the North Theatre! Knock, knock, knock…anybody home? Wake up folks! Please! Just look at who finances his campaigns, look at where the bulk of the Appropriations money he secures goes, and then look at his voting record! Scary, scary stuff, indeed.
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