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How to fix our problems
To the editor:
If you have had enough of the blame game and the endless political commercials telling us who did what and how bad it is, then, like me, you are frustrated and seeking remedies, not scapegoats. I began my run for the United States Senate a year and a half ago out of a heartfelt desire to shake up an unquestionably broken political system and culture. It is more convenient, in the current political ecosystem, to seek blame and misdirect a voter’s ire rather than to propose bold initiatives which can begin to move us in the right direction.
I refuse to continue this practice. Our current president did take office in the midst of a devastating recession; this is not a matter of opinion but a matter of fact. Having said that, our economy is still struggling and we are currently living through the worst “recovery” from a recession in over 60 years. If elected, I am making an ironclad promise to the citizens of Maryland to relentlessly pursue the following economic reforms to immediately restart and rejuvenate a struggling economy.
The first step I will propose is an immediate reduction in our absurdly high corporate tax rate. We now have the highest rate in the world amongst OECD countries. This is not a competition you want to win. The gold medal of tax rates is not a badge of honor. The great irony of our 35 percent rate is that the effective rate, or what is actually paid, is closer to 16 percent to 18 percent.
Why, you ask? Well, the small business owner who cannot afford an army of K Street lobbyists, top-notch accountants and lawyers is not privy to the “insider” deductions the politically connected crowd receives. The small business owner is the one paying that 35 percent rate while the “insider” crowd pays a significantly reduced rate depending on their level of political “connectivity.” This has the effect of producing massive misallocations of capital and investment and is destroying our economy. I will propose an immediate reduction to a flat rate of 16 percent and encourage our business community to bring home the nearly one trillion dollars of offshore holdings. This would result in a gusher of high-quality job creation and increased tax revenue to boot.
The second step I will pursue is a permanent extension of the current tax rates. I will not vote to increase your personal income taxes. Our elected officials have demonstrated no ability to efficiently spend what we surrender to them now. Raising my taxes and yours, in the middle of a paralyzing recession will only make worse our terrible economic predicament. A permanent extension will bring certainty to individuals and businesses holding on to capital because of the threat of higher taxes. The resultant re-investment of this capital will be a boost to middle-class wages and economic productivity.
The third step I will support is a Balanced Budget Amendment. It may not be the perfect solution but it is certainly a step in the right direction. We cannot allow unaccountable career-politicians and bureaucrats free-rein over our hard-earned tax dollars anymore. Budget control will happen whether by our will or the will of others to refuse to lend us anymore money.
We are in trying economic times. Engaging in fictitious class-warfare struggles, partisan rhetoric and “yesterday was terrible” talk, will do nothing to help us escape this economic morass. The only talk our elected leaders should be engaging in is “tomorrow will be better” talk, followed by real solutions, for real Americans struggling in real time.
Dan Bongino
Candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland
Ryan Medicare plan is sound
To the editor:
This letter is in response to Mr. Semler, who fears loss of Medicare (Sept. 17). Sir, it’s doubtful that you read any of the Ryan Medicare Plan.
If you read my letter, condensed portions of the bill are in the bullet points — your one fear about losing Medicare was discredited. I asserted that those who wish to stay in the current Medicare plan are given that choice.
Secondly, you say that “there is no problem with Medicare that can’t be fixed and preserved until eternity.”
Sir, I don’t know where you’ve been with all of what has happened to this economy in the last four years, but here are some statistics that might concern you:
1. We are currently $16 trillion in debt and counting.
2. One out of every six people in this country is on food stamps.
3. Approximately 30 million people are unemployed or underemployed, including 50 percent of college graduates with the same status.
4. The “government money” for all social programs, comes from taxpayer monies. If you don’t have people working, then no taxpayer money!
That’s it sir, we are living on borrowed time and money. We have a leader who I believe doesn’t care about you or me. He’s more concerned about controlling every aspect of your life.
And as far as the “Medicare money,” I’m sure you are unaware that the Obama administration has taken $500 billion from the Medicare program to pay for Obamacare
So if you want to blame someone for robbing and “destroying Medicare” put the blame on the right group, the Obama administration.
Finally, Mr. Semler, Rep. Ryan’s Medicare plan is sound. If you want the truth, go to the Internet and read the plan or to the library if you have no Internet.
The problem is on both sides of the political aisle. There are those on the left who demagogue the issue with trumped up lies because they have no solutions or plan. Secondly, and more importantly, there is no cooperation in making any plan work.
Sir, those are the people who you should be calling asking why, or “What is your plan?”
Until there is working together from both sides, there’s not going to be a solution and then you will have every right to be fearful of losing Medicare.
Mary Burkholder
Chambersburg, Pa.