LETTERS
Countering Cox
Congressman Chris Cox’s Nov. 12 diatribe about runaway federal spending in response to the terrorist attack demonstrates much about the lack of leadership in the House, and GOP sentiments in general.
In his missive, Cox whines, as usual, that most if not all spending problems relate to ex-President Clinton, and that today’s House should hold back on the terrorism and terror-related spending now being proposed in Washington.
First, it’s a little tiring to hear how Clinton overspent. When Clinton proposed taxing a few a bit more, Cox and his crowd crowed that the economy would suffer and jobs would be lost. It did not and jobs were created.
When Bush proposed new tax cuts for the wealthy, we heard that the surplus would expand. It did not. The one leader who took us from $300 billion in deficits to $180 billion in surpluses will probably never get respect in Orange County. Oh well.
But, if Cox wants to propose real spending cuts, please start by getting rid of the GOP pork to budget $2 million studying N.C. swine waste. The House GOP has no equal in proposing new spending, they just select different friends.
Given that Cox is a former corporate lawyer, it isn’t surprising that his only suggestion for spending today is for a further reduction in capital gains rates, speeding depreciation and the elimination of the alternative minimum tax. These are pork for the coupon clippers sunning on the deck of their yachts in Balboa, wondering how to spend the 3% gift Cox proposes. None of Cox’s views help the hundreds of thousands laid off since Sept. 11 nor do they spur the confidence in our government and economy we urgently need to move back to fly on planes and spend money.
I know Cox hates to think the “general welfare” clause of the Constitution empowers solutions to problems, but government action is required to move us to normalcy.
Frederick Judd
Attorney
Irvine
The Economy
I watch the market and wonder, what are the people who make statements that cause the market to go up and down thinking? Where is it written that a company has to grow at a certain percent to be successful? What’s wrong with a company that has moderate or no growth? They are still employing people and these people spend their money and help the economy.
Can’t we stop these ridiculous expectations? I read about a company that has 13% growth but the stock dives because some analyst had predicted it would have 18% growth.
I am tired of hearing how many people lose their jobs and how the economy is so bad. My goodness, have you never heard of self-filling prophecies?
Many things are now changing in America. Let’s first change the way we let others control our financial future. Let’s all make a conscious effort to ignore those who cry wolf for personal gain.
Larry Reese
Aliso Viejo
Red, White & Blue
It’s hard to get around and enjoy the day
With all that’s going on in this hateful world today
You turn on the TV and all you see is war,
All these countries trying to even the score
A lot of Americans have something to say
But all these ignorant people keep on pushing them away
Saying wait another day
You got religion fighting religion
And race fighting race
But not all people can see that that’s not the case
It’s freedom and democracy all across the land
And some of these terrorists are trying to sabotage the plan
But what they don’t see is that America stays true
To the Red, White & Blue
Alex Madain
(Madain, 15, is in the 10th grade at Capistrano Valley High School.)
Fan Letter
To Rick Reiff:
I get a kick out of channel-surfing odd cable stations and programs. Last night, right between the purple-haired lady who can cry on command when she asks for money and a Korean cooking show, low and behold, there you were! You were clearly enjoying your celebrity, sitting on a panel with other local Orange County political pundits.
Rick, you are my choice to replace Robert Novak on CNN. A little less Dippity Doo in the hair and I think you could hit the big time.
Barry Gold
President
Barry M. Gold & Co.
Irvine
