Progressive philosophy
of government lambasted

One big problem with public sector unions even within progressive philosophy is their interference with the role of government as the employer of last resort.

For a progressive government, anyone not worth employing needs to be considered either disabled or criminal, and needs to be housed, fed and doctored regardless, even if that takes place in jail.

However, in the presence of public sector unions, governments have great difficulty motivating enough productive people into the role of private sector taxpayers for the government to then use its always limited resources to feed and house everyone else, regardless of their productivity.

In addition to this, I have a problem with NEA teachers inherently exploiting childless taxpayers, including most gays and myself, and damaging the environment in the process.

So the correct claim that schools are cheaper than jails, must be environmentally countered that jails are usually more contraceptive than schools. Jails being the most common forced contraception in America. Although actual, designated, voluntary contraception is vastly cheaper than either one.

ALAN DITMORE
Asheville

American roulette being played on the road to ruin

Like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned, our Republican and Democrat congressional leadership, aided and abetted by the often-absent leadership of President Obama, continue to argue about politics and pennies instead of making an honest attempt to reduce the size, scope, and cost of the federal government.

Last November, the American people sent a clear message to Congress – get serious about reducing government spending and the deficit, but inside the beltway it is business as usual.

We expect Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid to drag out the usual horror show scenarios of riots in the cities, children without school, people dying in the streets, and grandma eating cat food.  What is outrageous and indefensible, however, is John Boehner seeking to compromise on the sound economic principles that grassroots activists expected him and the GOP majority to promote and champion in Congress.

Congress must stop enabling our addiction to spending and debt both in the private and public sectors.  We cannot continue to waste taxpayer money and ignore the natural “cleansing” action of the free market by bailing out failing federal agencies, flawed programs, and dead private sector companies.  Shutting down non-essential government services and refusing to raise the debt ceiling are two necessary initial steps on the road to financial solvency and economic recovery.

Most of us know that if we only have $8 in our pocket, we cannot spend $12.  As parents, it is our obligation to teach this to our children. As citizens, it is our obligation to demand it of our government.

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum
Murphy, N.C.

Everyone termed a loser
in budget compromise

Who are the real losers in the 2011 budget compromise?

A total of $38.5 billion in cuts are little more than 1 percent of the entire U.S. budget. Chump change. The U.S. still needs to borrow $1 trillion between Aug. 13 and Sept. 31, raising the debt from $14.5 trillion to $15.5 trillion

Revenues are not enough to cover every item in discretionary spending and defense.  We’re still $100 billion short in covering entitlements.

So, did the Republicans in this compromise at least succeed in bringing the president and Democrats to reality that this country is going to soon collapse under the debt unless we do deep cuts in spending now?

Some argue that the Democrats came to the table wanting zero cuts.  Still, $38.5B is a monumental leap in the right direction.   
Then why does borrowing $1 trillion more sound like the same ‘ol song — “The problem that is caused by too much borrowing and spending is solved by more borrowing and spending.”

The Republicans have brought reality to the Democrats and the president? Who swept the House in the last election?

Tea Party freshmen better come through for We The People or We The People will be looking for more Tea Party freshmen and replacements for the entrenched old guard!

Jane Bilello
Chair, Asheville Tea Party
Asheville Tea PAC
Hendersonville