Opinion
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Unbridled support
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Published: June 15, 2009
When will America come to its senses and end its unbridled support of Israel and put us in good standing with the rest of the world? And I don't just mean the Arab world -- I mean Europe and Asia as well.
Our policy allows Israel to get away with treating the Palestinian people like dirt under their feet. When our president tells them to stop building settlements on occupied lands, the Israelis thumb their noses at him. Year after year, we, the American taxpayers, give each Israeli -- man, woman and child -- $500 per citizen in aid money. I don't support that.
Israel doesn't want much. It just wants military superiority in the region and it wants to be the only Middle East country in the region to have nuclear weapons.
Don't dare criticize Israel. It would yell anti-Semitism in a heartbeat. I'm not anti-Semitic, but I sure am anti-Israel.
When are Americans going to have the guts to put a stop to this madness?
GARY L. McCOY
Winston-Salem
Also give to the citizens
Using city funds to further finance what is already a financial fiasco (i.e., the downtown baseball stadium) is an inappropriate and ill-advised move for the city during the current economic crisis. If the city approves giving these folks 25 years to pay back their loans, then I would hope that the city will also give its citizens 25 years to pay their city taxes and water bills -- especially those citizens who find themselves out of work due to no fault of their own or those who cannot afford to take their family to a baseball game downtown.
Please, Winston-Salem City Council, do not use city funds to further support an already embarrassing failure.
PAULA G. YOUNG
Winston-Salem
California solution
The state of California is in grave financial trouble, we are told. We, the taxpayers, have bailed out the banks and the auto industries, thus giving Big Government unprecedented control over these areas. Will the great state of California be next? I suggest a solution that helps California and also addresses another current issue in our country.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to sell San Quentin State Prison ("Beautiful Land On the Bay," June 9) and we need a secure location to house Gitmo detainees. Prisoners currently in San Quentin think the facilities are quite nice while also being secure.
Our government should buy San Quentin. California makes needed money; detainees will be housed securely in an acceptable facility; Gitmo goes away. And, best of all, we do not set the precedent of bailing out individual state governments.
ELIZABETH C. KISER
Winston-Salem
Hyperinflation
Hyperinflation is the greatest threat we face today. It happened to Germany after World War I, has occurred in several other countries since, and is currently happening in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia).
In 1913, the exchange rate between the dollar and the German mark was 4 marks per dollar. In 1923, the exchange rate was 4.2 trillion marks per dollar. In Hyperinflation in Germany, 1914-1923, Hans F. Sennholtz writes "...the German Government, under the leadership of the Socialist Party, embarked upon heavy expenditures for health, education, and welfare.... labor unions were given many legal immunities and privileges." This is the identical track that we are now following, and hyperinflation is the logical conclusion.
In 1923, the tax revenues in Germany amounted to 0.8 percent of the expenditures. The IRS reports that our 2008 tax revenues were down 34 percent and amount to approximately 11.6 percent of President Obama's planned spending in the next fiscal year.
Zimbabwe's inflation rate is now at 11 million percent. What we buy for a dollar today will cost $110,000 a year from now. Everything we own will be gone -- bank accounts, savings, pensions, IRAs, bonds, stocks, etc. Only possessions with intrinsic worth will have any value.
The best insurance is to invest part of our assets in precious metals: gold and silver. These should keep pace with inflation and help to protect us.
DONALD L. GARREN
Lambsburg, Va.
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