Landmark notice

Like everyone else, the past year has not been good for my investments. In fact, my most successful investment was the forever stamps sold by the U.S. Post Office. But last week was a landmark for me. I received my 2009 property revaluation notice and I was so happy to see that my home has increased in value, since the last valuation, by 21.5 percent.

I can't wait to see my next-door neighbor to tell him about our good fortune in having our property increase in value. You see, he has had his house on the market for sale or lease for the past six months with no takers. Now he can increase the price of his house based on this revaluation. Also, I stand ready to sell my house for this increased amount. Isn't it great to live in a prosperous area?

I trust the Forsyth County tax assessor understands irony.

R. BRUCE HEYE

Lewisville

Highly ironic

I found a recent readers' forum letter highly ironic. The writer maintained that Abraham Lincoln's election and the recent passing of the Obama economic-stimulus package "proved that even in the United States, party politics could overshadow a huge percentage of the population's voice" ("Repeating history," Feb. 28).

What about the party politics since the beginning of this nation until over halfway through the last century when African-Americans were denied the vote through one means or another?

ELVA NOURSE SIEG

Kernersville

Revaluation shock

Forsyth County recently finished a property tax revaluation. In 2006, my home was overvalued at $146,000. I've had it on the market for a year now trying to sell it at $139,000. Expecting the new value to go down, I was shocked to see it come through at $158,000. Forsyth County thinks home values in my area have gone up 9 percent in the last two years. How out of touch can it be? Is this just a way to raise more revenue without the backlash they would get from raising the tax rate?

I'd sell my home to them on the spot for $158,000.

BRIAN OSTASIEWSKI

Winston-Salem

Questionable practices

The Journal recently reported the court-ordered destruction of 145 pit bulls seized in the bust of a Wilkes County fighting-dog breeding operation ("145 pit bulls put to death," Feb. 18). Many of these dogs were puppies. An important factor in the order was testimony by the Humane Society of the United States, the world's largest and wealthiest animal-welfare organization. This decision was made despite offers from a welfare coalition to evaluate, neuter, care for and find homes for qualified dogs.

The destruction of hundreds of pit bulls, supported by HSUS advocacy, has been reported in the media in recent years. Several cases involve mass euthanasia of "fighting" dogs whose owners are later acquitted of all charges (Louisiana v. Boudreaux; Pima County v. Patrick).

The HSUS keeps stubbornly reasserting its destructive policy despite the success of other animal-welfare organizations' constructive solutions to dog confiscation, such as the recovery of Michael Vick's dogs at Best Friends Dogtown. The HSUS is not affiliated with any local animal-welfare groups, nor does it directly support the housing, care or placement of animals. It is an investigative and lobbying organization. John Goodwin, HSUS's manager of animal fighting issues, has connections with the more radical organizations, PETA and ALF, whose directives include the abolition of animal agriculture and pet ownership.

Our family has adopted several pit bulls with blood-sport backgrounds, and all made superlative companions. We urge others committed to animal welfare to contribute to organizations on the front line of humane animal care.

SCOTT REAVIS AND

JUDITH HOWARD

Yadkinville

In this economic time

Should we ask for $32 million to replace a beautiful, centrally located library because it is 56 years old and needs updating? When more and more people are doing their research on computers? In this economic time? Should we buy a fleet of new buses of an enormous size when I rarely see more than three people (if any) riding on the existing buses? Try buying hybrid vans or putting everybody in cabs. It would have to be more cost-effective.

Should we defend jobs in the tobacco industry just because it has been an important North Carolina industry? And then allocate funds for health care to help poor addicted victims get over the diseases we have just caused? Should we increase the tax value on homes when the real-estate market is tanking and appraisals are dropping?

BRENDA QUINN HUTCHINS

Winston-Salem

New math cannot possibly work

"New" math Obama-team style: massive government outlays + massive government deficits/debt + tax increases + cap and trade + unionization via intimidation = superior GDP growth (4 percent +). Heck, I bet if they threw in a gargantuan expansion of federally mandated "jackpot justice," GDP growth would soar to even greater heights.

C'mon, let's get real. Anyone with even the tiniest bit of economic acumen, or even a smidge of common sense for that matter, knows this math cannot possibly work. So, the question that begs to be answered is: "Are these folks actually this delusional (frightening, if true) or are they simply lying for reasons I cannot begin to fathom?"

SCOTT KEITH

Winston-Salem

Hasn't taken long

It sure hasn't taken long. Spend like crazy, raise taxes, nationalize banks, pay off unions by throwing money at auto companies, cut defense spending (the only government-run program that has ever been successful) and now nationalize health care when the current program, Medicare, is bankrupt. Socialism doesn't work, but we've got it now.

Wake up America, vote everyone out of office and institute term limits at all levels of government. Cronyism/nepotism/lobbyists/ear-marking beget corruption, not representative government.

JOHN F. HAGEMAN

Winston-Salem