Opinion
Letters to the editor, June 20
TBO.com
Published: June 20, 2012
Not nothing at allPublished: June 20, 2012
A recent letter lambasted columnist Marty Moore's position that the economic stimulus was not large enough.
First, the writer repeats the Republican lie that "we have received absolutely nothing from the stimulus except debt to China." In fact, at least three nonpartisan sources found that the stimulus created or maintained over 3 million jobs — not exactly "nothing."
Next, the writer cited the "cash we borrowed from China." Well, the U. S. does go hat-in-hand to "borrow" money from China. It issues U. S. Treasury securities on the open market, which anyone can buy. Our foreign debt is about 32 percent of the total debt, including Treasuries. China holds but 26 percent of all Treasuries, or only about 8 percent of the total public debt. So it's not likely that we will need to, as the letter stated, "learn Chinese" any time soon.
Finally, the writer states that she knows small business owners who are paying existing employees overtime and are themselves working 70 hours per week "to keep from having to hire anyone." Most small businesses — those with fewer than 50 employees — are not required to provide health insurance under Obamacare. So the anecdote is useless without business specifics.
Charles Stewart
New Port Richey
Always dangerous
In response to "Let's Break Them," the June 13 letter to the editor complaining about the risk of being run into at an intersection because of red light cameras, I wait at a stoplight for the vehicles on my left and right to proceed first. This way I am protected and whoever pulls out first gets hit — it's not me — if someone runs a red light in the opposite direction. I taught my children this defensive driving rule. An incident occurred, and it saved my children's lives.
Running a red light is wrong and dangerous, cameras or no cameras.
Frances DiPietro
Hudson
A pleasure
Just a note to let you know I enjoy receiving your paper. By the way, when the paper is folded lengthwise is it much easier to read.
Peggy Holway
Port Richey