Published: November 01, 2007 11:43 pm            

Letters to the editor - Friday, Nov. 2, 2007

A mayor can’t cut taxes without city council

My high school government teacher taught all students that the legislative body is the one that votes on taxes, not the executive branch. The president may propose taxes or tax cuts, but Congress has to vote taxes into law.

The governor may propose tax changes, but the Indiana General Assembly has to vote taxes into law.

Likewise, the mayor may propose tax cuts, but the city council has to vote to lower local taxes.

Mr. Hamilton does not seem to understand that even if he were elected as mayor, he can’t change state property taxes. Mr. Hamilton, if elected, can’t change or lower local taxes.

If Mr. Hamilton is this confused about his only promise to voters, that he will cut taxes, how can we expect him to govern our city?

Cyndy Kendall, Greentown

Why Rick Hamilton should be mayor

I moved to Howard County in 1978 and had the opportunity to meet Rick as a member of the First Congregational Church on which we served on several committees. I found him to be reverent and very trustworthy in all my dealings with him. I had the pleasure to see Rick and Becky and all four of their daughters grow in their spiritual lives.

After my retirement from the Boy Scouts of America, I was recruited to be secretary of the Noon Rotary Club in 1994 in which Rick has been a member for 25 years and was a board member and president in 2005-06. Rick demonstrated wonderful leadership traits and loyalty to the organization.

Another opportunity to work and observe Rick in leadership was as a member of SCORE, which has its office in the Chamber of Commerce building. His ability to meet and greet people he works with and on numerous committees will be another asset that will serve Kokomo well with him as mayor.

These are a few of the reasons that I feel comfortable in recommending you join me at the polls and elect Rick Hamilton as mayor of Kokomo.

H.W. “Hod” Peabody, Kokomo

Would you trade services for $360?

Mr. Hamilton, candidate for mayor of Kokomo, is campaigning on the twin issues of cutting taxes and making city government smaller.

As mayor, would Mr. Hamilton have the legal right and authority to cut city taxes? No, only the city council has that right under the law.

As mayor, would Mr. Hamilton have the legal right and authority to cut the city budget? No, only the city council has that right under law.

Assuming that as mayor, Mr. Hamilton could persuade a majority of the city council to cut the city budget and therefore employees and services, how much money could the average taxpayer save? $360 per year. Mr. Hamilton could save taxpayers that amount by shutting down city government and all city services, including police protection, fire protection, garbage collection, sewage services, parks supervision and maintenance, and all other city services.

Is that how you want the city of Kokomo to be run by our next mayor? Would you trade $360 in taxes for all city services?

David A. Gregory, Kokomo

Dissidents stand up for exploited, oppressed

A very exciting and interesting situation occurred recently with the ratification vote taking place for the new Chrysler contract. It was a wonderful opportunity to observe democracy in action.

Sadly enough the contract passed, but not without resistance – especially from those that were willing to be recognized in their opposition.

For those that publicly voiced that opposition to the contract, they were labeled as dissidents.

The word dissident surfaced as it has many times before when certain individuals stand firm against oppressive authority and speak the thoughts and feelings of the oppressed and exploited masses.

Throughout history, dissidents have always challenged tyrannical and dictatorial powers that have performed actions of injustice and vicious violations towards those that only wish to have a harmonious existence.

Many are completely unaware of the role that dissidents have played in their lives and much of what they have acquired through the dissidence of others.

There are many that have played this role, going as far back as Jesus and Socrates, to more modern times with Eugene Debs, Mary Jones, Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez.

The world is all the much better because of those that stand in opposition against greed and corruption.

I am a member of Soldiers Of Solidarity – a rank-and-file dissident group of UAW members frustrated not only with corrupt corporate greed, but also with the oligarchic, bureaucratic union officials that are obviously more interested in corporate profits than their obligation to protect the interests of the workers.

Soldiers Of Solidarity is also very critical of our government that simply seems to ignore the people and their sufferings, while they, our government, submit to the corporations that appear to own them!

It is truly a tragedy that the working class has become so disillusioned and envious of each other, resulting in our failure to unite together.

It is also very unfortunate that there are those of us that want this working class unification but are entangled in a struggle to keep what was once obtained by the sacrifice and struggle of our predecessors that it has become difficult if not impossible to create this solidarity by all workers.

As those that are organized continue to lose, they continue to lose in their efforts to organize the unorganized. We fail when we do not apply “An Injury to One Is an Injury to All!” Regardless if you are unionized or non-unionized, we fail because we fail to unite!

I used to state that the working class should stop fighting over the crumbs that fall from the table, that we should unite and realize that there is a place for us at the table. I now make the statement: “Take over the table. We made it and all the provisions that go with it!”

Fellow dissidents, I tip my hat to you! You make all the difference in the world! You are the voice of the exploited and oppressed! Whenever you are called a dissident, be proud and hold your head high! I am a dissident and proud of it!

Chris Ryan, Kokomo

Monopolies aren’t beneficial to society

What is a monopoly? My Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary defines monopoly as, 1) Exclusive control, as of a commodity, or service, by one group. or 2) A commodity, or service controlled by one group.

Why do most people frown on the idea of a monopoly? It is because the very nature of a monopoly runs counter to the idea of competition.

Competition works to benefit society at large by keeping prices down to a reasonable level whereas a business, unencumbered by competition, is free to raise its prices to whatever level it chooses.

In the past, the federal government has been cognizant of this fact and has taken steps, on occasion, to force certain companies to divest themselves of portions of their conglomerates.

The Pacific Bell/AT&T divestiture back in the mid-1980s in one such example.

Here in Kokomo we have a monopoly. That monopoly is none other than Insight Communications. Recently I attempted to contact Comcast Cable because it was my understanding that Comcast could provide a comparable service for what Insight charges. I was referred back to Insight.

True, we do have DirecTV and Dish Network, which is fine for those seeking satellite service, but for cable we are trapped into signing with Insight, which is the classic example of a monopoly.

Monopolies are not beneficial to society as a whole whereas a state of healthy competition is. So if this flunks the sniff test with you, as it does with me, simply file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

I believe that the FTC may be located in Washington. Refer the matter to them for official action.

Kenneth Crockett, Kokomo

        

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