Letters and Comments for November 25, 2009

Hoffnagle, Hills

Clarifying information

To the Editor:

In response to Roy Hills’ letter of Nov. 11, there are a few items that I wish to clarify.

First, he complains that the president is “piling up indebtedness.” Need I remind him that much of that indebtedness is due to the rising cost of his predecessor’s two wars and that Bush began the stimulus program? Mr. Hills didn’t complain as Republicans spent like drunken sailors and squandered the budget surplus that Clinton left.

Second, Mr. Hills seems to be getting his news from Fox Noise et al. because there is no evidence that President Obama plans to eliminate the Social Security COLA. In fact, those on Social Security (a truly socialist program) got a 5.8 percent COLA last January. The rest of us got layoffs and pay cuts. It is true that there will be no COLA this January, but neither the president nor Congress have anything to do with that. Social Security COLAs are based on an index of the cost of living, which went down this year. That is why there will be no COLA — but, of course, there will be no reduction in Social Security checks.

Lastly, on what planet does Mr. Hills live if he believes that an income of “$500,000 to $1 million” is a “moderate” income? I have no problem increasing taxes on those individuals and, according to polls, neither do most Americans. In fact, if Mr. Hills wants to get me an income of $500,000, I’ll gladly give 80 percent of it in taxes, as would most Americans in the true moderate income bracket, because they would still see an increase in their income.

The bottom line is that people like Mr. Hills don’t like Obama and will oppose anything that he or the Democrats propose, cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Tim Hoffnagle

La Grande

Worried for country

To the Editor:

I am 86 years old. I lied about my age and enlisted in the Army in March 1939. I was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943. I went overseas in 1944.

I fought in four major battles against the Japanese in India and Burma and protected airfields in China in 1945 so we could bomb the enemy. I was separated in 1946 a captain.

Nov. 10 I went to the program at Island City School and then joined some 25 other comrades being honored at Cove High School.

Dear God, I love this country I fought for in WW II and now in my 86th year I see it going to hell by a government that is day by day destroying it. All I can do for the precious country I love so, is to pray for the bunch of fools in Washington who are bent on destroying it.

Today’s news on the Internet said “the president is going to try to take away our guns,” again to hell with our Constitution.

Like I said I will pray and ask you to pray also for this beloved country. I offered to die for her once and will again if

necessary.

Roy Hills

Island City