YOUR | LETTERS December 29, 2010
Published on Mon, Dec 20, 2010Read More Letters to the Editor
Celebrate all aspects of the season
Dear Editor,
This holiday season many religious and cultural observances will be celebrated, not just Christmas. There’s also the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, St. Nicholas’ Day, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, and New Years.
It’s hard to ignore the glaring blaring over commercialization, but nobody should feel offended when store clerks say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. There’s no need to feel insulted by the Winter Solstice display, the menorah, or the holiday trees displayed alongside the Christian crèche at the state capitol building. Shouldn’t it be all or none?
Let’s not forget the true reason for the season—that generosity, kindness and hope that should be expressed by all, every day of the year.
As Americans, we have the right to believe whatever we want: the true sentiments of this holiday season have no title, no religious label, and are not exclusive to any one group of people. So many are a dollar away from disaster, and would welcome support, a prayer, or at least a cheery, “Happy Holidays”.
“Bah Humbug!” you say? One can only hope that the look of wonder on a child’s face can encourage your heart to grow ten times larger, and possibly prompt you to at least make a donation to a worthy cause.
So whatever holiday you observe during the season, have a happy, peaceful and safe one. Viva La difference!
Carolyn Fox-Allen
Lake Stevens
Tax breaks need to be permanent
Dear Editor,
Congress decided for political reasons (2010 Election) to put off the “Bush Era” tax cuts until the very last minute and now a worthless compromise will be messed up worse by special interest tax breaks.
The idea behind making the tax credits permanent is to give small business and consumers a long-term tax vision, therefore decision on new hires, expansion, and consumer excitement could occur.
Instead we are extending them for two years, shocking the 2012 election cycle, and therefore not giving business a long-term look into their tax structure.
Now we add insult to injury with more unemployment insurance and worthless tax credits for ethanol, mass-transit, and renewable energy.
Politicians are getting another chance, kind of like the Stimulus Package, to payoff lobbyists, special interest, and score points with their core voting pool.
I understand there must be compromise and I believe we could have lived with permanent tax cuts and extending unemployment insurance.
I understand it is still the old, or Lame Duck Congress but my hopes are not high for the next. I guess we can hope for the best but plan on the worst and see if politicians are always politicians.
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens
Dear Editor,
This holiday season many religious and cultural observances will be celebrated, not just Christmas. There’s also the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, St. Nicholas’ Day, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, and New Years.
It’s hard to ignore the glaring blaring over commercialization, but nobody should feel offended when store clerks say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. There’s no need to feel insulted by the Winter Solstice display, the menorah, or the holiday trees displayed alongside the Christian crèche at the state capitol building. Shouldn’t it be all or none?
Let’s not forget the true reason for the season—that generosity, kindness and hope that should be expressed by all, every day of the year.
As Americans, we have the right to believe whatever we want: the true sentiments of this holiday season have no title, no religious label, and are not exclusive to any one group of people. So many are a dollar away from disaster, and would welcome support, a prayer, or at least a cheery, “Happy Holidays”.
“Bah Humbug!” you say? One can only hope that the look of wonder on a child’s face can encourage your heart to grow ten times larger, and possibly prompt you to at least make a donation to a worthy cause.
So whatever holiday you observe during the season, have a happy, peaceful and safe one. Viva La difference!
Carolyn Fox-Allen
Lake Stevens
Tax breaks need to be permanent
Dear Editor,
Congress decided for political reasons (2010 Election) to put off the “Bush Era” tax cuts until the very last minute and now a worthless compromise will be messed up worse by special interest tax breaks.
The idea behind making the tax credits permanent is to give small business and consumers a long-term tax vision, therefore decision on new hires, expansion, and consumer excitement could occur.
Instead we are extending them for two years, shocking the 2012 election cycle, and therefore not giving business a long-term look into their tax structure.
Now we add insult to injury with more unemployment insurance and worthless tax credits for ethanol, mass-transit, and renewable energy.
Politicians are getting another chance, kind of like the Stimulus Package, to payoff lobbyists, special interest, and score points with their core voting pool.
I understand there must be compromise and I believe we could have lived with permanent tax cuts and extending unemployment insurance.
I understand it is still the old, or Lame Duck Congress but my hopes are not high for the next. I guess we can hope for the best but plan on the worst and see if politicians are always politicians.
Todd Welch
Lake Stevens
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