Headed for socialism

There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the economic plan of Barack Obama. Understanding the results of his plan is very important, and I don't think a lot of people get it.

More than a third of working people in this country currently do not pay taxes at all, and tax rates are already increased at higher levels of income, so that the rich pay substantially more. Obama, in wanting to appeal to the "middle class," is recommending a series of credits and tax breaks, that will apply to all under $250K (regardless of if they pay taxes or not).

Then, to pay for this increase, he will substantially increase taxes on those with income above $250K. Sounds great for most, but this is income redistribution at its finest. He is intending to drive the U.S. population to the middle. If this happens, what is the incentive for those that are striving to get better jobs and pay? What is the incentive of those receiving increased handouts to improve their standing?

A good analogy is taking points from those getting A's in a school and giving them to those with F's or D's in order to share the "wealth." We're heading towards borderline socialism. Not all change is good change.

Morgan MacRostie, Albany

'Obsession' should be seen

Let us not forget! In October of 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100. Hezbollah is largely funded by Iran and is now an influential part of the Lebanon government.

In February 1993 the terrorist attempt to destroy the World Trade Center killed six and wounded over 1,000. President Clinton considered it a police action. The terrorists were eventually identified and are now serving time.

These and many other terrorist activities against the United States and U.S. personnel occurred prior to 9/11.

The recent DVD "Obsession" lays out the extent of terrorist activities and should be required viewing by high school students and others. We all need to be reminded of how many years Muslim terrorists have been active and are still plotting the destruction of the western civilization.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Lanman, Albany

Voting? Follow instructions!

I guess you just follow the instructions from your elected officials!

In 2004, I was having trouble with the IRS. I had tried all kinds of things to resolve it, and was not getting anywhere. Someone suggested that I call my congressperson for help. Being a lifelong Republican, I decided to call Sen. Gordon Smith's office. So I called the in-state office, explained my dilemma and asked for assistance. They took my number and said someone would get back to me. After two weeks, I called back, and explained my dilemma. They said someone would get back to me. After the third time, I called the national office, and went through the same process. After three messages there, I gave up and called back to the in-state office. This went on for three months, and never once did anybody ever return my phone call.

I finally got frustrated and called back and asked to speak to the office manager. I explained the problem and the fact that after three months of being ignored, I was pretty frustrated, and asked her what she suggested.

She suggested that I call one of my other representatives. I told her that both my other representatives were Democrats, and being a lifelong Republican that seemed like a strange request. She said, "I don't know what else to tell you!" So I followed her advice, and Congressman DeFazio's office provided the information I needed on the first call.

So I followed the advice of Sen. Gordon Smith's office and I left the Republican Party! And now that Senator Smith is up for re-election, I will again follow the advice from Senator Smiths' office. I'm voting for Jeff Merkley! I think you should too!

Mike Green, Brownsville

The great and mighty O

The mainstream media have all but promised that an Obama presidency is set in stone. Come Nov. 4, not only will billions of oppressed, destitute Americans finally be free from the tyranny of George Bush and his evil henchman Dick Cheney, but we will have the perfect man in the White House!

On that day, "hallelujahs" will circle the globe as the rotten Republicans get their due. (Narrow-minded conservatives! Hypocrites, thieves, racists, and lying capitalists, the whole lot of them.) World peace will become a reality when the Great and Mighty "O" (dubbed "The Messiah" by Louis Farrakhan) stands before our troops as commander in chief. Islamic terrorists, even though now they pray for an Obama victory, will disappear into thin air, never to threaten the homeland again.

Europe will celebrate our collective wisdom in voting a liberal into the highest office of the land. Never mind that they have all kicked out their own liberal ruling parties, voting overwhelmingly for conservative governments themselves.

And those bigoted right-wing American radio pundits (may they be locked in Guantanamo forever) have the gall to suggest that the political shift to the right in the EU is because of high radical Muslim populations that have awakened them to the real threat we all face?

Nonsense. Electing Obama will prove to the world - and the terrorists - once-and-for-all that we are NOT the stupid, racist, materialistic, obese hicks they claim we are! Why, once we frog-march those Republicans out of Washington, greed will disappear. Corruption will be no more.

With selfless Democrats in control wealth will be re-distributed and no one will be rich anymore! Lest this sounds too much like communism, I assure you it is not. Besides, what's wrong with communism? Look how successful it was in Russia and China!

Lastly, please don't believe the lie that Alaska's governor "Caribou Barbie" (it's OK to use that derogatory term for Sarah Palin because she's more evil than Bush and Cheney) has more leadership experience than our absolutely sure-to-be next president. She's been at the helm of America's largest state for the last two years, while General Obama has led ... ?

Teresa Neumann, Lebanon

A rerun: The root of trouble

Froma Harrop's "This Law Didn't Cause the Mess" (Oct. 6) is erroneous in that she didn't acknowledge the fact that the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 provided the basis for our current economic woes.

You add Madeleine Albright's threats during the Clinton years to punish banks refusing to ease lending rules for questionable borrowers, Sen. Schumer and Rep. Frank's stupid insistence on adding government guarantees to the act to support the loans, and the banks had little choice.

These two congressmen sponsored the CRA and they now blame the GOP for what they did (can we say racism here?) and want to be the foxes guarding the hen house they recreated with the bailout.

Now a huge chunk of the economy has been federalized. Let's face it, folks, the Dems will say and do anything to further their socialist agenda. Make no mistake: Their target is the constitution!

Charlie Stoakes, Brownsville

Because of typing and editing errors at the D-H, the meaning of this letter was distorted when it first ran Saturday.