Letters to the editor
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It appears that the purpose of most political ads and rhetoric on radio and TV is to confuse and to fill voters with fear and despair. This most recent recession is considered as the worst since the Great Depression that lasted from 1929 with unemployment of 25 percent until 1940 (preparing for World War II) with unemployment at 14.6 percent.
Most economists agree the recent recession has ended, with an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent. During the past two years apparently something was done right, but it won't get better by extending tax cuts to the wealthy. Since 1995, the 400 wealthiest households in America had income taxes lowered by 45 percent. This obviously had no influence on preventing the recession. The political ads keep telling us that the stimulus funds, tighter rules for Wall Street, bailouts, lowering middle-class taxes, extending unemployment compensation and other such programs didn't work. Yet, economic improvement has clearly resulted.
Now is the time for the middle class to refocus on family safety-net issues that are in their families' self-interests. These issues include but are not limited to tax cuts for the middle class, continued educational funding, strengthening of Social Security (not privatizing as recommended by Pat Toomey), maintaining necessary funding of Medicare, VA health and unemployment compensation.
In less than two weeks we all will have an opportunity to speak up at the ballot box and be heard. Protect your interests by voting.
LUCAS PAVLOVICH SR.
O'Hara
For fresh change
We are writing as longtime acquaintances of Dan Connolly, who is the Democratic candidate in the 18th Congressional District race. We have been friends with the Connolly family since before Dan was born. They are an extremely close-knit family with outstanding values. Dan lost his father in the USAir Flight 427 plane crash in Hopewell in 1994. But his aunts, uncles and cousins all supported him and his sister throughout their lives and actually pushed through legislation that transformed the way victims' families are treated by airlines. So Dan is quite aware that people can make a difference.
First Published October 21, 2010 12:00 am
