Letters: Guggenheim wrong, Honor Flight, angel investors

Published: Monday, October 18, 2010, 5:14 AM

'Shooting holes in

bottom of the boat’

What bothers me most in an election year is politicians. They speak in sound bites and catch phrases designed by ad agents or speech writers, all the while trying not to be caught on an open mike being real. Not many are worth the cost of keeping them in Washington.

This country is in deep trouble. The economy is out of control, a cohesive foreign policy does not exist, and the moral and ethical standards of the country have slid so low you have to look up to see the slime trail of a slug. Are we so interested in our own gain that we can no longer tell the truth? Does the well-being of the country mean nothing? Can’t we see that we are so interested in killing the perceived snake that we are shooting holes in the bottom of the boat we are standing in?

Whatever happened to the scientific method we learned in high school? Try to solve the problem, then evaluate the outcome, and if things are getting worse, stop what you are doing and reevaluate.

Since the beginning of the war on poverty, we’ve almost destroyed one segment of our society. There is more poverty than ever, almost a total breakdown of the family; and a 40 to 60 percent dropout rate. The leading cause of death in young men is homicide. A huge percent of the population is dependent on a system that cannot continue to carry the cost.

So let’s be fair, and bring that broken-down system to the rest of the country so we all will be equally well off.




Guggenheim wrong

on U.S. schools


I am sick of rich Americans bashing the America that made them wealthy and able to have their voices heard over all other voices.

I am writing specifically about the Davis Guggenheim “movie,” “Waiting for Superman,” about how awful American schools have become. He quotes statistics about how other countries’ children do so much better than American children on all tests, especially mathematics.

What he doesn’t tell you is that every child in American schools takes the tests to determine how well they are doing, from the less bright to the gifted. In all of the countries that do better, only the children who are destined to go on to “upper” schools (what we call college here in America) are allowed to take the tests.

Yes, all of those countries separate the less bright and the average, and the gifted children and only the gifted children are tested. The other children are taught enough to get them into trade schools or other avenues of employment, while the gifted children are prepared for higher education. This is fact, not fiction like Guggenheim’s movie.

Either Guggenheim is not aware of how other countries educate their children, or he is aware and is skewing the numbers. Either way, his statement about American education is flawed.




Vet’s experience

was ‘magnificent’


I am an old U.S. Marine veteran of World War II who was on the fourth Honor Flight. It was magnificent.

Thank you to Dr. Barry Booth and associates, my guardian, a wonderful lady, my family and all the others who wished us well along the way. We were treated like old friends.

We saw all of the monuments in Washington, D.C., and met a lot of people. The welcome at the airport on the return home was great. Hundreds of children, adults and the Azalea Trail Maids lined the walkways all along the airport with handshakes and open arms.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will remember the whole experience with reverence the rest of my life.




Don’t risk losing

angel investors


Recently there have been several letters to the editor that advocate increasing the taxes for the “rich.”

One letter makes the point that they should be taxed more because they have more. I agree with this point. Another pointed out that small business owners would continue to hire if it increased their profit, even if they were taxed more. Again, as a former small business owner, I believe that is an accurate position.

There is another element to consider. “Angel investors” are people who invest in high-risk start-up companies. Most new employment comes from small business. I maintain that a sizable portion of that new employment comes from start-up companies. High-risk start-up companies do not get funds from banks or the government. The risk is too great. They obtain their funds from angel investors.

In 2009, angel investors disappeared. They are back in 2010. If we alter the tax structure, will they disappear in 2011? Sometimes when we do something is more important than what we do.





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