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Letters to the Editor

Readers’ opinions

‘Paying taxes is a privilege’ To the Editor: Many years ago, a World War II veteran said, “Paying taxes is a privilege.” When questioned why he held that belief, he answered that our governments at all levels serve their taxpayers very well. For example, the federal government provides national defense, the FBI, interstate highways, healthcare and income for the disabled, the elderly and the needy, mail service, national parks and regulations for national banks, the environment, the economy, money supply and much more. State governments provide state highways, public ...

Readers’ opinions

‘Smart’phones don’t make users smarter To the Editor: We no longer live in a world where it is that people say “I wonder….” I grew up in a time when that was the most prevalent question asked. We were lucky if someone around us knew the answer to our inquiry. Long before the iPhone, I, being technologically savvy, would love to utilize the new fangled gadgets that allowed me to answer the question “I wonder…?” It always gave me joy to be able to find answers for people, and it still does. I’ve become aware of the fact that because this phrase has left our ...

Readers’ opinions

Reader: My 2024 wishlist for Santa To the Editor: Dear Santa, My first wish is for a county-wide public school administration that benefits students educationally and taxpayers financially, while increasing the number of teachers in order to reduce class sizes. My second wish would be to reduce the state’s sales tax rate to benefit the poor and also to enact tax deductions into the State’s personal income tax in order to help the working class. The state’s high gas tax helps the wealthy corporations and their stockholders by repairing existing roads and constructing new ...

Letters to the Editor

May we imitate the example of Mary To the Editor: As a Catholic, I was very pleased and impressed with Father Weary’s recent response (on 12/13) to the false claim that we believe Mary is divine. Excellently he showed our basic beliefs about Mary, and I hope everyone recognized a few qualities about these tenants of our faith. First, they’re scriptural. From the Angel’s greeting (Luke 1:26), to Mary’s response to St. Elizabeth (Luke 1:46-55), to St. Paul’s letters (Galatians 4:4), everything we believe about Mary is found somehow in the Bible. Second, they’re ...

Readers’ opinions

Pray for the innocents in Israel, Palestine To the Editor: Father God, in the Holy name of your Son Yeshua. Our hearts are heavy for the innocents of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank who are touched by war. In your kindness may you watch over the hostages, refugees and protect the innocents from slaughter. Oh God, as your son Yeshua hung on the cross he prayed for his persecutors and overcame hatred by his blood. May we all find it in our hearts to love our neighbors and our enemies. We pray that you will soften the hearts of men of war, show them your love and grace so that we may ...

Readers’ opinions

The enemy lives in Washington, D.C. To the Editor: How many of you recall the first dignitaries to visit the White House to congratulate Trump on winning the U.S. Presidency, or was checking the latest NASCAR race standings more important to you? How many of you remember the very first foreign nation Trump visited as U.S. President, or were you totally enraptured by the latest episode of “Dancing with the Stars”? After Joe Biden won his bid for the White House, what two world altering events occurred nearly simultaneously, or was your attention focused on the continuing saga ...