Toll roads just another tax
Editor:
Some time ago I wrote in these pages about the toll roads the state intends to develop in Arizona.
Last April MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments) met and the decision to come out of this meeting was to start converting lanes of existing freeways into “managed lanes.” It seems since we started waving the red flag the word “toll” is one not to be used like many other four letter words.
Whatever they are called, pay to drive lanes are “toll roads.”
They estimate this conversion to cost $3 billion, with a B, and they admit the income won’t cover the cost. They propose the tolls to be 50 cents per mile off peak hours and $1 per mile peak hours to drive on your roads.
There was also talk at this meeting about raising the state gasoline tax from 18 cents a gallon to 50 cents a gallon.
I don’t know why but newspaper reporters and TV news people are saying very little about this.
But, don’t take my word for this. The Arizona Automobile Hobbyist Council is 40 years old this year. We have been helping automobile hobbyists for 40 years. Hobbyist of not, we are all in this together. Check out our website, www.azautohobbyist.com.
With the legislature trying to jam this down our throat brings a question to mind, do they work for us or do we work for them?
Pay to drive roads are just another tax.
John Wazorick
Waddell
Kudos to Agua Fria educator
Editor:
By law schools must spend Title I money on programs that specifically and exclusively benefit low income students who are failing, or are at risk of failing academic requirements. That simply means the funds cannot be spent on programs that also serve non-qualified students. Dr. Matthew Bentz, building principal at Agua Fria High School has not for a moment hesitated to expedite these funds and setting them in motion by offering and actively supporting a number of student-directed programs. Such programs include the American Dream Academy where parents and other community members are invited to participate to discuss, Parents Making a Difference, Partnering With School Personnel, The Importance of Students’ Self-Esteem and Motivation as well as identifying short and long term student plans.
During this past academic school year Dr. Bentz arranged for all freshman students to visit the Arizona State University Campus as a positive gesture in the process of identifying and assisting students’ in solidifying long term goals. As a life-long community resident, substitute teacher for the Agua Fria High School District for the past five years, retired educator of 40 years (elementary through higher education) and Agua Fria alumnus this writer wholeheartedly applauds and supports Dr. Bentz and his entire staff for displaying the passion of their calling in this leadership capacity as we serve our leaders of tomorrow.
Manny Murillo
Avondale
Scandals abound
Editor:
Contrary to what BO would have you believe, there’s plenty of “there” there!
Fast and Furious: The story of the DOJ’s ill-conceived gun-running operation that ended with an unknown number of weapons being put into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels, a dead Border Patrol agent and the U.S. Attorney General being held in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over subpoenaed documents to the investigating Committee.
Benghazi: The story of the Obama Administration (OA) being suspected of covertly arming Syrian rebels (without the benefit of Congressional input), four Americans left to die a torturous death at the hands of terrorists, a missing President during an event that clearly warranted his attention and the entire OA lying to the country to ensure its preferred outcome of a presidential election.
The AP and James Rosen: The story of the DOJ’s seizure of hundreds of the Associated Press’ reporters’ phone records... and, in particular, the invasion of FOX reporter James Rosen’s (and that of his parents’) privacy.
The IRS’ Political Targeting: The story of a coordinated assault on ordinary Americans and their Conservative organizations by (at least) the FBI, OSHA and the BATF — as directed by the IRA — to ensure a preferred outcome of a presidential election. (An interesting and informative article on jow how high-handed these agencies have become can be found on the Forbes website, “Why You Should Care That the U.S. Government Has Targeted Catherine Engelbrecht and her Organizations”)
If, on the other hand, you agree with Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) that these individuals put themselves into the fray by deciding to establish their politically-based organizations, continue to stay calm and uninvolved. After all, it isn’t your problem.
By the way, are you a Verizon customer? If so, the NSA may be in touch.
Judy Weaver
Avondale
Gov’t greed to blame
Editor:
I find it interesting that people accept what our politician tell them as TRUTH. Apple is one of many U.S. Multi National Corporations. They pay taxes in the nation in which the money is earned and they have made the choice of keeping the money in that nation. They have no legal responsiblity to repatriate the funds to the U.S. which would trigger the American tax system which is now the highest in the world.
So applying the logic of some, Apple should pay the 24 percent national tax in the country where they earn the money and then turn around and pay the U.S. government 35 plus percent for the privilege of return these funds to their home country.
If hold these fund in the country earned was against the law, why isn’t the IRS and Congress taking legal action against Apple? Instead they called them before Congress to pressure or embarrass them into return this money to the U.S. calling it Un-American not to.
Given the legal choices, what would you do? Pay 24 percent or 59 plus percent. If the President would propose a repatriation tax of say 5 to 7 percent, U.S. Multi National Corporations would have an option of returning the earning to the United State, but government greed appears to be preventing this from happening.
Virgil E. Warden
Goodyear
Can’t question definitions
Editor:
My Hiatus is terminated...
Mr. Posner; your jurisdiction is New York, (the land of liberalism and superfluous hyperbole), your neither a Constitutional Law attorney, nor are you knowledgeable of the Second Amendment.
You quote prior precedent, be it District of Columbia v. Heller or perhaps you went with United States v. Miller; regardless to which infatuates you, your liberal ideology deceives you and the politically based “supreme” court judicial system.
It does not matter if your in lined with the “individual rights” theory or the “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition” theory, the bottom line is the definition of the words set forth in the Second Amendment are spelled out concisely and without err.
“...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
World English Dictionary:
firearm: a weapon, esp a portable gun or pistol, from which a projectile can be discharged by a explosion caused by igniting gunpowder, etc.
arms: bear arms, to carry weapons (of no restrictive definition).
We can quote our forefathers and quote precedent till we are all blue in the face, be it the English common law roots (of course this is Obiter dictum) of the right to keep arms for self-defense, or McDonald v. Chicago, of plurality of the court and the incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
However, you can never argue with the truest definition of any given word.
Lastly, Sir, I recommend to you (and all who read this letter), the study of history; namely the “Battle of Athens”, which occurred on August 1, 1946, in Athens, Tennessee.
Thomas Jefferson;
“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. I am not a friend to a very energetic government.”
Francis Carrillo
Goodyear
Writer stands by quote
Editor:
Recently Mr. Posner challenged a quote from Thomas Jefferson that I sent in. I will not only stand by my quote, as it has existed for 200 years, but I will add some more for our enlightened readers.
“A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the higher duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation.”
“And what country can preserve it’s liberties, if the rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”
“The tree of liberty must from time to time be refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
“And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.” Quoting from Wikipedia
It seems that our third President had a lot of distrust of government in general. And a healthy dose of skepticism for the law, and a complete distrust of the banks.
It’s too bad we don’t have some Thomas Jefferson’s alive today. He was truly a great leader and President.
Thomas Moore
Goodyear
Post Office goes extra mile
Editor:
I want to thank the Goodyear Post office, specifically, Irene and Mike for helping look for my mother’s Birthday and Mother’s Day cards. Irene and Mike have both taken the time to listen to my calls every week and to get the postal carriers to be on the lookout for my mother’s cards.
I sent my mother her Birthday and Mother’s Day cards, via regular mail on May 7th from Albany, Oregon. It’s been almost a month now, and she never received them. I am assuming that perhaps the cards might have been delivered to the wrong address.
My mother is one of the best people in the world that anyone will ever know. Since my father passed away three years ago, she is on a limited income and I hope whoever received her cards and its contents needed it more than she did.
Thank again to Irene and Mike of the Goodyear post office for your help!
Rosemary Moncayo-Deever
Albany, Ore.
ASK about guns in homes
Editor:
Every time we lose another child to gun violence, we hear outrage at the senselessness of the tragedy. Rarely do you hear steps each parent can take today to start saving lives. I am writing about one such opportunity. It is called the ASK Campaign. The ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign urges parents to ask their neighbors, friends, and relatives if they have a gun in the home before sending their children over to play. It is a comprehensive national public health campaign, developed by CPYV / Center to Prevent Youth Violence, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Over one third of homes with children have guns. Many are kept unlocked and loaded, and every year thousands of children are killed or seriously injured as a result. ASK provides a practical opportunity for parents to protect their children from gun violence. Parents across the country are committing to ASK the simple question that could save their child’s life — “Is there a gun where my child plays?” For more information about the ASK Campaign or ASK activities in your area, visit www.AskingSavesKids.org.
Karen Peters
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense
Goodyear
Cartoon was offensive
Editor:
Your June 7th cartoon was an irresponsible and offensive mischaracterization, suggesting a “wink and a nod” culture to junior officers, airmen and enlistees. Not “The noblest motive…” eh, Ms. Editor?
The community deserves an informed conveyance, exhibiting the extraordinary efforts by the chain of command and its ranks, to prevent sexual assaults and provide supports for its victims. There in, “…is the public good.”
Rich Crabb
Litchfield Park