Politicians making a power grab
Politicians making a power grab
Editor:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In reference to your recent article "Kanawha property taxes continue to rise," to the truly uninformed voter I refer you to the 1990 Property Reappraisal Act that then Sen. Earl Ray Tomblin and his progressive liberal colleagues gave to statewide property owners. We will all come to know this as the most regressive tax in the history of this state and the blame should be directed to those policymakers who legislate from under the dome.
In 2013 we face even more daunting tax obstacles from county government. Not long ago Charleston and South Charleston Mayors Danny Jones and Larry Mullens floated a trial balloon for a countywide garbage fee (not a tax) to help relieve their city's unfunded liability debts. This falls under Home Rule annexation. Now Mayor Jones, the Kanawha County commissioners, State Sen. McCabe and the Municipal League are leading the charge to introduce you to Home Rule and its supposed concept of lessening the burden, lessening bureaucracy, lessening taxes while extending the capital city's tentacles of annex taxation wherever and whenever they so choose. This is no more than metro-government's evil uncle. Just like state government, these liberals are salivating at the thought of getting their hand in your pocket and will go to any length to make that attempt.
It's repugnant to ask non-residents of another city to approve countywide a garbage fee or home rule to help pay for their police, firefighters and other city employees retirement pension and medical expenses while they waste hundreds of thousands of dollars installing colored lights for Haddad Park, the three commissioner's sinking ship and a floating boat dock.
I believe county voters would believe that a Rand University would be more realistic than the acceptance of Home Rule annexation.
Charlie Basford
Shrewsbury
Attorney general needs to explain
Editor:
Many of us are still puzzled how a stranger like Patrick Morrisey would become attorney general and immediately launch a right-wing agenda.
I am further dismayed that he sees nothing wrong with assault weapons. He needs to explain for what these weapons are used. Our understanding, given the activity since the federal ban unfortunately ended, is that they are used to kill large groups of innocent people. Has the grief for the riddled children of Newtown abated already?
Also, he is suspicious of an executive action requiring the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence. The CDC was previously banned from this important research by a loophole in a law written by the NRA. As a retired educator, I'm suspicious of those who do not want to be educated.
With 10,000 deaths from guns every year, the United States is shamefully ahead of other like countries, who average 100 and under. They have the same mental illness and access to violent video games, but do fine with restrictions on gun ownership.
Politicians making a power grab
Editor:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In reference to your recent article "Kanawha property taxes continue to rise," to the truly uninformed voter I refer you to the 1990 Property Reappraisal Act that then Sen. Earl Ray Tomblin and his progressive liberal colleagues gave to statewide property owners. We will all come to know this as the most regressive tax in the history of this state and the blame should be directed to those policymakers who legislate from under the dome.
In 2013 we face even more daunting tax obstacles from county government. Not long ago Charleston and South Charleston Mayors Danny Jones and Larry Mullens floated a trial balloon for a countywide garbage fee (not a tax) to help relieve their city's unfunded liability debts. This falls under Home Rule annexation. Now Mayor Jones, the Kanawha County commissioners, State Sen. McCabe and the Municipal League are leading the charge to introduce you to Home Rule and its supposed concept of lessening the burden, lessening bureaucracy, lessening taxes while extending the capital city's tentacles of annex taxation wherever and whenever they so choose. This is no more than metro-government's evil uncle. Just like state government, these liberals are salivating at the thought of getting their hand in your pocket and will go to any length to make that attempt.
It's repugnant to ask non-residents of another city to approve countywide a garbage fee or home rule to help pay for their police, firefighters and other city employees retirement pension and medical expenses while they waste hundreds of thousands of dollars installing colored lights for Haddad Park, the three commissioner's sinking ship and a floating boat dock.
I believe county voters would believe that a Rand University would be more realistic than the acceptance of Home Rule annexation.
Charlie Basford
Shrewsbury
Attorney general needs to explain
Editor:
Many of us are still puzzled how a stranger like Patrick Morrisey would become attorney general and immediately launch a right-wing agenda.
I am further dismayed that he sees nothing wrong with assault weapons. He needs to explain for what these weapons are used. Our understanding, given the activity since the federal ban unfortunately ended, is that they are used to kill large groups of innocent people. Has the grief for the riddled children of Newtown abated already?
Also, he is suspicious of an executive action requiring the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence. The CDC was previously banned from this important research by a loophole in a law written by the NRA. As a retired educator, I'm suspicious of those who do not want to be educated.
With 10,000 deaths from guns every year, the United States is shamefully ahead of other like countries, who average 100 and under. They have the same mental illness and access to violent video games, but do fine with restrictions on gun ownership.
While we accept restrictions and registration for driving, Sudafed, dog ownership and three days of training to get a SCUBA license, it is again puzzling why gun owners wish to be unregulated. Historians are now pointing out that the Second Amendment was pushed by Virginia slave owners to keep down slave rebellions. I never learned this in school, but I think "well-regulated" was a good word choice.
Bettijane Burger
Charleston
Remembering Chilton's 'sustained outrage'
Editor:
I have returned to the area and bought a Gazette, wanting to know what was going on in my hometown.
I saw where Internet readers can click on the "Sustained Outrage" link for coverage of government doings. Wouldn't Ned Chilton be so happy you kept his reference for maintaining coverage of government and its leaders? I know I was. I had the pleasure of writing my thesis at Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism about the Gazette during Ned Chilton's tenure.
And each time I come across my copy, I read it with the same enjoyment and sense of inspiration. He was one of a kind. A gutsy crusader for so many issues that so many of those, who call themselves "journalists" these days, no longer bring to the fore ... or at least not with the persistence (a.k.a. "sustained outrage") he provided for his readership. I'm thinking he would have nothing but disdain for how mainstream journalism has changed.
I miss him.
In sustained outrage,
Fran O. McEwen
Gallipolis, Ohio
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