Progressive policies led to expanded prosperity
Re: “Despite failure overseas, leftists still seek socialist utopia,” Nov. 29
Bill O’Reilly doesn’t know the difference between the European countries that are failing versus those that aren’t. For example, he probably doesn’t know how ridiculously low Ireland’s corporate income tax is.
It was a far more progressive (and therefore more socialist) income tax that funded the Cold War, the space race, interstate highways, etc., and made the U.S. the supreme world power. When Ronald Reagan halved tax rates on the wealthy, deficits exploded and the income gap ballooned while middle-class earnings flat-lined. Now we can’t keep three divisions of troops fielded without borrowing.
As we can’t guarantee employment, we also can’t guarantee that if you’re paid $10 million a year, you get to keep most of it. Those who get rich from our system should pay to support it.
The best America was one that balanced socialist and market-driven forces. Abandon the middle class out of some conservative phobia, and we all lose.
Vincent Miragliotta
Springfield
Who cares what Angelina thinks?
Re: “Let Angelina Jolie speak for herself,” Nov. 29
I just cannot believe that Mr. Kane shared his thoughts about this overrated individual. Any pondering of Ms. Jolie’s musings about Thanksgiving is useless commentary.
Surely there must be other important topics to discuss than to waste newsprint on one who continuously “thumbs her nose” at anything related to American tradition.
Bernard Helinski
Baltimore
Breakdown in police screening process
Re: “MontCo cop twice ordered to stay away from his wife, kid,” Nov. 29
The real question is how someone with violent propensities was ever allowed to become a police officer in the first place. Almost always, such individuals were abused and/or neglected in childhood, so something’s wrong with the screening process. And it should go without saying that departmental “discipline” is useless in such cases.
A violent person doesn’t only act out in one way. If he’ll abuse his family, he’ll abuse others, too, such as the public. Giving police powers to someone like that is dangerously incompetent. The Montgomery County Police Department and the county government have much to answer for.
Sharon Kass
Silver Spring
