TAXATION
Tax code ‘loopholes’
created for a reason
A recent letter to the editor suggested that Congress close corporate tax loopholes to raise money for the government (“Early deficit target: corporate tax breaks,” Readers write, Opinion, Dec. 11). The writer of this letter and others uses the word “loophole” as if it is some kind of accounting trick — when, in fact, a loophole is simply a legal deduction put into the tax code by lawmakers.
The legislature put that deduction into the tax code for a reason, and if there is any duplicity involved, the blame lies with them. When a corporation uses the deduction and follows the law, it should not be vilified as if it is doing something evil.
Of course, if advocates simply said they wanted to raise taxes on American business, it would not have such a righteous ring to it.
JEFFREY LAHM, STONE MOUNTAIN
POLITICS
Friendships survive
partisan differences
Another Republican once asked our former neighbor, “George, I hear your wife is a Democrat. How do you stand living with her?”
George replied that he loved his wife more than he loved politics. He said they sometimes disagreed about other things, too, but because they loved each other, they could always negotiate an agreement that they could both tolerate.
About half my friends don’t agree with my politics, but we still respect each other and cherish our friendships. I’m getting Christmas gifts from them almost every day.
I would like to see Congress behave as grown-up as my friends do.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
Republican values
will prevail in end
Regarding “The Mayans were right: It’s the end for the GOP” (Opinion, Dec. 9), the Republican Party suffered a defeat, but is far from being extinct.
Marco Rubio and other young conservatives will re-group. They will emerge with workable solutions to deal with immigration issues, and focus on our unsustainable national debt while providing a safety net for those truly in need. Republicans will continue to foster respect for all human beings, and support the freedom of individuals to make choices for themselves. The GOP will survive because they are willing and able to face the reality that nothing is free; capitalism is better than socialism; states have rights; debts must be repaid, and freedom and a job are better than food stamps.
The Democratic Party had a victory, but if they continue adding to our national debt, our economy will collapse. They will be taking a giant step toward extinction.
Maureen Dowd has a lot of faith that Hillary Clinton will march forward and save us all. That can happen only if she and the Democrats face the reality that we, as a country, cannot be free until we live within our means.
MARIANNA CHAMBERLAIN, BUFORD
