LEADERSHIP
Mandela’s insight key
to ending racial strife
As with most conflicts, the pendulum of strife swings back and forth.
Mr. Mandela came to power with insight and character, enabling him to stop the pendulum of racial strife at the center. Mr. Gingrich recognized this in his column, “Could you be as wise as Mandela?” (Opinion, Dec. 12).
JACK NICHOLS, ATLANTA
UNEMPLOYMENT
If jobless relief ends,
what is the solution?
“Conundrum” is a big word — a puzzling question for which the answer may be speculative. The extension of unemployment benefits on the surface fits that definition. An objective and concentrated examination results in a very uncomplicated answer.
Consider those who oppose the extension of unemployment compensation. How many of them are unemployed? Have they disclosed their earnings and benefits?
What has been ignored by the complainants of helping their fellow man is the specific requirement that if you do not register every week to be available for employment, payments will be terminated. Since jobs are not available, what is the complainers’ solution?
Sen. Rand Paul has consistently opposed long-term unemployment benefits. How did he encourage employment by helping to shut down the government earlier this year?
The voters should “unemploy” Paul (and those of his ilk). That won’t make much of a difference to him. We can be assured he not only has plenty of assets, but can also return to a medical practice, and get paid for speeches. The millions of jobless workers do not have those benefits.
STANLEY HARRIS JR., SAVANNAH
TAXATION
Many face tax hikes
as deductions expire
At the end of this calendar year, several deductions will go away (or could sunset). These include higher-education tuition and fees; teachers’ purchase of supplies for their classrooms; qualified IRA distributions for charity, and electric-car purchase deductions. Small-business equipment deductions could also drop.
The effect of these deductions going away quietly is to raise taxes on those who used them. This is a tax increase, no matter how you look at it. Why aren’t the conservative “voices” and pundits screaming about this? Why aren’t we all screaming about this? Once a tax is enacted, it almost never goes away. Tax relief almost never becomes permanent.
BILL MACKINNON, ATLANTA
COMMENTARY
Are we willing to pay
to end poverty cycle?
Regarding “Columnist needs to stress responsibility” (Readers write, Opinion, Dec. 6), a reader writes that Mary Sanchez (“Employers need a clue about workers’ struggles,” Opinion, Nov. 26) needs to stress personal responsibility, referring to a mother of three having difficulty providing for her family. I agree that people should not have children they can’t support, and I also admit to the thought: Where is the father? I also agree that personal responsibility is the solution, and that should have been mentioned by Ms. Sanchez, but is it facilitated only with words and condescension?
Are we willing to be taxed sufficiently for education and a social safety net for the children, so they do not perpetuate the mistakes of their parent(s)? Human nature is what it is. Instincts are hard to resist. Society and government do have roles in facilitating individual behavior.
Mary Sanchez’ column needed more balance — but so did the reader’s comments about it.
PAUL RITTER, POWDER SPRINGS
