Letters to the Editor 12-13-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Chavez - Immigrants
Chavez
Editor, Times-Union:Your characterization of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Dec. 4 editorial) was both misleading and hypocritical.
Offering economic incentives to attract political support should not strike anyone in this country as something new. Indeed, U.S. politicians have become expert at offering tax breaks, contracts, and other legislative plums to win votes - and contributions - from the nation's richest individuals and corporations. Where Chavez departs from the U.S. model is by directing his nation's largesse towards its poorest citizens, rather than its wealthiest.
In case you missed it, Chavez was re-elected a week ago with more than 62 percent of the popular vote, further demonstrating that while he is not a favorite in Washington or among big business, he was overwhelmingly the people's choice to lead their country.
While the Times-Union asserts that the size and scope of Venezuela's government has grown, you fail to substantiate that this has, in turn, diminished the quality of life for Venezuela's citizens. On the contrary, since Chavez took office in 1999, through the end of 2005, household poverty in Venezuela has declined by 11 percent, and individual poverty has dropped more than 12 percent, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
These figures do not even include the non-cash benefits that the poor have reaped under Chavez, including subsidized food supplies, access to education and free health care.
For example, 54 percent of the Venezuelan population now receives free health care, and government spending per capita on education has increased 80 percent since 1998. As just one consequence, an estimated 1.4 million Venezuelans have learned to read and write in that time.
Furthermore, Chavez has not limited his generosity to Latin America, but has started to supply discounted home heating oil to more than 400,000 impoverished U.S. households in 15 states, the District of Columbia and 163 Native American tribes.
The idea of a nation using its wealth to improve the lives of its poorest classes may seem strange to us, because we so rarely see it in the U.S. Instead of criticizing Chavez, maybe we should start electing leaders here who are willing to follow his example.
Rob Nelson
Winona Lake, via e-mail
Immigrants
Editor, Times-Union:I have a simple solution for our elected officials who are concerned about the illegal immigration problem. I would like to see Congressman Souder or Donnelly propose legislation ending the food stamp program, Social Security disability program and HUD section 8 rent payments for everyone under the age of 50 effective in six months. This would result in millions of people re-entering the work force who have opted out, choosing to live on government assistance instead.
The benefits would be enormous. The deficit would decrease because of the reduction of these entitlement programs. Tax revenue would greatly increase. But most importantly, the illegal immigrants would simply, slowly return home, without needing to be deported, because there would not be jobs available for them to work.
However, I know this will never be proposed because we are a nation of people who don't and won't take jobs that pay less than we can make on government assistance. However, the illegal aliens will take them, and businesses needs them to replace the American citizens who refuse to work.
So rather than build fences on a border or pass laws that punish employers and landlords who employ and rent to illegal aliens, let's instead reduce their incentive to come here by forcing the non-productive citizens to become productive taxpayers and workers once again.
David Williams
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
- Chavez - Immigrants
Chavez
Editor, Times-Union:Your characterization of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Dec. 4 editorial) was both misleading and hypocritical.
Offering economic incentives to attract political support should not strike anyone in this country as something new. Indeed, U.S. politicians have become expert at offering tax breaks, contracts, and other legislative plums to win votes - and contributions - from the nation's richest individuals and corporations. Where Chavez departs from the U.S. model is by directing his nation's largesse towards its poorest citizens, rather than its wealthiest.
In case you missed it, Chavez was re-elected a week ago with more than 62 percent of the popular vote, further demonstrating that while he is not a favorite in Washington or among big business, he was overwhelmingly the people's choice to lead their country.
While the Times-Union asserts that the size and scope of Venezuela's government has grown, you fail to substantiate that this has, in turn, diminished the quality of life for Venezuela's citizens. On the contrary, since Chavez took office in 1999, through the end of 2005, household poverty in Venezuela has declined by 11 percent, and individual poverty has dropped more than 12 percent, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
These figures do not even include the non-cash benefits that the poor have reaped under Chavez, including subsidized food supplies, access to education and free health care.
For example, 54 percent of the Venezuelan population now receives free health care, and government spending per capita on education has increased 80 percent since 1998. As just one consequence, an estimated 1.4 million Venezuelans have learned to read and write in that time.
Furthermore, Chavez has not limited his generosity to Latin America, but has started to supply discounted home heating oil to more than 400,000 impoverished U.S. households in 15 states, the District of Columbia and 163 Native American tribes.
The idea of a nation using its wealth to improve the lives of its poorest classes may seem strange to us, because we so rarely see it in the U.S. Instead of criticizing Chavez, maybe we should start electing leaders here who are willing to follow his example.
Rob Nelson
Winona Lake, via e-mail
Immigrants
Editor, Times-Union:I have a simple solution for our elected officials who are concerned about the illegal immigration problem. I would like to see Congressman Souder or Donnelly propose legislation ending the food stamp program, Social Security disability program and HUD section 8 rent payments for everyone under the age of 50 effective in six months. This would result in millions of people re-entering the work force who have opted out, choosing to live on government assistance instead.
The benefits would be enormous. The deficit would decrease because of the reduction of these entitlement programs. Tax revenue would greatly increase. But most importantly, the illegal immigrants would simply, slowly return home, without needing to be deported, because there would not be jobs available for them to work.
However, I know this will never be proposed because we are a nation of people who don't and won't take jobs that pay less than we can make on government assistance. However, the illegal aliens will take them, and businesses needs them to replace the American citizens who refuse to work.
So rather than build fences on a border or pass laws that punish employers and landlords who employ and rent to illegal aliens, let's instead reduce their incentive to come here by forcing the non-productive citizens to become productive taxpayers and workers once again.
David Williams
Warsaw
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092