The News Courier
— The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and should include a name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Send letters by noon on Thursdays to P.O. Box 670, Athens, AL 35613, or email to kelly@athensnews-courier.com.
Pay all the taxes you want
Dear Editor:
This is for my unctuous, pompous, condescending liberal friends who say that income taxes aren’t high enough — Warren Buffet for example. If you truly feel this way, come next April 15 give Uncle Sam a tip and send in as much as you like over what you owe.
Eighteen percent sounds like a good number. I’m sure the government would be glad to get the money and would allow you to write off the excess as a contribution to a nonprofit agency. Note use of the word agency as opposed to organization.
I’d be willing to place a rather large wager that the overwhelming majority of those who say they want everyone’s taxes to be higher really mean that they want everyone else’s taxes to be higher. Margaret Thatcher hit the nail on the head when she said, “The trouble with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
Sincerely,
John D. Marlin, III
Athens
Support the library
Dear Editor:
As we enter primary season I am asking every candidate three questions:
1. Do you support new jobs in Limestone County?
2. We know we lost the VW plant to Chattanooga because they had a new public library. What are you going to do to support our new library project?
3. Have you personally given to the library foundation?
I do not care if you are running for the County Commission, City Council, or to be probate judge. If you do not support the new public library project you do not support new businesses locating here. New industry means a stronger tax base for the community. A new library will attract businesses, residents, and be a gateway of education/culture into our downtown area.
If you do not support the new public library you will not receive my vote.
Sincerely,
Opal Casey
Athens
Sad when animals suffer
Dear Editor:
(The following is written as a letter to Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones and Sheriff Mike Blakely.)
It is indeed a sad day for our individual citizens, our law-abiding community, and our state when innocent animals are caused to cruelly suffer and die as was the Gatlin dog.
I hope for all of our sakes that Mr. Tunstill is held strictly accountable for his actions in this regard. A heinous crime such as this is not local in scope because, working in concert with animal rights activists, law makers, and educators, our state legislature has enacted stiff penalties for animal cruelty cases that result in the death of an animal.
Those of us in Alabama who have charted the course of the legislation that renders it a felony to cause the death of an animal in the manner that Mr. Tunstill caused, are paying close attention to this and all other similar cases. We want the law strictly enforced. We want precedents that serve notice on potential perpetrators that they will be held strictly accountable for their acts of harm that result in the death of an animal. We believe that if Mr. Tunstill had known that he could be charged with a felony that it would have served as a deterrent.
I am particularly interested in whether the dog was dead at the time it was burned. I am also interested in knowing the reasons he burned the dog. I believe there is more to his actions that has been revealed thus far; and, blaming the dog's owner for the ultimate act of cruelty that led to the death of the dog does not mitigate the actions undertaken by Mr. Tunstill.
I wish you both well in your pursuit of justice and enforcement of our laws that are enacted in the best interest of us all.
Sincerely,
Judith Haney
Certified Appraiser
Athens
Need a people candidate
Dear Editor:
The only time I believe the presidential candidates tell the truth, is when they tell of the bad things they tell on others. Or when they talk about how they are going to destroy Social Security, Medicare, any benefits that help the needy, and put more of the middle class into poverty.
Some of them talk about God, but seem to forget what God says how he hates liars, greed, oppressing the poor and needy, which most of them are professing. They are all about more and big government at the expense of most of the middle class people that might vote for them.
For the life of me, I can’t understand how someone that says they believe in God, put their hand on a Bible and take an oath, then turn around and take bribes that destroy a class of people and possibly a once great country.
According to the things I read in my Bible, everything seems to be happening that it says will happen just before the return of Jesus. Maybe all of the politicians, rich people and professed Christians that look down their noses at someone that is oppressed, should buy or borrow a Bible and see what will happen to them.
Let’s all pray that all of the bought politicians get voted out of office. Prayerfully we can get someone in office that believes in the welfare of the people and country instead of how much power and money they might legally or illegally get while in office. This includes anyone that might be elected as president either Democrat or Republican. May all of the true Christians pray for the salvation of the lost souls in this country, and the whole world.
Please think of this when you vote
Sincerely,
Capt. F.E. “Jack” Morgan (retired)
Athens
