Too many laws add to confusion
How many times during my life have I heard, “There ought to be a law!”? And more often than not, a new law tumbles out of the legislative body, pell-mell. Most times the new law would not have prevented the precipitating event any better than current laws if they had been enforced. Additional laws are piled on top of similar, unused laws and only add layers of confusion. More often than not, the new law, along with the attendant bureaucratic rules and regulations, greatly increased the cost to the law-abiding citizens that had “done it right” originally.
So who benefits from additional law? We get more bureaucracy, more rules and regulations, more cost for compliance. And we get questionable improvement over existing law.
Hurricane Floyd caused extensive flooding in Eastern North Carolina and about five out of about 4,000 lagoons failed. These failures were reported to have been caused by questionable events on the “dam” of the lagoon. As a result, additional rules, inspections, regulations, moratoriums, etc. were created that caused great expense to the 99 percent that had ‘done it right.’ But when the next Floyd comes, won’t the results will be the same? Lagoons will overflow and some will fail because all the rules and regulations do not control Mother Nature. Look at N.C. 12, the Atlantic Ocean and the Department of Transportation in Dare County.
The environment is another place where “There ought to be a law” has ruled supreme. Many times new rules and regulations (laws) have been written to address a real problem. But the bureaucracy took the law and stretched it to “make it fit” additional situations and states. Under all-encompassing rules, landowners have been cited for beaver dams that were not properly permitted. Forty-thousand-dollar-a-day fines have been levied for questioning the accuracy of EPA’s bureaucratic claims. You know others.
Tax season brings more “There ought to be a law” statements about Mitt Romney and others like him that made money, paid taxes on that money, invested that money (after taxes) and now get income from those investments that is taxed at a lower rate. There are almost 80,000 pages of tax law confusion and contradiction. The tax can of worms was created by Congress in response to special interests, needs, legitimate concerns and buying votes.
Thirty to 50 million gun owners did nothing wrong. Should their “rights” be removed or severely curtailed because there have been 60 mass killings in the last 20 years and the top five have occurred since 2007. Is 60 out of say 50,000,000 an appropriate response? Please tell the millions in Africa killed with machetes that only guns kill. I deplore Newtown but will another law stop murder? I wish!
The overriding concern here is that the legislative process feels that they must write a law to mollify voters and special interests. They confound, not clarify, existing law! Each imperfect attempt to “fix” something is then applied to every situation. Bureaucracy is increased, costs go up, legal confusion for compliance increases and the public throws up their hands in exasperation. One does not create clarity by multiplying confusion. We could do a lot worse than throwing everything out and starting over.
Alan Harper
Kinston
Test your knowledge of our economy
Here is a quick multiple choice quiz that Free Press readers can use to test their knowledge of the economy and how the U.S. monetary system works.
1 — How many dollars can the US issue in a year?
a. $3 trillion.
b. As much as the debt limit allows.
c. As much as Congress spends.
d. No limit.
2 — Where does the U.S. Treasury get money?
a. From taxes.
b. By selling Treasury securities (i.e. borrowing).
c. a and b.
d. From deposits to its account by the Fed.
3 — How much money has the U.S. borrowed from China?
a. $800 billion.
b. $4.6 trillion.
c. It depends on how much we have imported from China.
d. $0.
4 — How could Congress end the deficit spending crisis?
a. Raise taxes.
b. Cut spending.
c. A combination of both a and b.
d. Recognize that spending in excess of tax collections is not a crisis.
5 — How could Congress end the federal debt crisis?
a. Tax more to increase revenue.
b. Spend less to decrease expenses.
c. Stop selling Treasury securities.
d. Remove the debt ceiling.
6 — Why does the U.S. Treasury tax and borrow?
a. Because there is no other way for it to get money.
b. Because the Constitution says it must do so.
c. Because it is the most efficient way.
d. Only because Congress passed a law saying it must.
7 — Which creates economic growth?
a. Taxing the rich.
b. Cutting federal spending.
c. Balancing the federal budget.
d. Running a federal deficit.
8 — Why should the federal government operate like a household or private business?
a. Because it has limited income.
b. So its credit rating will stay high.
c. So it can always pay its bills on time.
d. It should not. The government issues money. It does not rely on income or profit.
9 — When does inflation occur?
a. When federal debt exceeds GDP.
b. When gasoline prices go up faster than incomes.
c. Any time the government prints money.
d. Only when the supply of a currency exceeds the demand for that currency.
10 — At the present rate of spending, how long before the U.S. government goes broke?
a. Eighteen months.
b. Four years.
c. In 2033.
d. Never.
If you answered “d” to each question, give yourself a 100!
Jim Gaddis
Grifton
Ball aims to honor military service
Several veterans considering getting a ticket for our upcoming Veterans Ball have asked if they have to show any kind of ID card or verification of their military service. The answer is no.
Several have also asked if they have to wear a tuxedo. I would appreciate letting Free Press readers know that a tux is welcome, but so are slacks and a nice shirt. Some male veterans said they are wearing their military uniforms. Women also can wear their uniforms, ball gowns, church outfits, a dressy slacks outfit, etc. I don’t want them to let what to wear deter them from attending and having a super great time.
The ball is for honor and enjoyment to all active military, Guards, reservists, veterans and their guests, from the Lenoir County area or anywhere else.
If they don’t have a ticket yet, they should get one soon, at the Veterans Challenge office, second door from DMV at the Kinston mall, or at the door of the event, just $5 each. It’s Saturday, Jan. 12, from 5-11p.m. at Kinston Hampton Inn. There will be food, dancing, cash bar, prizes and fun! Williamson Photography is offering discounted portraits and the Hampton Inn is giving a substantial room discount for the night or weekend to anyone who let them know they are with the Veterans Ball when registering. Thanks.
Terry Carmon
Board member
Veterans Challenge Inc.
Kinston
Progress built on cooperation
I need to make two clarifications to your readers, please.
In the Dec. 5, 2012, guest column of The Free Press I named people while throwing out a challenge to the community. Some people appreciated being listed among the elite; some were highly offended. The implication I was attempting to relay is that these people are some of the mountain-moving leadership, and working together, what an amazing impact could occur! If I had a magic wand, or some significant ability to clear all our involved agendas for a couple of hours so we could meet and pull with one accord, the lives we could positively impact would create an infinite ripple of amazing proportions!
A Sept. 9, 2012, letter to the editor by Staff Sergeant Charity Hilterbrand Smith, began, “ I wonder if your readers know that war is within our borders, that more lives of our trained armed forces are taken by mental health symptoms of war than by combat. …The Department of Veterans Affairs reports approximately 6,000 veteran suicides annually and July 2012 was the highest recorded occurrence of veteran suicides (Army and Marine).”
Last night I was told by some of those named how I offended some by publishing their names, and the comments made. By the time I left that meeting, after 10 p.m., I got another crisis call, that took me again in the trenches until early morning hours with another suicide attempt of another of God’s precious souls.
In The Free Press of July 11, 2012, I included a reference to the Stone Soup story, (Stone Soup by Marcia Brown), of how a community united by some soldiers’ needs and a lack of prosperity in the community pitched in together with wonderful results for all.
Lenoir County could implement some strategies we have outlined that I know would benefit every man, woman and child of this area and set an example for other areas to emulate. With 7,000 veterans, their spouses, and children representing half of our population, 100% of this county’s citizenry is impacted at least indirectly by the welfare of our veterans. Some are pillars, and some are suffering. The motto of Veterans Challenge is “promoting the health and prosperity of veterans and the community.”
2.) Some officials have threatened and accused me of misrepresenting and putting money in my pockets. Veterans Challenge was incorporated on Oct. 11, 2011, as a nonprofit in the state of North Carolina, SOSID – 1225127, EIN# 38-3854333. That is our sole classification at this point. We have operated entirely thus far, as volunteers, from our own pockets, and $487 worth of fundraising donations for the entire year of 2012. Some people are so kind and are seeing the big picture, while some tear down faster than we can build. I know Lenoir County’s first Veterans Ball on Jan. 12 is going to be wonderful. I hope your readers will support it and our Monday night, Jan. 14, Community Program at the former Expressions/Brody’s building at 7 p.m.
Can’t we please be supportive of one another, put our faith in action, and someday hear those glorified words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant?”
Debby Guthrie, Director
Veterans Challenge Inc.
Kinston
The rule on consecutive letters is waived due to time constraints on this submission. — Editor