Letters to the Editor: Effort to ban occupational tax shows GOP isn’t for small government – Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed at the state house asking the Senate Governmental Affairs committee to vote against a bill that would take away Alabama cities' ability to pass an occupational tax.(Photo: Sara MacNeil)

Do you remember when the Republican party used to brag about being the party that championed small government? The GOP described themselves as the guardians against big government interfering with local institutions.

Well, recently, the city of Montgomery floated the idea of an occupational tax that could be used to bring in more money for law enforcement, etc. Immediately, the Republican controlled Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill banning local cities from passing an occupational tax without the State legislatures permission.

Remember when Birmingham tried to raise the minimum wage in that city? As a result of that action, the Republican controlled Legislature passed a law forbidding cities from setting their own minimum wage, stating, again, that only the state government could institute a higher minimum wage.

Likewise, the Republican controlled state Legislature passed a law that says if cities want to remove monuments, they had to get the permission of the state government.

I guess Republicans believe in big government after all. Boy, times have really changed, havent they?

Sheldon E. James

Montgomery

Does everyone have the right to food, clothing, shelter, health care, and income?The answer would be yes only if a person has the right to the property and labor of others.

The function of government is to stop people from harming other people, not to force them to share.No one should be forced to serve others, which is slavery, and no one should be forced to transfer his or her property to others, which is theft.

Governments should stop slavery and theft, not foster them.

People should provide for the needy, of course, but they should do that voluntarily. It takes more compassion to give your own money to the poor than to take away someone elses.

Daniel Haulman

Montgomery

So the director of National Intelligence briefs the House that the Russians are interfering in the 2020 elections - in support of incumbent Trump - and gets fired. Then the president hires a sycophant to take his place.

Shame on our intelligence community for telling the truth and doing its duty to protect our republic from outside interference. Apparently, for this administration, outside interference is just fine if it keeps you in power.

All Alabama Republican candidates for public office heartily touttheir fealty to Trump, so they must support outside interference as well. Dear God, what a country.

Nelson Smith

Montgomery

If anyone is wondering if this president should have a second term, the answer is a resounding yes, as we thank previous and current politicians for the mess we are in with imports today.

Previous and current politicians are responsible for laying so many restrictions, regulations and taxes on businesses, that they run them off to other countries - China being a primary one.

Look at everything you buy today. Most is provided by China, where the Coronavirus is running rampant and stopping manufacturing and shipping of so many products we use day to day. That means shortages, because we have no one manufacturing the items here.

It is the politicians who tell a person who can flip a burger - but can't add, subtract, multiply or divide without a machine to help them -they are worth $15 an hour. In China, a well-paid factory worker may get $228 a month! More jobs out the door and into China, Mexico and other low wage countries.

Where are masks and rubber gloves that are used for protection against germs made?China. Where are USA uniforms for the Olympics made?China, Vietnam and other low wage countries. Where is too much of our food processed before returning to our country for consumption?China.

What it comes down to is this country is sinking into a problem that will grow as the virus spreads, because we get too much from the one country where the virus began and is rapidly spreading - China.

Maybe instead of the pompous career politicians condemning President Trump, who is the only one trying to pull manufacturing back to our own shores, they should condemn themselves for letting this disaster happen at all. Maybe instead of the constant Russian crap they spout, they should climb onboard and help get businesses back. But, they won't. You don't kill the cash cow you have tucking money in your greedy pockets, do you? And today, it seems most, if not all career politicians, have moved from everyday people to instant millionaires - by selling America out.

Maggie DiGiovanni

Eclectic

Judging by the political ads on TV, Alabama isn't lacking in stupidity with all the candidates tying their dinghies to Trump's Titanic.

Bradley Byrne brags about voting with Trump 96.8% of the time. That would be wonderful if Trump wasn't systematically destroying America by nullifying Congress, attacking and undermining the Judicial Branch, converting the NSA into his version of the KGB, voiding the Constitution and the Rule of Law.

By supporting Trump, these people are supporting the demise of our Constitutional Republic and democracy in favor of a fascist dictatorship and autocracy.

Jessica Taylor will go to Washington with her flamethrower and set Nancy Pelosi and the "socialist democrats" on fire. Give me a break! The word "socialist" is the latest buzzword, replacing "communist" or "Islamic extremism."Truth is, the Democratic party hasn't become more "socialist."It'sthat the GOP has become radicalized to the point of right wing extremism and theocracyin their adoption of Trumpism.

Jeff Coleman, with all his dirty money made by bilking the government (taxpayers), is going to take his baseball bat that he used to preserve his daughter's chastity and go bash some Democrats.

Jeff Sessions, an example of "battered housewife "syndrome wants to return to Washington for another round of butt chewing. His wounds having healed as he convalesced in the safety of Alabama.

What can you say about Roy Moore? Alabama didn't want him as a representative so badly that this reddest of red states voted for a Democrat. Way to go, Roy!

These jokers all need to jump in the same lifeboat, untether themselves from the new dictatorship in Washington and drift off into the sunset.

Keith Smith

Wetumpka

Our Declaration of Independence established governments purpose and moral foundation - protection and toleration of unalienable rights - vestiges of individual sovereignty.

Groups representing power and wealth drafted our Constitution, proposing government of compromise between the two. A few brave founders faithful to individuals objected and said No Rights, No Ratification reminding us, government is servant not master!

The Bill of Rights were added, so ostensibly government oversees three different groups.Those wanting power, others desiring wealth, and each among We the Individuals who created government to protect their unalienable rights.

Toleration of unalienable rights is the keystone that has allowed America to survive 244 years of compromises between power and wealth. Beware, the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments have loopholes! They allow government to take life, liberty, and property under due-process and government determines what due-process is!

People cheered and jeered as House partisans with power demonstrated their version of due-process to impeach our president.Unchecked, political puppets for power and wealth could compromise and govern without protecting individual rights.

Americans will have surrendered our government of toleration -to a totalitarian compromise between power and wealth.

Patriots, arm yourself with ballots and fight to protect your unalienable rights.

Joe Boyett

Montgomery

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Letters to the Editor: Effort to ban occupational tax shows GOP isn't for small government - Montgomery Advertiser