Letters to the Editor: Oil, taxes, Ukraine and shopping carts
Aldi’s the Answer
The governing body of Lexington-Fayette County for many months now has been working on a plan to “clamp down on ‘orphaned’ shopping carts.” In the March 3 edition of the Herald-Leader there was a list of the shopping carts spotted all over town by various Council persons. They seem to have spent a great deal of time and effort trying to find a solution to a problem that has already been solved. Don’t any of these people shop at Aldi’s? You put in your quarter, wipe down your cart, shop, return the cart and retrieve the quarter. Aldi’s doesn’t have abandoned carts sitting at all over town.
While I may not have creative or have original ideas, I am able to grasp a concept that is working and be appreciative of it. The article stated that businesses have a good deal invested in the shopping carts. It makes sense that IF we are to have an ordinance then it should be that every business with carts install a control system like the one that Aldi’s has.
Maybe when the Council solves this cart issue, they can work on the plastic bag catastrophe!
David M. Williams, Lexington
Canceled Artists
In a recent edition, Tyler Cowen’s opinion piece compared the “canceling” (his term) of Russian artists who have embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin with the McCarthy era’s wholesale repression of artists (and others) in this country in the early 1950s. I don’t see the similarity. The Russian artists of today, as named by Cowen, are a few celebrities who have openly, publicly and repeatedly supported Putin, a war criminal and murderer of innocent civilians in Ukraine. McCarthyism, by contrast, ruined the careers of many dozens of leading artists using flimsy or unconfirmed evidence of having communistic leanings. The Russian artists were actually given the chance to withdraw their support of Putin before being let go by companies and managers. The artists refused to do so. I am a retired professional musician and educator. I love the best in live music. Perhaps Mr. Cowen would be comfortable standing and cheering an artist who refuses to denounce murder. I would not.
Arthur T. LaBar, Richmond
Pay Down Debt
At this time Kentucky has additional funds in our accounts due to federal dollars for pandemic relief funds and infrastructure. So what does the Kentucky Legislature propose? Cut income taxes and increase sales taxes - a bill that would favor those with higher incomes and burden those with less. How utterly irresponsible!
The Legislature has for years under-funded the state workers and teachers retirement funds to the point it is now billions of dollars in debt. Meanwhile the greedy legislators’ own pension fund is fully funded. How much in annual interest costs is our under-funded pension system costing the tax payers?
Why don’t you get real and pay down some debt!
Jim Mansfield, Versailles, KY
New World
George Orwell is quoted as saying “Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them.” Some recent ideas:
Men can be wives.
Women can be husbands.
Boys can be girls.
Girls can be boys.
American oil is bad.
Foreign oil is okay.
Looks like George had something there.
Wayne Burns, Lexington
Russian oil
I understand the optics and the gratification of ceasing to purchase Russian oil but the results will be minimal. The reason is that oil trades on a global market. If we don’t purchase the Russian oil, we will have to make up the resulting shortfall from other oil producers, from our petroleum reserves, or from increased production from our own domestic wells. It will likely be a combination of all three. Our demand for imported oil will increase global prices and other countries with fewer scruples will gladly purchase the surplus Russian oil, likely at higher prices. Ultimately supply and demand will reach equilibrium at a higher price level. It’s a feel good move but ultimately will have little impact on the Russian economy.
Jim Porter, Danville
Oil Profiteering
Gasoline is at $4 per gallon in Kentucky! Where is the Kentucky Attorney General and why isn’t he investigating this outrageous price profiteering? Our gas is produced from American wells and processed by American refineries. Oil company costs have not doubled in the last 2 weeks.
Shouldn’t the Kentucky Attorney General be protecting Kentucky consumers from these profiteers?
And shouldn’t American oil companies be ashamed of profiting off the misery of the Ukrainian people?
Robert Baumann, Lexington
Kentucky taxes
The Republicans who control the Kentucky state legislature are intent on passing two bills. The first will decrease the length of time a person who is out of work may receive unemployment insurance benefits. The rationale for this is that they claim employers can’t find enough workers to fill their job openings.
The second bill will do away with the state income tax while increasing the state sales tax, disproportionately benefiting the wealthy while hurting the poor and middle class. They claim eliminating the income tax will somehow improve the state’s economy, creating more jobs. Why do we need more jobs if we can’t fill the ones we already have?
Both bills seem to benefit the rich at the expense of the poor. Cutting the state income tax will decrease state revenues resulting in cuts to social programs and education. Meanwhile, they want to give tax breaks to the rich who choose to send their kids to private schools. It seems to me Republicans want to keep Kentuckians poor and ignorant, because only ignorant people vote against their own best interests on a regular basis.
Greg Kring, Lexington
Cancel China
I will expect all virtue signaling liberal merchants, to remove ALL Chinese products from their shelves , when China attacks the independent nation of Taiwan.
William R. Elam, Lexington
Barr Loyalty
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr stated that Biden’s “weak and feckless” foreign policy did not deter the Russian invasion of Ukrainian; it invited the outcome. Barr and at least 85 percent of his GOP cohorts are the epitome of weakness and fecklessness.
Their failure to denounce Trump’s Big Lie by Donald Trump and his accomplices was a violation of their oath to support and defend our constitution. Their failure to live up to their oath continues daily despite Trump being declared a loser in 50-plus court cases including Trump’s Supreme Court.
This failure to support and defend the constitution was an open invitation to the GOP base to violently invade our capital on January 6, 2021.
Despite the GOP claiming the invasion was legitimate political discourse, the damage resulting from the moral failure of Barr and his cohorts is incalculable but extremely severe to our democracy. They should not be allowed any position requiring an oath. They have shown who their loyalty is to - not our country, but Trump.
R Don Goble, Lexington
Cameron’s Op-Ed
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s recent Op-Ed sounds like he’s running for office. He wants us to believe President Joe Biden’s administration is responsible for rising utility rates because Cameron says it is. He provides no fact-based evidence. He wants the XL pipeline, but has no concern for what could happen if it leaks. Apparently, he doesn’t think breathing is essential. We can live with black lung for everyone as long as energy rates are low. Really?
I want clean air to breathe, and clean water to drink and to bathe and cook with. Energy costs are high, partly because of supply and demand, but mostly because the fuel is traded on the market and stock holders have to be paid.
Some day we will burn up all the coal, oil and gas and in some places, hydro is already on the rocks. What will we do then? If we wait to develop renewables until that happens, it will be too late.
Cameron likes to stick it to the Democrats whenever possible. What a waste.
Glenna Brouse, Lexington
Shaq birthday
Once again the Lexington Herald-Leader got it wrong, printing Shaquille O’Neal would turn 40 this Sunday. They were only off by 10 years! Please hire proofreaders or fact-checkers, not only for the sports department, but also the editorial section!
Roy Wilson, Lexington
Country first
Surely Rep. Andy Barr should realize how fortunate we are, the nation and the world, that Donald Trump is no longer in the White House. But no, Andy Barr spent his time criticizing President Joe Biden while Russian President Vladimir Putin commits horrific acts of war. So much for putting country before partisan politics. I have wondered if Andy Barr, who has questioned Biden’s election, is ignorant or a dishonest opportunist ... or both. If Andy Barr is re-elected, we are the fools.
Frank Close, Lexington
Supporting Small Business
I appreciate the Op-Ed in a recent paper by Kama Reed that argues the General Assembly should support Kentucky small businesses instead of hurting their ability to earn revenue. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in economics to understand why a retailer would prefer to keep 40 percent of the revenue from gray machines/skill games when they only keep 6.25 percent off of lottery sales. It sounds like the General Assembly ought to find a compromise to keep this revenue in local communities. Plus, if the General Assembly wants to actually “let the adults decide” on how they want to spend their entertainment dollars, shouldn’t the government stay out of banning one entity in favor of another?
Eric Puening, Lexington
Pre-School Importance
I was shocked to read this morning that Senate President Robert Stivers is “not a fan of pre-school education.” As a person who has two degrees in Education, I know that pre-school is an important time for language and cognitive development. It is a time when children start thinking and understanding. While in school they begin to learn about making friends and getting along with others. My children are in their 40’s. What they learned in the pre-school years was amazing. My grandchildren go (to pre-school). We don’t know a single person who doesn’t send their children and grandchildren to pre-school. I think we all know the answer as to why everyone we know goes. We can afford to send them to pre-school. Does Robert Stivers believe that only those who can afford to go should be given that leg up? What could be more important to Kentucky than having an educated and skilled workforce? I would think that Mr. Stivers would be particularly anxious to give the Kentuckians in his home district an educational advantage.
Simone Bloomfield Salomon, Lexington
