1 week Ago
School tax hikes too heavy a burdenAs a lifelong resident of Whitehall Township, I am greatly vexed by the school board’s raising taxes every year by the percentage that it does. Most people in the workforce have been getting much less of a percentage in yearly increases in their pay. On average, the amount of increases that the normal worker receives is in the neighborhood of about 2.
5%-3%. I think that this school board should consider that. If you keep increasing the tax, soon anyone on a fixed income will be forced out of their homes because they are not able to afford the taxes.
Then I think they should move in with you as it seems that you have plenty of money.Alfred PalmerWhitehall TownshipTariffs evoke economic turmoil leading to Great DepressionAmericans who know their history will recall with chilling fear the disastrous economic policies of President Hoover. After campaigning for tariffs, in 1930 he signed the Smoot-Hawley Act that enacted tariffs that brought on a global trade war that ruined many businessmen and farmers.
In a time of limited business regulation, he did little to prevent the Great Depression.Now we have a childishly ignorant president foolishly playing with tariffs and encouraging destruction of corporate regulation along with federal services designed to protect consumers. There are already signs of economic disruption appearing in his wake of chaos.
The rollercoaster effect on the economy is causing great concern for Americans and America’s allies. And now Trump and administration officials have openly talked about an economic recession. Congress can vote to stop Trump from imposing tariffs, but it hasn’t.
Factor in Donald Trump and JD Vance’s terrible treatment of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy along with his churlish disregard for the suffering of its citizens imposed by the ruthlessly inhumane attacks from Russia, and we can only wonder if Trump’s apparent reverence for Russia’s dictator Vladimir Putin could be harmful for both America and Ukraine.Mark AndersonLongswamp TownshipTrump administration has double standardIn a recent article (The Morning Call, April 15) about international students who are having their visas revoked and are being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, there was a quote by Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizing students whom he said “are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus.” Let’s change that to “armed men intent on vandalizing the Capitol, harassing representatives and senators, taking over the Capitol, creating a riot.
” Yet they are pardoned and cleared to continue their lives as before, while students who are working toward a degree and are peacefully exercising their rightful freedom of speech are being sent to prisons and then deported. It just doesn’t seem right. Do the men and women running our country ever think before they speak?Beverly Ann SaylorWhitehall TownshipThank you to tax assistance volunteersAs a district coordinator for AARP Tax-Aide, I would like to thank all the volunteers nationwide who gave their time and expertise to this very much needed program sponsored by the AARP Foundation.
We are designed to serve those low- to moderate-income taxpayers who would not be able to afford a paid tax preparer, even though their returns are relatively simple. District 22, consisting of nine sites in Northampton County, prepared over 1,400 tax returns with an average refund of $1,000. Our “clients” have expressed their deep gratitude at the time of their tax preparation and I can’t thank them enough.
We look forward to serving the community next year.Carol R. EisenbiseUpper Nazareth TownshipTrump administration’s folly obvious in Vietnam decisionAmid all the appalling, unconstitutional, cruel and stupid things the current administration is perpetrating, this one stands out to me personally.
As recorded in The Morning Call (“50 years later, Vietnam’s battlefields tell tales”), “The U.S. was to open the first exhibit of its own at the [War Remnants Museum] this year, detailing Washington’s extensive efforts to remediate wartime damage, but it is .
.. on hold after the Trump administration slashed foreign aid.
”As the wife of a Marine who served two tours in Vietnam, I am more than disgusted. When, with other veterans, we toured Vietnam in 2019, we were greeted with friendship by these proud people. The Vietnamese would prefer to be allies, as a counter to their historical enemy, China, who over the centuries ruled parts of Northern Vietnam, and in 1979 invaded Vietnam.
Now the administration’s dangerous and bizarre actions are forcing Vietnam into a closer relationship with China, against their and our own interests.When will the GOP, including Sen. Dave McCormick, who swore to protect and defend the Constitution, stand up for our country and people around the world?I’m waiting.
Judith E. SmullenBethlehemAn addendum for our era to Martin Neimoller’s poemIt is time for an update to Pastor Martin Niemoller’s post-World War II poem, “First They Came,” which is inscribed at the Holocaust Museum in Washington:Then they killed 42,000 and destroyed Gaza and I did not speak out, because I was not from Gaza.Then they sent immigrants illegally without a hearing to El Salvador and I did not speak out, because I was not an immigrant.
Then they fired thousands of federal workers and I did not speak out, because I was not a federal worker.Then they came for Medicaid, which pays most nursing home care, and I did not speak out, because I was not a nursing home patient.Then they canceled university funding and I did not speak out, because I was not a student or professor.
Then they came for Ukraine and I did not speak out, because I was not Ukrainian.Ray MurphyBethlehemELECTION LETTERS Letters to the editor about candidates and issues in the May 20 primary election must be received by 10 a.m.
May 12. Election-related letters will not be published after May 15.The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week.
Submit a letter to the editor at [email protected]. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.
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