Newspapers / The Foothills View (Boiling … / Nov. 12, 1981, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Foothills View (Boiling Springs, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
• • « B • • • • • i • • I • • • • • • • • • • • • ' • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • - • • • The Foothills View is a community newspaper published each Thursday by the Gardner-Webb College Press, Inc. Dave Robertson Managing Editor Commentary The editorial page of The Foothills View Washington Report A Column By Rep. Broyhill November 11th will be observed across our nation as Veterans Day. This is a day of solemn remembrance. It Is also a day of challenge to us—the living—to ae faithful to the ideals for which so many gave their lives. Ibese Ideals are at the very heart of what is best about America. Last week I began the first of a two-part series with the nation’s number one spokesman for veterans, Mr. Robert Nlmmo, the new Administrator of Veterans Affairs. I talked with him about the needs of the veteran popula tion in the 10th District. There are more than 621.000 veterans in North Carolina and 10 percent of them reside In my congressional district. My office works very closely with the Winston-SAlem Regional Office of the Veterans Administration. Unfort unately, not every veteran who seeks my assistance on a claim or other problem can receive favorable results. However, my office has established a close working re lationship with the Winston-SAlem regional office. I be lieve the staff there is doing a good job on behalf of the veterans of our state. Mr. Nimmo commented, "Our regional office in Winston- Salem is one of the busiest in the nation. They work very closely with the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs and all the service organizations. I believe they are doing a fine job serving Tar Heel veteans. I also talked with the Administrator about the emotional issue of Agent Orange. Here’s what he had to say about this problem. "The emotional issue of Agent Orange continues to be one of the most perplexing problems the VA faces. Far from being insensitive, however, the VA has been .the moving force that has sparked a wide range of medical research on this subject. VA’s dilemma is that the taw permits us to pay compensation only to those persons who have a disability that can be linked through factual history or medical science to their military ser vice. Despite what many individuals believe and a number of groups advocates, there is still no medical evidence of a link between Agent Orange and any long range condition other than a tupe of skin rash called chloracne. But the important thing for veterans and their families to remember is that any veteran who thinks he has a pro blem related to Agent Orange can get a free medical examinMion at the VA. Those eligible for treatment will be treated. They don’t have to wait lor medical re search.’’ We also talked about a new law which is designed to meet the needs of an estimated 100,000 former prisoners (rf war. A joint VA/Department of Defense study in 1980 found that these veterans have a higher incidence ff physical and psychological disabilities related to their poor diet, confinement and lack of medical care. Anyone who was imprisoned for 30 days or more is now eligible for certain assistance, and more information can be ob tained by contacting the VA. In discussing the future of the Veterans Admistration, Mr, Nhnmo said, "1 have worked in and around the federal government for 37 years and I know as a matter of per sonal observation that the va.st majority of government employees sincerely believe In what they’re doing, that the vast majority of government employees sincerely believe in whM they’re doing, that they are competent and that they want to do what’s right. But, as with any organization, leadership is a key ingredient. 1 think we can improve the management of the bureaucracy, get all 230,000 VA employees pulling in harness and enthusiastic about their work, which will inevitably translate into better delivery of benefits to our veterans.’’ r agree and l join all Americans in saluting our veterans on this Veterans Day, 1981. It is a pity that the White House has become something of a Tower of Babel In the matter of economic reform. Concerning which a few observations: 1) Even as Margaret Thatcher cannot, by serious observers, be said to have taken the steps required to reverse British socialism and interventionisrp, so Ronald Reagan cannot seriously be said to have attempted supply-side economics. Not at this point. It becomes tiresome to say it, but the tax reduction that began on Oct. 1 to the contrary notwithstanding, inflation plus increases in Social Security levies will leave William F. Buckley, Jr.’s ‘ON THE RIGHT ‘As things now stand, notwithstanding all the planned reductions in the Reagan program, three years hence the American people will pay a one percent greater tax than they paid under Carter. ” the American people with less at the end of the year than they disposed of before the tax cut went into effect. j In other words, the tax cut reduces only the extent of the net exaction on the consumer. So viewed, it is hardly to be expected that that first year’s cut would substantially increase a) investment, c) productivity, d) employment. The way to bring on a substantial increase in savings and a redirection in economic energies away from the almighty search for the tax shelter would have been to follow the advice of Milton Friedman: reduce the top tax rate to 25 percent, immediately. 2) Although three-years down the line the 3) We are left asking: What would indexed. Thus, if you borrowed $1,000 with tax reductions will have become (at 25 Congress now consent to do, that it hasn’t the obligation to repay in two years, and percent) substantial, even then the load is already done? We are left most clearly with inflation (tied to the cost of living index) not critically lifted where it should be. It is the impression that any further reduction in went up by 10 percent, you would owe the widely unobserved that there are no plans federal expenses is excluded, certainly until bank $1,200. That, at first blush, is a most for reducing the top tax rate from the after the elections next year. What, then? awful alternative -- except that if’the lender present 50 percent. This was integral to the is protected against inflation, he will reduce Kemp-Roth approach. Under K-R, rates the interest to the conventional 2 percent to across the board were to have been reduced Years ago, Milton Friedman came out with 3 percent, by 10 percent per year. If K-R had been notion that if only as a matter of implemented, in three years the top rateUnited States should issue Granted there are those who would prefer would have gone down from 50 percent to purchase maintenance bonds, to pay 20 percent tax deductible interest 37.4 percent. Under the Reagan plan, the^pu cannot, said Friedman the moralist, and benefit from the reduction in the top rate stays at 50 percent. Such relief as is Qood conscience sell someone a $100 principal payment- but to do it rioht is the extended takes the form of delaying the*^®'^'^ paying 3 percent interest when you point of the exercise. Introducino the figure at which the 50 percent is reached. ®very reason to know that the bond’s indexation of the national debt would rau?p But whether this is a net relief to the Purchasing traction will have reduced by 5 that debt to soar: but the carrvino cost taxpayer depends of course on the rate of P®*"®®®^ ® year. That argument goes would plunge inflation. beyond the moral in the rash of recent suggestions that, in effect, not only the „ , .. . ,, government, but the private sector begin at this moment selling 10-year But even if inflation we e totally ^,3 ,„3„3 ^ government bonds at over 15 percen oontrolled, the economy would suffer from a “ interest. Guaranteeing the ourc^iasinn rate (50 percent) that skims risk capital power of the bond would save us - up to resources and encourages tax-oriented $ioo billion per year ^ investment policies. As things now stand, notwithstanding all the planned reductions ... in the Reagan program, three years hence FoPsi'f Heilbroner, the economist, writing the American people will pay a 1 percent ^he New York Times, proposes that a t , greater tax than they paid under President rnortgage, or even a straight loan, be orm should be explored. Carter. pi
The Foothills View (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 12, 1981, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75