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| June 19, 2003 The Kings Mountain Herald Page 5A LETTERS From 4A before you can participate in any activities. In the last three years, Skatepark Association USA, or SPA USA, hasn't received any complaints about a skatepark. According to recent polls, cities are usually very satisfied with the parks after they have been built. Ten years ago there were about 5- 10 skateparks, and today there are over 5,000. Ten years ago there were about one or two no biking/skateboarding signs within our city, and today they are on almost every sidewalk and parking lot. So we leave the choice with you. Would you rather us skate in the street dodging cars or support us and our hobbies by help- ing us persuade the city to build us a safe, drug free place to ride and skate. Joaquin Minter Kings Mountain Tax Relief Act of 2003 should increase revenue In the May 29, 2003 issue of The Herald, - staff writer Abigail Wolford opined on the wisdom of the recent tax cut (Job and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003). I pulled two main threads from this piece. One, a desire to see increased spend- ing on social systems (subsidized medicine, increased social services, AIDS research, etc). The other, worry that the tax policy change was fiscally imprudent - would lead to an increased budget deficit and thence to an increase in national debt. The first impulse is entirely appropriate and salutary in that it is political - politics is all about the electorate expressing their wishes on such matters - how much as an electorate to spend, on what items and issues. We argue and negotiate and come to terms in our state and national legislatures with some kind of compromise on these kind of questions. Ms. Wolford’s opinion on these matters is thus part of the rough, vocal jumble of political communication. Her second impulse though - to worry about the budget implications of the tax pol- icy change - is founded on a faulty model of how revenue systems work, and should be corrected. In any revenue or pricing system there are always two rates or prices that pro- duce the same amount of revenue. In a tax system, a 100% rate (which removes any incentive to produce) and a 0% rate (you collect nothing) both produce the same rev- enues: $0. In between these two extremes is a curve (the “Laffer Curve) of rates each too low or too high producing more and more revue until meeting at point “E” on the curve. Point “E” is the place the electorate wishes to be taxed at - the point of maximum rev- enues for the tax system. Thus if a tax rate is too high, lowering the tax rate increases rev- enues. I will say it again: when rates are too high, lowering them closer to point “E” rais- es revenues. The amount of revenue per transaction is lowered, but there are many more transac- tions (there is an increase of taxable activity at the margin). There are plenty of real world examples of this phenomenon: a quick look at the Historical Budget Data maintained by the Congressional Budget office at www.cbo.gov shows government revenues expanding after the Kennedy- Johnson, Reagan and Clinton tax cuts. The best historical example might be President Clintons Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA ‘97), since it is closest in structure to the Job and Growth Act just passed. TRA "97 dropped capital gain rates down to a max rate of 20% - instead of lowering revenues, revenues exploded 39% over the next four years, from $1,453 billion in 1996 to $2025 in 2000. We had moved closer to point “E” on the curve - less revenue per transaction (20% vice 28%), but many, many more transactions. | So those who are interested in full govern- ment coffers for spending should not fret. This structural change in tax policy that puts dividends (a form of capital taxation) back on par with capital gains (another form of capital taxation) means more revenues, not less. What to do with the increase in revenues - that’s what politics is for. William Marcellino Kings Mountain Letters We appreciate your letters and encourage you to write. Because we receive so many letters, however, we must impose guidelines to ensure that as many readers as possible are able to share their views. We therefore limit the number of letters that any one per- son may have published to one a month. Also, we ask that you keep your letters short, no more than two pages double- spaced or one page single-spaced. Handwritten letters are accepted, but must be legible. We will not publish third party letters, unsolicited poems, thank-you letters or let- ters from anonymous writers; names, addresses, and phone numbers must be included. We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar, punctuation, clarity, brevity and content. Letters must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday of the week they are to be published. Mail letters to Publisher Mike Blanton, P.O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 or fax them to (704) 739-0611. News Deadlines Deadline for B Section news is 12 noon Monday. This includes lifestyles news, peo- ple stories, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, reunions, club news, church news, business news, school news and com- munity news. Items received past the dead- line will run in other parts of the paper if time and space permit. Otherwise, they will be held until the following week. Deadline for A Section news is 5 p.m. Tuesday. This includes city and county news, sports, and miscellaneous items. In cases of Tuesday night meetings and ball games, items will be taken up to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Items received past the deadline will be withheld until the following week. ALAN From 4A basis with any of them. I went to the farm once and saw that there was little time for tenderness where the cows were concerned. If they didn’t go where Goob wanted them to fast enough, a quick pop or kick hurried them along. Deep down in the gloomy forest on the lower part of Goob'’s land there was a place of mystery and spookiness. Do you recall having heard of a place called an elephants graveyard in the African jungles where all the elfanuts went to die and Tarzan was the funeral director? Well, there was just a place for cows at Goober’s Woods for heaped high in the middle of the forest was a huge mound of bleached cow bones. This collec- tion of skeletal remains included skulls and the rest of many once lively frames. I took a skull home and kept it for many years. It had a bullet hole right between the eyes. Goats I don't care for. For one thing they stink. Once some goats got loose and we had a roundup chasing them all over cre- ation and brother did they stink. I tried to lasso one and got the rope on him but he got loose and the stink stayed on the rope and my hands and brother did it stink. I shan’t say what it smelled like, but it wasn’t roses. I think goats are by nature malevolent creatures. The little ones aren't too bad because they know they are little and cute and scamper around and they know that by being little and cute you can get your way most of the time. The big ones are not cute and the ones I have known are always look- ing for something to knock around and if you happen to be handy then you'll do. Well, that’s my trip around the barnyard. I guess that’s all. Good bye. (Alan Hodge is editor of the Belmont Banner/Mount Holly News and is former staff writer for the Herald). Dr. Syed Thiwan, M.D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine Announces I New Location of his | Internal Medicine Practice: 103 South Watterson Street Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086 ABIGAIL From 4A Then they throw dollars at completely worthless programs that do not benefit any- one. The wonderful prescription plan that the President proposed a while back has not helped most people. It is still cheaper to get prescriptions filled in Canada. Patient advocates are often able to help people get prescriptions for less. However, it is a shame that people have to employ a third party in the first place. Do people choose to be sick? Of course not. They should not be punished for it then. They should not have to choose between buying food, paying the rent, or purchasing the medicine that will make them get better. The government has the power to make a difference in people’s lives. They can ; choose to fund a decent healthcare program. They can choose to completely redo the way the United States does healthcare. Why aren’t they doing it? Officials listed below represent part or all of Cleveland County Elected officials represent- ing Cleveland County: U.S. SENATOR Elizabeth Dole (2008) Hickory, NC 28603 828-327-6100, 800-477-2576 46th Senatorial District: Kings Mountain, NC 28086 704-482-4441 (w), 704-739- 6447 (h) STATE SENATE .112th House District: (Rutherford, Part Cleveland) Bob England (2004) P.O. Box 2109 (Cleveland, Rutherford) Salisbury, NC 28145 704-630-4686 Walter Dalton (2004) Walterd@ncleg.net 560 N. Main Street John Edwards (2004) P.O. Box 908 Ellenboro, NC 28040 828-245-0191 (w), 828-453- Senator@edwards.senate.go ~~ Rutherfordton, N.C.28139 8807 (h) Vv 828-287-2908, 919-715-3038 825 Hart Senate Office Bldg. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: Washington, DC 20510 STATE HOUSE OF REP- 202-224-3154 RESENTATIVES 27-B Judicial District - 7th Division U.S. REPRESENTATIVES 110th House District: (Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, 10th Congressional District: Gaston) Cass Ballenger (2004) www.ballenger,house.gov (Parts of Cleveland & Debbie Clary (2004) Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln & Mecklenburg) James W. Morgan (2010) 2182 Rayburn Office Bldg. Debbiec@ncleg.net James.W.Morgan@aoc.state. Washington, DC 20515 P.O. Box 2266 nc.us 202-225-2576, 800-477-2576 Shelby, NC 28151-2266 1225 Brookwood Drive (N.C. only) 704-480-1407, 919-733-5654 Shelby, N.C. 28150 www.repclary.com Tommy Luckadoo Tommy.Luckadoo@mail.hou se.gov (Cleveland County) District Director P.O. Box 1830 Tim Moore (2004) 361-10th Avenue Dr., NE NIGHTLY Coordinators Wanted 912 Old N. Main i | e Clover, SC 29710 \ TWO LEGITIMATE 400 Cellular Minutes (outgoing) 111th House District: 813 W. Mountain Street 704-484-4770 Forrest Donald Bridges (2010) 131 Appian Way Shelby, N.C. 28150 704-482-8838 Doors Open 4:30 pm Early Games 6:00 pm Regular Games 7:45 pm « TEDS * New TEDS 2C * New Heat « Smoke Eaters * Concession Stand w/ absolutely great food * Well Lighted and Clean ~~ Charity: Clover Rescue Squad IDFR TTT BTA Td [RN] BLY A TN BT 4d "REASONS TO CELEBRATE Unlimited Nextel Direct Connect® Minutes Unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes Free Nationwide Long Distance $5999 A Month Limited-time offer C= Wireless Phones, Inc. Main Street Shopping Ctr . 704.825.0008 6430 Wilkinson Blvd Belmont, NC 28012 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE Offers expire June 30, 2003. Offers require new activation, one-year service agreement and credit approval. $200 early termination ize soles: of $35 activation fee per phone, capped at $70 per account. $150 Offer: Available while supplies last. Promotional price is based on $1 the regular retail price and a $50 mail-in rebate. Allow 10-12 weeks after phone purchase, activation and mailing-in of a complete and valid rebate form to receive rebate. Limit one rebate per purchase. Offer valid only in conpinerion with $100 off regular retail price at point of sale. May not be available in all markets. Full terms and conditions to be found on t 6 Free Incoming calls are calls received while in the U.S. on the Nextel National Network. Free Nationwide Lon long distance only. Nextel Direct Connect minutes are available in your local calling area only. Unlimited Direct e mail-in rebate form. Free Incoming Calling Plan: 9 Distance includes domestic onnect minutes do not include Group Connect calls which are $0.15/min. Cellular overage is $0.40/min. Cellular calls round to the next full minute. Unused minutes do not accu- mulate to the next billing cycle. Nights are 9:00pm to 7:00am. Weekends begin Fri. at 9:00pm and end Mon. at 7:00am. Additional charges Tey apply and may vary by market, including state and federal taxes, a Universal Service Assessment of either 1.20% or .75%, a TRS charge of approx. a state-required E911 fee, and a Federal Programs Cost Recovery fee of $1.55 for one or more of the following: E911, number pooling and wireless number portability. In-store purchases uire two forms of valid identification. Other Terms: Nextel reserves the right to modify or terminate these offers at any time. Offers may not be available in all markets. Other conditions may ply Read service agreement for details. ©2003 Nextel Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Nextel, the Nextel logo, Direct Connect and Nextel Direct onnect are trademarks and/or service marks of Nextel Communications, Inc. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All other product names and services are the property of their respective owners.
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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June 19, 2003, edition 1
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