Letters to the editor - Monday (1-23-2012)

Christian principles and capitalism

There has been much in the press lately emphasizing that our country was founded on Christian principles; a “Christian nation.” Recently there has also been an emphasis on capitalism as the basis of our economy, a basis we must protect and to which we must return.

Reading in my Bible about the early Christians, I found the following in Acts 2:44-45, “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 4:32 says much the same thing.

Continuing my research I found the following concerning capitalism, “There is general agreement that elements of capitalism include private ownership of the means of production, creation of goods or services for profit or income, the accumulation of capital, competitive markets, voluntary exchange and wage labor.” I also found the following concerning communism, “A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state” and, from Karl Marx, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” The early Christians sound more like communists than capitalists!

So how can a “Christian nation” embrace capitalism? Perhaps the text in Acts has been corrupted or mistranslated. Perhaps the Apostles were actually venture capitalists, and early Christians sold their possessions and gave the money to the Apostles to invest. Those investments resulted in the creation of jobs, the resulting product(s) created wealth (profits), a portion of which (after expenses, salaries and bonuses) was returned to the original investors. I bet that’s what actually happened and that’s why we can claim our country was founded on Christian principles, including the Christian principle of capitalism.

— Roger Hull

China Grove

Saving the environment

Regarding the recent article “Environmental group gives low rankings to Rowan legislators”:

Harry Warren, Andrew Brock and Fred Steen can redeem their trashed reputations. They can repeal Senate Bill NC 3 passed in 2007. North Carolina’s pristine beaches will be saved from drilling rigs and 65-100 windmills.

Certainly the environmental voter group missed the windmills in their concern about natural gas and drilling rigs. The windmills require 20,000 acres of coastal property to construct a 150 megawatt wind farm. There will be a $10,000 maintenance fee per windmill per year. Windmill subsidies are estimated at $53/megawatt hour. (At this time, the highest subsidy is nuclear power at $2.78/megawatt hour). Above all, there’s absolutely no accountability from the windfarm owners.

Guidance for these farms is being provided by Iberdrola, a wind company from Spain. Green energy has long been known to be a downfall in Spain’s financial troubles — and now they are here? These windmills will suck the energy, profits and well-being of North Carolina right out of our state. Then they are gone on to the next victim.

Yes, North Carolina can maintain a pristine coastline — by repealing Senate Bill NC 3. Rowan County legislators can redeem themselves. Also, the environmentalists can begin an honest conversation about their role in a healthy, financially sound North Carolina.

— Irene Dalton

Salisbury