Community has exemplary leaders
I would like to attest to the character and integrity of our city manager, David Treme; our mayor, Susan Kluttz; and our chief of police, Rory Collins. I have known all of these individuals for a number of years, and they are committed Christians (who are forgiven, not perfect), and they work countless hours that the general public knows nothing about.
They willingly give of their time to make our community a better and safer place. If questioned, I am certain they would honestly tell you that they make mistakes just like all of us. We are not perfect people, and many times I myself have had to apologize for wrongs committed.
Our police officers, sheriffís deputies, firefighters and EMTs work tirelessly and under the most stressful circumstances. They see our community members when they are often also stressed.
My great-grandfather, who lived in Alabama, was killed at a general store in front of his 10-year-old son (my paternal grandfather). He was protecting a black man who had been mistreated. As a result of my great-grandfatherís death, his children were placed in an orphanage. (In the 1800s, these were less than desirable places to live.)
I write that to say this: They rose above their circumstances and became productive citizens. We all suffer injustices in this world, but letís work together and try to continue to build an even better Rowan/Salisbury community.
ó Mary K. Carter-Byerly
Salisbury
A closer look at ëfair shareí
Finally, I found something I can agree with Mr. Obama on.
I, like our president, believe that we should all pay our fair share of taxes.
A 10 percent increase for those millionaires, well, maybe.
Keeping the ěmiddle classî tax rate as it is ó definitely.
Now, to complete the ěObama fairness doctrine,î letís look at the other half of the population.
In 2008, there were 216.9 million taxpayers. Of these, 45 percent paid no taxes. For the sake of argument, letís assume these 97.6 million citizens had an average income of $30,000 a year. If we make them pay their fair share, say 10 percent (that assumption is just as valid as Mr. Obamaís assumption about what is ěrichî). That would bring $292.8 billion into the government coffers. Thatís not even including the ěearnedî income received by many non-tax payers.
Golly, paying ěyour fair shareî no longer looks that attractive, does it?
ó Chuck Hughes
Salisbury