Tax Cuts, Body Scanners and President PalinDear Mark: We cannot afford to extend the George W. Bush tax cuts for the upper tax bracket, as it will cost $700 billion over the next 10 years. You conservatives ran on deficit reduction — why would you support a plan that makes it worse? — Cost-Cutter in Canton Dear Cutter: First of all, extending the current tax rates for all income brackets would inject some badly need certainty into the marketplace. A tax cut would be even better. Secondly, I believe that it is morally wrong for one group of people to determine how much money another group of people should be allowed to earn. Finally, these are not the Bush tax cuts any longer. These are the current tax rates, and Congress will decide to either raise taxes or not. Dear Mark: I was humiliated on my flight from Dallas to Chicago. On the outbound flight, I went through the full body scanner. On the return flight, I was subjected to a full body pat down. I appreciate the TSA trying to keep us safe, but this is ridiculous. Have the terrorists won? — No Diva in Dallas Dear No Diva: The terrorists haven't won because embarrassing millions of airline travelers is not their ultimate goal. KILLING millions of airline travelers is the ultimate goal of the radical Islamists. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cannot be having a good week when the most famous quotation about her new airline safety policy is, "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested." The "cop a feel" body pat downs and the naked body scanners seem like the ultimate knee jerk reaction from Napolitano. The administration once again seems more worried about political correctness than actually trying to capture genuine terrorists.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of safer air travel. My frustration stems from the administration's refusal to profile those who are actually trying to take down our planes. Every terrorist we have captured fits the same profile: young male of Middle Eastern descent. The TSA will rub all over Granny, but it refuses to ask the 25-year-old from Yemen why he has a one-way ticket to the United States. Maybe the TSA should enlist the Internal Revenue Service to help with airline security. IRS agents already conduct body cavity searches when auditing individuals looking for every dime they think is owed to the government. Dear Mark: Sarah Palin was on with Barbara Walters and said that if she ran for president, she could defeat Barack Obama. What a joke. That ditz from Alaska couldn't beat her way out of a wet paper sack. You're probably biased, but do you think she could beat President Obama? — Palin's a Pain in Pennsylvania Dear Pain: What do you expect her to say on national television? If a person decides to run for office, especially the presidency, they'd better believe they can win before investing all of their time, energy and money. I personally like Sarah Palin and believe she has a good chance should she decide to run. Palin's views have been painted as radical, but two years is more than enough time to explain to the voters that her brand of conservatism is more mainstream than extreme. Unless President Obama quickly changes course and sprints to the political center, he will be even more vulnerable come 2012, which will make it easier for whoever wins the Republican nomination. Dear Mark is a public platform for your enrichment and entertainment. E-mail your questions to marklevy92@aol.com. To find out more about Mark Levy, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
