Letters To The Editor

Tax cuts do more to stimulate growth

Donald J. Boudreaux hits the economic nail on the head with his column "Forgo the foolishness of economic `stimulus'" (Opinion

Commentary, Jan. 27).

He is totally correct that "government cannot create genuine spending power."

Short-term tax credits of $300 to $1,200 will do nothing but boost big-screen TV sales.

On the other hand, reductions in corporate tax rates would encourage foreign investment and allow domestic companies to hire more workers. An extension of personal tax rate reductions would allow citizens to better plan for their futures and save more money for their children's education and their retirement.

Proposing these tax strategies would take political guts and a vague understanding of how our private-sector economy really works. But these are attributes both our president and our congressional leadership apparently lack.

Thomas M. Neale

Baltimore

Fund tax rebates by ending earmarks

If the federal government wants to give American taxpayers rebates to stimulate the economy, I suggest that to avoid increasing the national debt (which is going to be our ruin), all the "earmark" spending our congressional leaders have stuck in the budget should be canceled and the money should be used to help finance these rebates ("House OKs rebates; Senate may modify," Jan. 30).

Also, I suggest that we eliminate the automatic pay raises for members of Congress and maybe even reduce their salaries and pensions.

After all, the members of Congress are working for us.

We should decide whether they deserve a salary increase.

James B. Gerkins Jr.

Catonsville

Wasteful war sours prosperity, stature

Gee. Do you think the country might not be headed toward a recession and in such terrible shape financially if the current administration hadn't led us into the invasion and occupation of Iraq ("House OKs rebates; Senate may modify," Jan. 30)?

This war hasn't done much except line the pockets of the friends of the administration and help President Bush trample our Constitution.

In addition to losing a lot of lives, we are spending billions each week to continue this absurd action - money that could have done tremendous good for our citizens, businesses and economy.

Not only haven't we brought democracy to the Middle East, but we also have alienated much of the rest of the world with this war.