Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Writer: Where’s my AIG-style bailout?
I am as upset as anybody at the outrageous $100 million in bonuses paid out to AIG executives the other week, after the company accepted billions of dollars in the taxpayer-funded bailout. However, I am more upset with our representatives in Congress who allow this to happen.

It is more apparent now than ever that we need to fix the problems that caused the financial meltdown. We need to rein in the greedy and reckless behavior of big banks, and close the loopholes that allow these banks to operate without any oversight over their risky deals.

CEOs and executives whose companies receive government assistance should have limits on their pay and bonuses. I don’t think I am alone in saying that Congress needs to eliminate the incentives that reward Wall Street employees gambling away people’s savings with zero accountability.

It is a real slap in the face to those of us that work hard every day to make ends meet. My bonus this year was a shrinking paycheck and skyrocketing health insurance premiums—where is my bailout?
WILLIAM HARRINGTON
Bedford

Where’s the grade?
Where’s the Congressional Budget Office score?

I know it’s not a constitutional requirement for a bill to have one, but given our unsustainable debts and China’s waning interest in floating us more loans, wouldn’t it be a good idea to get one?

President Barack Obama’s claims aside, the CBO says his health reform plan isn’t specific enough to be scored to see how it would affect the budget.

While the Democrats critique the Republicans for supposedly not offering a plan, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan had enough detail to get a CBO score back on Jan. 27. Sure, the plans are different, but it seems we shouldn’t start discussing a plan if we don’t first know what it will do to already overburdened federal and state budgets.
MIKE COBB
Lynchburg

Let the military do it
Once again, the armchair quarterbacks are making decisions for our soldiers that baffle rational thought. In a recent Associated Press story, it was stated that our soldiers in Afghanistan were being bogged down by “strict Rules of Engagement (ROE).”

For those that did not read the article, please allow me to reiterate what our troops are being asked: (1) “Even if someone has shot in my general direction, am I still in danger? (2) Will I make more enemies than I kill by destroying property, or harming innocent civilians? (3) What are my other options to resolve this without escalating the violence?”

First, our troops in the field were dispatched to this area because of the violence and congregation of insurgents. If peace and diplomacy had worked, the troops would not be needed there. These insurgents only know violence, and asking our troops to question themselves while in a combat situation only adds unnecessary doubt to the high training our soldiers already have and puts them in danger. Our military is the best in the world, and the support of our soldiers is paramount.

Second, the politics with this really stinks. Most of our political leaders are non-veterans of our military. Their knowledge of leadership ends at the hot dog stand. The military leadership in the field is paramount, and there are good people out there that need our help, so we should leave the military alone and let them do their job.

While we are at it, we need to put the brakes on the political feeding frenzy for exploiting this. I am sick and tired of people mainly reporting insurgents that have killed with roadside bombs, suicide bombs and the like are having their rights violated. They do not have our rights. Let the military handle it. They do not need our help. They are good at this.
ROBERT E. SIMPKINS
Concord