Letters on independent judiciary, Kentucky clerk, right-wing taxation, domestic terrorism, Clinton e-mails

Protect judiciary from zealots

“Grabbed powers” (Sept. 10 Letters to the Editor) seemed to make the point for separation of powers, and then went the opposite direction.

Yes, the purpose of the three separate branches is to protect the individual citizen from oppression. But it is also to guard against overreach of the executive and legislative branches. It safeguards that all laws are constitutional. The fact that justices are not elected helps prevent politics from being the deciding factor in a decision.

It never ceases to amaze me how when a decision goes against the right, it accuses justices of being “activist,” but when the right agrees with the ruling, the justices are most intelligent and God-fearing. Funny – same judges.

It scares me when politicians and citizens seem to be ignorant of the facts regarding separation of powers, and allow zealots to try to erode the separations, giving total control to the executive and legislative branches. This is not what the Founding Fathers intended.

Follow the call

“Davis was elected to serve the law” (Sept. 10 Letters to the Editor) lacked consistency and understanding of the elements of the Kim Davis case. There were too many points to illustrate in this letter; however, a few do need clarity.

The United States does not put public officials in jail for not doing their jobs. The president and sanctuary city officials on immigration demonstrate this point. Davis was elected in a county that supported marriage as between a man and a woman, which was the law. Sexual behavior is regulated at all levels in society, so should five people on the U.S. Supreme Court change the sexual morals of a nation of 320 million? The main variable of the Davis case is faith.

No true Christian hates homosexuals. A reading of the Bible in Romans 1:16 through 2:4 informs what immoral behavior is not allowed. Homosexuality, adultery, pedophilia, fornication and other such behavior can send a person to hell. Everyone can choose his eternal destination, but out of love (John 3:16), Christians try to prevent anyone from being separated from God. More importantly, we do not want them influencing others to a behavior that will cause them an eternal hell.

God made the call on behavior, and Christians must follow the call of God.

Right-wing taxation

Throughout the ages, the rich and powerful have exploited common people to achieve their own selfish wants.

Slave labor built ancient cities and elaborate shrines. Slaves worked Southern plantations and built antebellum “shrine” mansions. When they wanted resources, kings and lords sent out unscrupulous tax collectors. Then the idea of unfair taxation without representation came along and prompted a bloody war.

Later it was decided the rich should pay a larger share of the tax burden, and at one time the very rich paid an income tax rate of up to 90 percent. Our nation flourished during that time, building infrastructure, educating people and creating a large middle class, with very little national debt.

But the pendulum started swinging the other way with right-wing rhetoric of unfair taxes on the rich. Tax loopholes were formed and are to the point of being ridiculous. Our national debt started rising, the middle class is dwindling, and the gap between the rich and poor is widening.

And now there is a push to do away with income tax and establish sales/consumer taxes, which would put the burden of taxes mostly on the poor and middle class. It can’t use slave labor, nor can it send out its own tax collectors, so the right wing is now using politicians in an attempt to hoard as many riches as possible.

The income tax system is overly complex, but could be simplified. America can be great again. Look at the conditions under which it boomed after World War II.

Exploit tensions?

I find it inconceivable that the jihadist holy warriors would not and have not greatly exploited the tensions, violence and killings in America, as they have been doing in Europe and elsewhere. The long-standing absence of jobs and appropriate training that places gainful employment out of reach for many trapped in the poverty pit provides a golden invitation for influence by Muslim terrorists to do here what they have been doing wherever there are tensions to be exploited.

Where and when will we have an effective domestic counterterrorism policy and program?

No orientation?

I am anything but a Hillary Clinton fan, but it amazes me that her political advisers (no doubt paid big-time bucks for their supposed expertise) have failed to redirect the media’s attention regarding Clinton’s State Department e-mail debacle.

Even run-of-the-mill widget 101 companies have “employee orientation” on the first day of work. All the more so for top-level management employees – you know, like a U.S. secretary of state, who is fourth in line to become president of the United States in the case of presidential succession.

Why has no one taken to task the internal computer security manager at the State Department?

What happened to the “restroom is on the right, break room on the left, and here at the State Department we use XYZ e-mail for secure, encrypted government communications” orientation?

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Letters on independent judiciary, Kentucky clerk, right-wing taxation, domestic terrorism, Clinton e-mails."