11-30-2017 Letters and Commentary

LETTERS

Thank you for participating in the Watervliet Downtown Holiday Open Houses

Dear Editor,

 On behalf of the Watervliet Downtown Development Authority (DDA), I would like to thank all of the downtown businesses that participated in our first “Watervliet Downtown Holiday Open Houses” event November 17-19, sponsored by the DDA.  Although the weather was less than pleasant, shoppers enjoyed the festivities which included refreshments, baked goodies, sales & drawings, and live entertainment.

Watervliet High School band students (15 in all) volunteered to play in small groups during the weekend.  Christmas cheer was spread throughout downtown during their performances inside several businesses.  A big thank you to those young musicians for their willingness to play an active role in their community!

We were also very happy to have a local professional musician, Laura Whidden, entertain us with her amazing vocal and piano performance.  We will certainly book her again for next year!

This was the first year of what we are hoping to be an annual event.  If you have feedback, ideas, or suggestions to make next year’s event even better, or to volunteer to help, sing Christmas carols, play music, or entertain in another way, please contact me.  The businesses in Watervliet, both in the city and the township, are here for our community.

Your patronage of local businesses helps keep them here and encourages new businesses to choose Watervliet to call home.

Thank you for your support,

Jennifer Moore, Vice-Chairman

Heartfelt apology

Dear Editor,

It is customary for the City of Hartford to fly the flags along Main and Center Streets on Veterans Day, in honor and appreciation of the dedicated men of the armed forces for their services and sacrifice to our country. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to display the flags this year. For this reason, I express my heartfelt apology to all our veterans. We hope to avoid this from happening in the future.

We thank all our veterans for their service, dedication and sacrifice for the freedom we get to enjoy in this country.

God Bless our veterans and God Bless America.

Sincerely,

Yemi Akinwale

City Manager, City of Hartford

Politician-speech and a really bad tax plan

Dear Editor,

If I told you my boss often lies to me, you would probably worry for me. If I said my son or daughter has been telling a lot of lies, you might think I have some parenting to do. But if I said our president often lies, many might think “old news” or “Is this guy a Democrat?”

Okay, we’re used to less than the full truth from politicians. But the importance of telling the truth also depends on the significance of the issue at hand. Other than declaring war – a responsibility Congress has given over to the president – Congress has no bigger job than setting taxes and spending.

I found the reasons Congressman Upton has given for leading the charge on the GOP tax plan particularly disturbing. On a Stateside interview on Michigan Public Radio on November 9 he stated repeatedly it is for the middle class. Actually over two thirds of the tax cuts in 2018 go to the richest 1% of Americans, according to the nonpartisan Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy, and 30% of middle class Americans will see their taxes raised. Tax cuts for corporations are permanent, but most of the tax cuts for the middle class expire.

He said there is a huge benefit for the middle class from doubling the standard deduction… without mentioning that it is offset by the removal of the personal exemption. Again, many middle class families will pay more.

Congressman Upton said the $1.5 trillion increase in the deficit will be more than made up by an increase in jobs, but after the Reagan and Bush tax cuts the deficit ballooned. According to most economists this is what we should expect again.

The truth is, most of the gains from economic growth in recent decades have gone to the wealthiest Americans, and this tax plan makes economic inequality worse. It is a tax bill for the rich. It loads debt on our children. As the deficit rises it is likely to lead to cuts in spending in Social Security and other critical supports for our citizens.

To really improve the economy we need to improve health care, infrastructure, education, technology, and our criminal justice system. Rather than giving more to the rich we should be working on the areas that are actually holding our economy back.

Paul Clements, Kalamazoo

Republican tax bill would help the rich; hurt everyone else

Dear Editor,

On November 16th, Congressman Fred Upton once again betrayed the residents of Southwest Michigan by voting in favor of the House Republican “tax cuts for the rich” bill.

The legislation that Upton voted for would increase the federal deficit by 1.5 trillion dollars. What hypocrisy! Congressional Republicans loudly condemn deficits when they are in the minority. When they become the majority party, however, they are more than willing to vote for bills that greatly increase deficits.

Upton and his fellow Republicans make the claim that by cutting taxes for the rich, the middle class will benefit. This is the so-called “trickle down” theory, which has repeatedly been debunked. The only thing that happens when the rich receive tax cuts is that they get richer.

One element of the House Republican bill is the elimination of the estate tax, which affects only wealthy estates ($5.49 million and above for individuals, $10.8 million and above for couples). Donald Trump claims that eliminating the estate tax “will protect millions of small businesses and the American farmer.” Politifact, the Pulitzer-prize winning fact checker, examined Trump’s claim, and rated it a “pants on fire” lie. The benefits of estate tax repeal would flow to the heirs of millionaires and billionaires, people like Donald Trump and his cabinet.

Fred Upton claims that the Republicans’ enormous tax cut for corporations, from 35% to 20%, will “create jobs and boost our Southwest Michigan economy.” Many studies have demonstrated that this statement is false. Corporate tax cuts mainly benefit shareholders and wealthy executives, not workers.

The Republican “tax cut for the rich bill” would not benefit the middle class, and the deficits created by this bill would hurt middle and lower income individuals and families.

Fred Upton voted for this terrible bill. Please remember this when you cast your vote in 2018.

Larry Feldman, Lakeside

Black and white

 Some people see things only in black and white. Forget the color or the tints and hues that make up the true picture of reality. “My mind is made up,” they may say, “don’t confuse me with the facts.”

But then others refuse any white or black at all in their worldview. Everything is subjective, dependent on their personal definition of reality. After all, don’t we all see color differently? For them, any defining truths are refused. For them as well, “My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.”

An accurate view of reality includes both perspectives. By analogy, when we wear polarizing sunglasses less visual information is received by our eyes, but the information that is allowed through helps us see a better, more detailed view. Black and white photography is like that. It takes us back to the basics of composition and detail, allowing us to see more than meets the initial subjective eye. This is true for both portrait and landscape photography.

An accurate view of God’s revelation to us in the Bible is like that too. The basics of composition and detail are found in whom God is, His holiness, justice, goodness and loving kindness to us (among many other “defining details”). Jesus was black and white about who He was. “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6), and “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30). But the colorful outworking of salvation can be found in such passages as Philippians 2:13, “…it is God who is at work in you to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Starting with the black and white, we can better discern the details of God’s dynamic lifelong interaction with us – the true color of our lives.

Things to think about before applying for disability benefits

 Social Security is with you throughout life’s journey. We’re here for you if the unexpected happens. We are there for you when you finally stop working as well. We provide vital financial support to tens of millions of American workers, primarily through retirement benefits. But we’re also there for you if the unexpected happens and a serious medical condition stops you from working and being able to support yourself and your family.

In such cases, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, which replace a portion of lost income when a worker becomes seriously disabled. Here are three of the key factors we use to determine if you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits:

You must have a lasting medical condition so severe that it prevents you from doing the work that you did in the past or adjusting to other types of work; your physical or mental impairment(s) must have lasted or be expected to last at least a year or result in death; and you must have worked long enough — and recently enough — in jobs covered by Social Security.

To learn more about disability benefits, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

You become eligible for Social Security benefits by working and paying FICA taxes, which translate into Social Security “credits.” How many credits needed to receive disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled.

For example, if you become disabled at age 31 or older, you generally must have earned at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled. Twenty credits are equal to five years of substantial earnings. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

To see how many credits you have earned and to estimate future benefits, please log in to or create your Social Security online account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Those who have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security benefits may be eligible for help through our Supplemental Security Income program, or “SSI.” SSI provides financial assistance to disabled children and adults, as well as the aged and blind people, who have little or no income or resources. Learn more about SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi.

Social Security helps you and millions of other Americans secure today and tomorrow by providing important financial benefits, information, and planning tools. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Vonda VanTil is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan.  You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.

HAPPIEST OF THANKSGIVINGS… I sincerely hope your thanksgiving was the best ever. This distinctly American holiday has all the trimmings; great families and friends get together, share a meal, work together to clean up then collapse on a sofa, watch TV Christmas cartoons and start in on the leftovers.

Somewhere down the line between the original Pilgrim dinner and the NFL, football crept in and took over the prime time on television. That’s a dynamic entirely on its own; I can remember attending a Lions-Packers game in Detroit with my dad, brother-in-law Sonny Daybird, and his dad. I recall some of the players, the cold, and the snow. There have been at least sixty thanksgiving Lions’ games televised since then and I don’t recall one of them.

Also new the past few years is the door busting shopping hysteria that begins sometime right after 4th of July and culminates on “Black Friday”?

Ironically “Black Friday” was a marketing ploy to convince shoppers the big box stores gave away such huge discounts that they made money instead of losing it (figure that one out).

So instead of staying with the family watching football (and parades) the shoppers of the family rest up, go to bed early Thanksgiving afternoon and get up at midnight to camp outside a mall waiting for the stores to open with super savings at 5:00 a.m.

I can’t believe I almost forget to mention the parades. It used to be every big town had a Thanksgiving parade. Now it appears there is just a handful nationally.

Those big parades with local bands, personalities and business sponsors, have been replaced with network “co-hosts” who pitch all the new (and used) programs and introduce the “latest” new star lip synching his/her hit and the “hottest” new show, and ad infinitum. By the time Santa shows up, the crowd has drifted away… there’s more fun and programming on an infomercial.

I guess the happiest Thanksgivings are the ones we remember. At our house mom baked for a week in advance, breads, cookies, cakes and a few pies. I don’t know if she couldn’t bake a pie, but that one or two pies didn’t go very far with a family of 13 kids, in-laws, neighbors, and visiting relatives.

When my brother John finished the “rec” room in the basement, us older kids got to take our dinner plates down there.

Dad was in charge of the bird. A family story relates that dad brought home a live turkey in a crate. Eldest brother Greg got the honor of holding the turkey’s legs and wings immobile while dad brought the hatchet blade down on the guest of honor’s neck. Just as the bird and head parted company, Greg let go and the turkey took off running across the yard. I’d like to have seen that comedy; all that the rest of us saw was the finished project.

I don’t know how they did it, there was always one turkey, and always guests to swell the family table, but I don’t ever remember them running out of turkey or anything else, and we always had leftovers.

Now recent history has Anne and me working the magic. I most always get to cook the bird.  Like my dad, I am always pleased to enjoy others’ cooking. Last year in California, we were guests of son Justin and Kris. Kris has her mom and grandma’s recipes and whips out great pies and side dishes. Her cracked jell-o dish is a secret recipe of Grandma Peggy Cupani.

When we join the table of Gillian and Sergei, the dishes have a Ukrainian/Russian slant.

Amy and Billy crank out several turkey dinners over thanksgiving. With friends, they cook all night and serve dinner to residents at a local nursing home; the tradition has gone on for 20 years or so. Dinner at their house always has a southern flair of sorts. Along with the turkey, dinners might see pulled pork, greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pecan pies to die for.

This Thanksgiving was a joint effort of the Loshboughs and Bayers.  Anne and I provided the turkey, dressing, yams and ham. Amy and Bill provided all the rest to feed 22 folks!  Bill solved the big table conundrum by building a 14-foot long beauty, solid as a rock with room for the whole gang! So nice they made us all feel welcome and comfortable.

What tickles me is the turkey at those three families is cooked the same way I’ve always done them. No chasing a headless bird around the yard for me. My bird comes headless, frozen solid, and overweight. After two days of thawing, my bird gets lbs. of stuffing added, the giblets, gizzard, liver and neck is left in the bottom of the roasting pan. Six to seven hours later the whole shebang is cooked dark brown and the cracklings in the bottom of the roaster become gravy.

I guess some Thanksgiving traditions are too precious to forget and the next generation had picked up the baton, or should I say turkey leg. Right on cue, Granddaughter Karlianne cooked turkey dinner for 20 the weekend before Thanksgiving. I heard it was a great meal and no rumors of leftovers!

I hope your Thanksgiving memories are as happy and as precious.