Re: ?Just Words From Obama ? Speeches avoid hard work needed for economy,? Thursday Editorials.
Obama?s jobs act forgotten
Clearly, the American Jobs Act presented to Congress in 2011 has been totally forgotten.
The president presented that potential bill in total and in three parts in an attempt to get Congress to act on something that most economists think would actually get the economy moving. It was summarily rejected by the House.
If I am not mistaken, Congress has the responsibility to get the ball rolling on much of what needs to be done.
The president has said that he will move forward with whatever the powers of his office will allow him to do. We know such powers are limited.
However, he is not the only one ? Congress and most of our Texas representatives cannot only be accused of that but of much worse.
Deliberate obstruction seems to be their only response to needed legislation.
Carol Brown, Dallas/Prestonwood
Back to middle class
I was born, arguments would firmly hold, into a lower-middle to middle-class family. But by applying myself to education and study, and through a 35-year career of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, commitment and fiscal restraint, I have ascended firmly into the upper-middle class.
In some ridiculous political arguments, I even qualify as the now reviled 1 percent.
In Wednesday?s presidential address, Mr. Obama exalted his commitment to re-energize and expand the middle class, sending an eerie shiver down my spine.
His thinly veiled entitlement administration, near socialistic agenda and his tax and spend habits give me reason to believe that his plan will likely include tax strategies that aim to encumber and punish me back into middle class.
At an age, now, where I?m able to see my retirement on the horizon, enjoying the fruits of my labors and staying self-sufficient are clearly threatened.
For those of us who still believe that hard work, not entitlement, is the path to success, this sly and silver-tongued president is a clear and present danger.
And by the way, since when did hard-earned success become so disdainful?
Steve Massey, Plano
Positive plan of action
Was the editorial board not listening to the meaning of the words?
A newspaper, full of words, should know that words stimulate thought, conversation and action. Did the editors not hear President Obama?s aggressive plan for improving our economy and our way of life?
The editorial?s words in response to the president?s positive plan simply precede the negative words that will come from those who have no action plan for improving our economy.
Bruce Ackerman, Irving
Damaging job creation
The News was half right in being critical of Obama?s most recent speech on how to fix our economy. Obama believes, as most liberals do, that simply making a speech or talking about your good intentions is the same as actually accomplishing the objective. Because Obama has given this same speech numerous times, with little improvement in the jobs picture, there is no expectation that anything will be any different this time.
What is not needed, however, is more spending, as promoted in The News. Instead we need specific actions that create the opportunity for job creation. For example, approving the Keystone XL pipeline would create immediate jobs. Although the president touts the increase in oil and gas production, very little of the increased production has come from federal lands where Obama is restricting permitting as much as possible.
Obamacare is the most damaging program to job creation, especially for small businesses. The excessive cost of mandated health insurance is causing some businesses to not hire full-time employees or cut their hours.
Obama has no intention of taking any corrective actions in these areas to create jobs. What he is creating is a good campaign script for the 2014 elections.
Dennis Croysdale, McKinney
Trust matters first
On the evening news, I saw our president making a speech somewhere in Illinois trying to improve his approval rating. He said something to the effect of we need to quit worrying about all these phony scandals.
Phony scandals?
A murdered U.S. agent in Arizona, four dead Americans in Benghazi and average citizens being spied on by different government agencies.
And politicians wonder why nobody trusts them.
Jimmie George, Farmersville
Phony president
After watching Mr. Obama challenge the U.S. Constitution at every opportunity, I submit that we have a phony president.
Tom Graham, McKinney
Obamacare games
Re: ?Push is on to gut health law ? GOP to bargain with cuts to Obama priorities, such as renewable energy initiative,? Wednesday news story.
In this front page story, congressional Republicans, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn, threatened not to extend the national debt limit this fall unless the president agrees to repeal Obamacare. This immature position is akin to a small child threatening to hold his breath unless he gets his way.
Let?s be very clear: Increasing the debt limit makes it possible for the nation to pay the bills that Congress has already incurred. It is not authorizing additional spending. Does John Cornyn refuse to pay his personal credit card bills when they come due?
Is the GOP really serious about destroying the full faith and credit of this great country by refusing to pay the bills they have run up? The result would send interest rates soaring on home loans and every other type of credit. Texas and the nation deserve better from our elected officials.
Richard Simms, Denton
Distracting from scandal
I hope one of these days that President Obama will realize that he has to represent all of us. His latest statements have made me feel like I?m an outsider in my own country.
It seems that the only voices that are being heard are the ones that scream the loudest. That does not make them correct or logical just because they drown everyone else out.
What should be happening right now is a controlled and factual discussion of the inequities and excesses that are now dividing the nation. Unfortunately, I feel that the old adage ?never let a crisis go to waste? is being brought into play in order to shift public attention away from some of the other glaring controversies, such as Benghazi, IRS, Obamacare, NSA and the deficit.
Leading from behind hasn?t worked in foreign policy and most certainly will not work with domestic policy.
I wouldn?t say that the Republicans are showing much in the leadership department, either.
Jon Taylor, Fairview
Job is to create jobs
Last Sunday?s Face the Nation on CBS, House Speaker John Boehner made an interesting comment: We will be judged by how many laws we will repeal. That is not the job of the Congress. They are supposed to create jobs. That statement proves Boehner and his crew aren?t interested in the welfare of the country.
I think a change is needed in both leadership and congressional representatives. If not, you will have the obstructionists and nonperformers.
Ronald Paris, McKinney
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The gain in prices indicates that the economy is indeed on the mend. A separate report by Zillow showed that home values increased 2.4 percent in the second quarter. That?s the largest gain for a second quarter since 2004, according to the report.