Up & Coming Weekly

MARCH 17-23, 2010 UCW 5 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM LETTER TO THE EDITOR LETTER TO THE EDITOR I Don't Like Mike, At All Dear Editor: This is a letter I wrote today to my Democratic Congressman. I guess I should have been more direct but after reading the letter I received from him regarding what he has done and what he is doing, I got so angry I had to write this. I no longer will be silent. We are in too much trouble for good Americans to remain silent and do nothing to stop it. The time is now and we, who can, have to speak out. But somehow we are too polite. I'm sick of polite! If you read this letter and email and are offended then please accept my apology. However, I don't apologize for the content. It is absolutely true and we all know it and don't want to say it out loud in case our neighbor or friend might hear it. I, friends, am saying it loud and clear. Let me know if you would like a copy of his letter to me and you, too, will be outraged. It's all words and phrases with no real content or commitment and this guy was a Sunday School Teacher in Lumberton, N.C. His campaign slogan is "I Like Mike." Well, I don't like MIKE, at all. Dear Congressman McIntyre: Thank you for your letter dated February 5, 2010 informing me of your past accomplishments to, as you state, bring down unemployment and increase job opportunities in our communities. Now let me go over your stated accomplishments in your letter that you are so proud of: New Workforce Development Center for Robeson County, Federal Resources Summit, 2008 Farm Bill, Rural Entrepreneur and Microenterprise Assistance Program, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), the 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, the H.R.4072 (the America Works Act), the Jobs for Main Street Act. As I look at these accomplishments I note these are all bureaucratic programs that require more government employees (union) and only a band aid approach hoping it will work. My best guess is that all these summits and gatherings you had to "focus on economic development" had no real small business owners but probably more bureaucrats. Please correct me if I am wrong. You stated "the summit laid the foundation for a lasting partnership between these counties and federal and state agencies to address the persistent poverty, high unemployment, and signifi cant loss of industry that have continued to plaque our region." You never mentioned the private sector being involved in this at all because there were no real business owners attending, only more bureaucrats at our expense. So, you spent all this time, effort, expense, resources and waste only to "address" the problems. Hell, quit addressing and start fi xing. Congressman, that's the difference in government and the business owner. We "fi x" the problems and you "address" them. You use the term "create jobs" and you use the term "the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow." Have you looked out your window Congressman? There are no jobs of today and tomorrow. Check the unemployment rolls. Again, you are addressing the problem, not fi xing it. Now let's look at another one of your quotes: "The Jobs for Main Street Act recently passed the U. S. House with my vote and strong support. This bill provides signifi cant investments in infrastructure projects for roads, water and sewer, schools, and affordable housing." What a crock! Just another example of "short term" and "band aid" approach. Let me say, further, we don't need anymore "investments." You use the term "investments" to spend our money. We have all the "investments" we can stand. Then you mention to hire police, fi refi ghters and teachers while providing signifi cant worker training for those displaced by layoffs. You know to hire police, fi refi ghters and teachers works well and good as long as you fi nd a way to pay them. Then when the money you provided for the short term has been used the city and state has to make it up or layoff the same people. In addition, in my city we don't need any new police, fi refi ghters or teachers. This does nothing long term and you know it. You stated in your letter "I encourage you to contact me with any concerns or suggestions that you may have." Here, sir, are some concerns and suggestions: Quit spending immediately, don't raise taxes, stop the mandates for small business, do away with the IRS, do away with Department of Education, lower federal bureaucracies by 30 percent, insist Congress (that's you) abide by the same rules as we do, insist Congress (that's you, too) have the same healthcare system we do, insist Congress (that's you again) have the same retirement we have. Why are you so special that you receive and enjoy so many "special benefi ts" that we don't get? Did God make you that "special?" North Carolina has one of the highest gasoline taxes in the U.S. Now we have an 8 percent sales tax. Not to mention city tax, county tax, state tax, corporate tax, federal income tax, capital gains tax, death tax, property tax, workman's compensation tax, payroll tax, social security tax, personal income tax, investment tax, utility tax, phone tax, water tax, heating and air tax, outside signs, parking lot, fences, fl oors, desks, lights, chairs, pictures, fi ling cabinets, sewer, tables, fax machines, lamps, books, offi ce supplies, magazines, computers, printers, calculators, furniture, vehicles, appliances, coffee, sugar, radios, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpicks, mops, brooms, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaners, air conditioning, heaters, fi lters, pens, pencils, employees, not to mention the "privilege" tax and "fees." We pay taxes on everything but the air we breathe and I think you are going to tax that very soon (cap and trade). Congressman, perhaps by now you might be getting the point. Stop the regulations, taxes, fees, mandates and other road blocks that simply get in our way. I'll bet you don't even know the number of county, regional, state and federal directives and commissions and agencies we, as small business, have to deal with and "satisfy at all cost" just to keep them off our back. You want us to create jobs but you won't give us the room to work. You keep our hands tied. If you will stop the mandates, taxes, agencies, commissions, regulations and general crap we can work and grow and create new jobs daily but you must "get the hell out of the way." You DO NOT create jobs by raising taxes, creating commissions, creating agencies, burdening us with compliance with some goofball bureaucrat, hosting silly summits and spending our money to the point that we are "broke" and so far in debt that our grandchildren won't be able to pay it off. When, sir, will you stop? Are you so special that you don't have to stop but we do? It's obvious to me that either you don't get it or you don't care and you had the audacity to end your letter with "May God Bless You." Imagine that! Finally sir, let's look further at your "accomplishments" and determine if any of them will "create one jobs." (1) Committee on Agriculture (2) Chairman, Subcommittee On Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research (3)Committee on Armed Services, Vice Chairman Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities. (4) Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces (5) U.S.Helsinki Commissioner (Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe) (6) Majority Leader's Advisory Council (I guess you advise Nancy Pelosi) (7) Senior Whip (8) Co-Chairman Special Operations Forces Caucus (9) Co- Chairman Congressional Waterways Caucus (10) Co-Chairman Task Force On Responsible Fatherhood (11) Co-Chairman Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports (12) Steering Committee Rural Health Care Coalition. My, my, you must be busy and with all that, you can't create one job. And in ending this reply to your letter, please let me say that we, the small business owners, want to create jobs, save the jobs for our employees, create wealth for our employees and community, keep this great country strong, keep our FREEDOM, maintain our dignity, have a positive outlook on our future and lastly "simply survive." You and your colleagues have scared us to death. We don't know what to expect tomorrow or next year. How can we plan without having confi dence in what to expect. You folks are too busy making changes that we don't have a clue where we stand and you don't have a clue where you are taking us. Sir, as you or most likely your staff reads this letter you might say that I am a little pissed and you would be very wrong. I am VERY PISSED! At one point, I believed you were a good man, but I don't see good coming from you or your colleagues presently or in the future. I ask and suggest you quit spending today, cut taxes seriously and for a long period of time, pay off the debt and stop "addressing the problem" and immediately "attack the problem." And I, too sir, will end with "MAY GOD BLESS YOU, TOO." Sincerely, Bobby J. Swilley Fayetteville, NC

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