Month: February 2019

[If it is permissible to say anything in favor of high-speed rail, here is my offering:]
I don’t recall ever seeing a total, eventual cost estimate for the Interstate Highway system, nor Hoover Dam; nor was there a concerted media put-down campaign against either of these massive undertakings. So, why, now, are pundit– types so riled up against high-speed rail? Of course, it’s running way over budget. Doesn’t everything of this size? Behind schedule? Well consider, if we built one of these every year or so we could easily prepare an accurate construction schedule, couldn’t we? Funding? Investors? For heaven sakes, this is a massive public utility were talking about, not some high tech startup. You don’t look for “investors” in a project like this. Investors are looking for big profits, whereas high speed rail should be funded with long-term bonds which pay off over time. Attractively priced, long-term bonds can tap into an almost bottomless pit of investment capital. So why are we not simply plowing ahead to build something that will benefit everyone and pay for it over the many generations of its use?
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

In a recent issue, you suggested that the Democrats make this election season an “ideas primary”. Terrific idea! In my opinion, the only thing that will attract new voters is new ideas. I have some real doozies for you, but will hold off on sending them in until I can hear from you whether you want them all at once or scattered through the year in the form of letters to the editor. If it is convenient, let me know your preference.
For example: My first submission would be to replace the present income tax system with a “Common Tax 1/1”. The “common tax” part of the title means that it applies universally to every citizen of the United states of America over the age of 18. Thus, it is “common” to everyone: no favors, exemptions, deductions or any other way to avoid or evade the tax. The 1/1 designation indicates a one – time assessment 1% on the total cash assets of all citizens: 1% one time. The other <1> indicates the total maximum income tax RATE that can ever be levied, and it, too, is a one time tax on the amount of cash you add to your bank account (without regard to the amount you already have in there). The Common Tax is deducted from your deposit and forwarded by the bank to the U.S.Treasury. Thus, your tax is paid automatically. You have no more obligation: no withholding, no Quarterly Tax Estimate, no detailed record keeping, no form 1040, no schedule A or C. April 15 will be just another day on the calendar. You might think that 1% is hardly enough to cover the Federal budget. You would be surprised. π

Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

Okay. That’s it! We can’t get that man out of the White House fast enough, before he can do any more damage. Abandoning the Kurds in Syria was bad enough, and we don’t know yet what the total fallout will be in terms of innocent Kurdish bloodshed, friendly alliances, laws, and our ability to respond to future crises, but we know there will be fallout.
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

For people not directly affected by the public/private school debate, I strongly suggest an excellent book by Diane Ravich entitled “the Reign of Error”. You will get all the facts you need for a really informed opinion. The author certainly knows her way around the education business and why it should never be regarded as a “for-profit” business.
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

In all of the history of mankind it is doubtful there has ever been a chapter as foolish, cruel, heartless, or thoughtless with resulting complications so vast and intractable as Trump’s southern border policy of separating families.You can not take a child away from its parent for any extended period (certainly not permanently) without causing permanent mental damage. Did anyone in the Trump camp expect this to turn out differently? The only course to take at this point is to establish a “Manhattan” project with a person in charge that has complete and total authority to set up reunification centers and do what is necessary to get all the separated kids in one place where separated parents can come and look for them. This should be done immediately and at federal government expense with no limitations. We, meaning the United States of America, created this humanitarian catastrophe. It is up to us to resolve it with the least amount of harm to all the victims.
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

If Marc Theissen ( February 1, 2019) thinks the ideas put forth so far by potential Democratic candidates are “too radical”, wait ’til he sees some really radical propositions. In the meantime, anything any progressive pol advocates will be labeled “socialist”, which is the right-wing’s favorite dirty word. What thinking people need to do is ask: What is wrong with socialism? It is a hell of a lot better than anti-socialism. Also what is wrong with taking a healthcare system that works beautifully for seniors and applying it to the whole population? We already spend (what?) three trillion on a health care system that leaves millions of people uninsured. Why not get better care for that money? College Tuition: Thinking people know two things: 1. College tuition is out of reach for too many really good students. 2. America will need a better-educated citizenry in the future to maintain its place in the world. Do the math. Put more kids through college. As for Elizabeth Warren’s Wealth Tax: Is it not the most logical source for reducing the national debt and financing beneficial programs, that you assess the massive accumulation of wealth by those who have figured out a way to tap into the flow of money that is the American economy? Show me an idea, Marc. I am listening.
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>

[This is exclusive to the New York Times: It is being sent to you rather than to my home town daily (the Santa Cruz, CA “Sentinel”) because you are the New York Times. Enough said. If you plan to publish it, please let me know by email hfs@sosbee.com>> since I have no access to the Times out here in the styx.]
To The Ed, Those government workers most directly and negatively affected by a Trump-ordered shutdown, just happen to be the very same people who can REVERSE the shutdown order by calling a STRIKE. Only, in this case, instead of walking out, they walk in. They stay at their jobs. They keep the government running as usual, TSA checks baggage. Airliners use air traffic controllers to manage the thousands of aircraft in the air and on the ground. And the US Treasury issues paychecks to government employees and income tax refunds just like always. The employees have it in their power to do this. And if they make it clear they will, indeed, call a reverse strike if Trump tries to shut down their government, not his government, their government. So, to set the stage for just such a face-off, every government employee should sign a pledge stating the intention to continue work as usual in the event Trump doesn’t get his way and calls a shutdown as he has done before and threatens to do again. As they say: Time is of the essence”!
Sign the pledge!

sample pledge REVERSE STRIKE
I………………… ………………………….. am an employee of the United States 0f America,………………………..Dept. PRINT FULL NAME
my specialty:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I hereby pledge that, in the event of a shutdown of the United States government by executive order, I will continue at my job as usual as though no order had been given to do otherwise.
Signed …………………………………………………………………date……………………
When signed, please submit this pledge to your Union Steward who shall retain custody and possession of same until further notice. If you are not a union member, keep your copy in a safe and accessible place. . Respectfully submitted,
Howard F. Sosbee 1400 Weston Ridge Road Scotts Valley CA, 95066 831, 335, 8401 hfs@sosbee.com <mailto:hfs@sosbee.com>