My husband, Lee Magnuson, got a job at the Champion Paper Co. in Hamilton, Ohio when he got out of the Navy. He was told what a great company it was to work for. When times got really bad, no one was laid off. They simply cut everyone’s hours. Times were lean, but no one lost their job. The leadership changed at the mill and when times got bad again, hundreds were laid off. That’s the trouble today, people are so ready to let people go instead of cutting hours so people could still work. When they had the big layoff, hundreds of homes were up for sale. We lost our new home so I know what it’s like.

Our faith helped us through, plus unemployment funds. America is the best country in the world, but it concerns me that people want God out of everything. We need to teach godly values to the schoolchildren. Noah Webster said, “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” God Bless America.

Ruth Magnuson

Deerfield Beach, FL

The economy: Read your history book

Dear Editor:

History should be the first place to look when implementing policies during strong economic downturns. When looking at the past, one can avoid policy blunders that can cause further damage to an already strained economy. The Wall Street Journal’s “A Brief History of Crashes,” printed in the Sun-Sentinel on Sunday, missed an important opportunity by not listing the actual policy blunders under Herbert Hoover which precipitated The Great Depression. President Herbert Hoover raised taxes on business, capital gains and individuals.

Companies already starved for cash were left with no choice but to lay off workers in order to stay solvent. It is important to note that our corporate tax rate is one of the highest in the world. Since our companies are competing in a world market and are already posting record losses, it would only make economic sense to help them compete and be able to retain workers by lowering the tax rate to reflect that of other nations.

President Clinton raised taxes on capital gains only to find out that tax revenues actually decreased as it discouraged investment. He, later, lowered the rate back to where it was before. Since we need to encourage investment in our markets in order to relieve the current cash crunch, wouldn’t it make sense to lower the capital gains tax or at least keep it where it is? The most important component to weather a strong economic downturn is to keep Americans working. Raising taxes on any segment of society during a strong economic downturn would only result in the loss of jobs.

I understand, as I am struggling too, the desire for relief from the strain that inflation and the loss of investment income has put on all Americans. [However], it may be more important to somehow tough it out than to look to the government for relief, in the form of a tax cut or simply a check from the government, if it will, in turn, cause our country to go into further debt or cause a tax hike on any segment of society to pay for it. [Relief] will be of little value if you lose your job! Jobs will not be created if more burden is placed on corporations and business. In fact, history tells us it will have quite the opposite effect!

Shirley Doll

Pompano Beach, FL

Remember to VOTE!

Dear Editor:

Regardless of party affiliation, I hope the voters will remember the great job that Sheriff Al Lamberti did for the City of Deerfield Beach in the 10 years he served here as the commander of our district.

Jean M. Robb

Deerfield Beach, FL

Apalled by Amendment suggestions

Dear Editor:

I am somewhat appalled by your recommendations on constitutional amendments. Your paper recommended voting “yes” on Amendment 1 to remove a discriminatory, short-sighted provision addressed to the prejudice of the day. The next recommendation was to also vote “yes” on Amendment 2. Is this not just a substitution to place a narrow-minded and prejudiced view “du jour” for the one from 100 years ago? Despite all the protest, traditional marriages, of which 50 percent fail, are not deserving of a constitutional amendment to preserve them. Basic rights of people who live and share their lives together, for whatever their reason, is what needs protection. Let’s stop promoting hatred and bigotry and keep our neighbor’s personal lives out of our constitution by voting “NO” on Amendment 2.

S. Grossfeld

Deerfield Beach, FL

Reconsider voting “yes” on 1

Dear Editor:

Voters should reconsider voting “yes” on Florida Amendment 1, Declaration of Rights. In an ideal world, we can simply vote “yes” on something that sounds great. However, this is a post-

9-11 world. A non-partisan analysis by the Florida House indicates that aliens ineligible for citizenship includes, but is not limited to, terrorists and drug traffickers.

Just something to think about...

V.A. Edwards, Esq.

Pompano Beach, FL

Conning of the American public

Dear Editor:

I am almost 70 and never have I seen the American public so conned before.

Cuba was taken over by a Communist because of the dissatisfaction of the Cuban people; Venezuela has recently been taken over by a Communist when the people voted him in, thinking he was going to be good for the country. Now the Americans are going to make the same mistake. Jesse Jackson is right — the Jews will suffer if Obama gets elected, but so will the people of this country.

I am a Greek American Democrat and will not vote for him, as I do not believe he will protect our backs. He is trying to buy the election with so-called giveaways to the American Public.

We need a president who our enemies are afraid will not be kind to them if they harm others.

Chavez has shown what is going to happen to this country by his redistribution of the wealth; first, he took away most of the weapons, then the closing of TV stations, closing newspapers and taking rights from anyone who will not patronize him. He is eliminating their free speech, using the oil money to give the poor everything and buy their votes.

Our freedom has been bought with a high price and John McCain put his life on the line for me and for you!

I am voting for a man who I feel I can trust to protect us. I want our friends in Israel protected from Iran or any other country wanting to destroy them.

Thomas Zavakos

Dayton, OH

10-30-08