LETTERS
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HOMELESS WRITER
When I read Mr. Bolin’s letter (GUESTWORK, “From a grateful Springfield homeless man,” by Willis Bolin, Oct. 15), I was humbled. I am so in awe of his outlook on life. I wish that I knew him.
I am a very communityminded individual and do what I can to help anyone in need. My heart goes out to him.... and I am already worrying about him, in regards to the upcoming winter. I wish there was some way that I could assist him in his journey.
The note at the end of the article stated that he has lived on the east side for some time. I wish I knew how to recognize him, as I would cherish the opportunity to offer a helping hand to him and Baby Girl. I am also an animal lover and I have also faced similar choices of having to give up my best friend for the sake of myself, and I could never even consider leaving my pup behind, regardless of the consequences.
I admire Mr. Bolin, and wish there were some way to give him a helping hand. Carrie Goodwin Springfield
CAN WE HELP?
After reading the article written by Willis Bolin (“From a grateful Springfield homeless man,” Oct. 15), I am wondering how we can help him. There must be something citizens of Springfield can do for him… housing, employment, a “go fund me” account? Deborah Baird Springfield
REDUCING INCOME GAPS
I have been extremely lucky the past couple of weeks. My net worth, along with over 320 million other Americans, has gotten billions closer to the Waltons. The Walton family members’ net worth dropped $10 billion in one day due to declining profits and stagnant sales. Walmart is laying people off at corporation headquarters, will hire fewer people and build fewer stores, government will collect fewer property, payroll, sales and income taxes, suppliers will sell less goods and services, the poor and middle class will have fewer opportunities -- but inequality has gone down, so the Democrat candidates and Obama can be proud of that.
The quickest way to reduce inequality is to have real estate, stock prices and businesses collapse. The poor and middle class will also be hurt but it will substantially reduce inequality.
As long as they get their money honestly, we should celebrate successful individuals and businesses instead of denigrating them. Capitalism (free enterprise), profits, risk taking and wealth are what have made the U.S the greatest economic powerhouse in less than 250 years.
Bono was right when he said that capitalism takes more people out of poverty than government aid. Democrats want less capitalism and more aid.
It certainly does not hurt the poor and middle class when rich people buy Teslas from Democrat billionaires like Elon Musk. What does hurt is when they use our taxpayer dollars and borrow money from future generations to subsidize these purchases.
The Democrats continually complain about the rich getting richer which means that they don’t understand that most of the richest 1 percent today are not the same people as the richest 1 percent were five, 10 and 20 years ago. Capitalism gives people the opportunity to move up and down the economic ladder. Thank goodness that the richest 1 percent today is richer than the richest 1 percent twenty years ago. Otherwise the economy would not be growing.
The goal should be equal opportunity not equal results, and the best way to achieve equal opportunity is to allow the private sector to keep more of their money to spread throughout the economy. The worst way is to have the ever powerful government to continue to take a greater share from the risk takers and to make more people dependent. Jack Hellner Springfield