Downtown business signs can help guide visitors
I just finished reading the article about the fine emposed on the Okey Dokey owners for not being within the allowable limit for their sign informing the public of the unique items for sale.
I think that, from the mind of a customer, the information they selected to have on their storefront was informative and very eye appealing and offered an overall enticement for the people driving by to want to come in and check out the wares that Okey Dokey has for sale. The city of Salisbury management needs to consider that everyone does not always know what is in a store if the owners canít advertise in some way to attract the ride-by public. We may have, in any given moment, a car that may have driven off I-85, and the passengers are not aware of Salisbury having anything like Okey Dokey or any other store until they see a sign that leads them to want to stop and go in and browse.
I think in some cases like the Okey Dokey a variance is in order to allow an exception and let a commission allow this type of ordinance to be altered. Where else in Salisbury can you find any store like this, or in any other town close by?
ó Bobby E. Starnes
Salisbury
Higher taxes arenít answer
The New York Times reports that ěGE paid no federal taxes in 2010 while earning profits of $14 billion.î The Wall Street Journal says that ěsecurities firms posted their second best year of profits in 2010, following only 2009.î The liberal group ThinkProgress.org notes that Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citi-Group paid virtually no income tax, yet paid millions in executivesí bonuses. Now keep in mind that during these years (2009-10), the Democrats held an overwhelming majority in both the House and Senate, not to mention the presidency and cabinet positions. Republicans were simply called ěthe party of no.î
Yet rather than admit that it was special deals (exemptions and subsidy programs) that allowed these corporate big-wigs to pay zero taxes, the Democrats simply blame Bush. President Obama has vowed he will eliminate the ěBush tax cuts,î implying that Bushís so-called ěcutsî are the problem, and that rates are simply too low.
Thatís hogwash. The Bush tax cuts didnít cut GEís (or anyone elseís) tax rate to zero. If (for example) GEís current rate is 35 percent, and 35 percent of GEís reported $14 billion resulted in zero taxes paid, how will higher rates change anything?
The problem with raising taxes is that small businesses canít afford the multi-million dollar tax attorneys and lobbyists that the big corporations (and their top executives) routinely hire. Small businesses would end up paying these increased taxes and then be forced to lay off workers to pay for this additional burden. The government would actually end up losing money by paying more in unemployment compensation claims.
According to the New York Times recently, ěThe United States may soon wind up with a distinction that makes business leaders cringe ó the highest corporate tax rate in the world.î Raising taxes will send more money (and jobs) overseas, but it wonít make the rich pay more. Lowering taxes, though, would create jobs, boost revenue and make subsidies unnecessary.
ó Steve Pender
Rockwell
Class act on and off the field
I just want to add to Steve Talbertís (May 15) letter about the Catawba College baseball team.
Steveís wife, Brenda, and daughter, Amy, witnessed these young men in a restaurant, and I appreciate that his family noticed how mature and poised these young men are.
I was privileged to go to the SAC tournament in Forest City, and I also witnessed the very great attitude and manners of these young men.
We attended a double-header Friday night, and they finished playing and left the field at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. When they took the players to eat at Dennyís at 1 a.m., these young men, tired and hungry, still maintained the courteous manner you will always see in them. Win or lose, they still hold their heads high.
Thanks to Coach Gantt, the coaching staff and the rest of his team, but most of all, be proud this Catawba baseball team is in our city of Salisbury.
ó Shirley Alexander
Salisbury