Outsourcing argument
doesn't make sense
Regarding Michael Busler's July 20 collumn, "Outsourcing actually benefits the U.S. economy overall":
If outsourcing is such a benefit for U.S. citizens, why aren't the Chinese following our lead and outsourcing their manufacturing to other countries and to the U.S. for their national benefit?
Outsourcing does increase business profits because of the cost reductions. There are no longer unions holding the wage line, no employee health insurance costs, no employee pensions, no minimum-wage standards, no worker-safety or child-worker laws and no business regulations.
This is nirvana for a manufacturer, especially when the Internal Revenue Service allows the manufacturer to claim a business income tax deduction for the cost of his business move to China or some other country. Also, there is no business income tax on manufacturing profits until those profits are brought back to the U.S., if ever.
Where is the increase in employment for the middle class in this recession? Their standard of living for the last 30 years has almost flatlined.
Maybe the next step is to find a way to outsource all our service-oriented economy for even greater profit to raise our standard of living.
PETER KRETZU
Ocean City
Bears Head Road
is in dangerous shape
Motorcycle riders are in danger on Route 552, Bears Head Road, in western Atlantic County. This road hasn't been repaved since 1988 and the potholes are months old. Why does the county ignore this dangerous stretch of road?
This road is past due for a new surface. Come on, Atlantic County, do what is right.
MAT BURKE
Milmay
Pleasantville firefighters
helped fix flat tire
On Aug. 28, I had a flat tire on Tilton Road near Blue Heron Pines Golf Club. Since my husband and I were unable to fix it ourselves, I called AAA for help. At the time, I was told it would be about 75 minutes for someone to come out. Half an hour later, I got a call that someone was on their way.
Meanwhile, two good Samaritans stopped and saw our predicament.
They were able to change the tire in less than 10 minutes. As we were talking, we found out they were members of the Pleasantville Fire Department. We were very fortunate that not only had someone stopped to help, but it turned out they were firefighters. I am sorry we didn't get their names. Needless to say, we were very grateful to them.
We all should remember to thank the men and women who provide us with emergency services. I am sure they would appreciate the recognition for all that they do for us.
JEAN CASSARA
Egg Harbor City
Kayaking accident
results in neck injury
Regarding the Aug. 24 story, "Turning tide on injuries/Towns increase precautions as more swimmers get hurt":
I was the kayaker who was tossed by a wave and injured my neck. I actually fractured the lamina of my C7 vertebra. Thank God I didn't sever my spinal cord. Since there were insignificant waves that day, I paddled my kayak down to Margate and back. When I returned to the Ventnor beach, a wave I didn't expect flipped me and I smacked my head. I got up, took two steps and and fell flat on my face in a couple of inches of water. A former Atlantic City lifeguard named Mike and his wife, Trudy, helped me to my beach chair.
Capt. William Howarth checked on me. When I told him I had tingling in my left arm and numbness in my left hand, he instructed his lifeguards to call an ambulance. Lt. Woodrow Ferry and his guards placed a cervical collar on me, secured me to a backboard and transported me to a waiting ambulance. The Ventnor rescue squad transported me to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
It's been two months since my accident. I was in a lot of pain, on oxycodone and in a cervical collar, but I'm now off the pain medicine. I'm still in the collar, but hopefully I won't need surgery.
I guess my surfing days are over, but I feel blessed that I should have a full recovery.
DAN REGAN
Egg Harbor Township
Use of marijuana
should remain illegal
Regarding the Aug. 30 story, "3 Mainland victims had pot in system":
In my view, this is all the more reason why marijuana is and should be illegal.
I believe New Jersey made a terrible mistake legalizing marijuana for medical use, because if you're going to legalize something for one particular group of people, then you must legalize it for all.
Already the pothead activists are out gathering petitions and demanding total legalization in New Jersey. If marijuana is ever legalized, you're definitely going to see more tragedies like the one that claimed the lives of those young people from Mainland Regional High School that unfortunate day.
Parents, you don't need this.
GEORGE I. ANDERSON
Millville
We could all
help clean beaches
Walking the beaches of our uniquely beautiful Absecon Island on an almost-daily base has provided me a fabulous place to exercise, great vistas and the opportunity to collect the bounty that our ocean has provided.
Beautiful seashells, smooth, rounded colored glass, driftwood and uncommon stones can be collected. I also find and pick up trash, such as plastic, stray Mylar party balloons, Styrofoam, etc.
Dare to imagine how clean our beaches would be if all of us did the same.
ALBERT TROIANO
Margate
Silent filibuster hurts
the American people
The "silent filibuster" has happened more than 400 times in the Senate since President Barack Obama took office, compared to 28 times during President George W. Bush's eight years in office. The term describes the threat of filibuster by the minority party, which has prevented bills from coming to the Senate floor unless they already have the support of a supermajority of 60 senators, the number of votes needed to end debate. These filibusters are not the Jimmy Stewart, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" type where a senator holds the floor and blocks the vote for as long as he can by talking or reading. Now it is done in secret and the 60 votes necessary to approve anything that will help the people and the country are seldom gathered.
What happened to majority rules or bipartisan compromise? Compromise is a sign of strength, not weakness. Filibuster was designed to protect the rights of the minority from the will of the majority in matters of principle, not to obstruct the government from carrying out its daily work.
Jobs bills, repair of roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects, if passed, would have provided tens of thousands of jobs for poor and middle-class workers, encouraged private investment and helped the country back on the road to recovery, except for those Republican filibusters. It doesn't make sense unless you want the president to fail and limit him to one term in office.
It seems that anything Obama is for the Republicans are against, even if the idea originated with Republicans.
When one party, Republican or Democrat, makes its policy the failure of the sitting president, we all fail and the country fails as well.
DALE COLMAN
Linwood
Smoking minority
controls Boardwalk
At 7 a.m., the Boardwalk is filled with runners, bike riders and walkers, some locals and quite a few visiting couples, groups and families. Later in the morning, the bikers are gone, and more visitors emerge. Oh, and the smokers who are always present, that minority of the population. They add their fragrance to the ocean air and their pollution to each and every space between the boards underfoot, day and night.
Ballfields, school yards, playgrounds and parks don't allow smoking, but one of the greatest playgrounds in the world is still a smokers' paradise.
Allowing that minority of the general population to control our public spaces is a true disgrace. Our "leaders" - who are no visionaries - need to stop falling behind the times and have the vision, direction and gumption to make the Boardwalk a space for the majority.
Show your citizens and our visitors that you care. Ban smoking on the Ventnor and Atlantic City Boardwalk. It would be a start. And we locals will have more respect for you, and the visitors will take notice.
DAN MITTELMAN
Northfield
