Letters to the Editor

Mitch Daniels helped create this crisis

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In his Commentary column, "The voice we've been missing," Bob Rayner hailed Mitch Daniels as a wise man who would speak hard truths to the American people about why they are going to have to accept less retirement and health security in a coming age of austerity.

What was not mentioned was that Daniels was the budget director for the George W. Bush administration from 2001 to 2003, and the federal budget went from an annual surplus of $236 billion to a deficit of $400 billion in a matter of two years, even though Daniels predicted it would return to a surplus by 2005.

This happened because Daniels pushed through a series of budget-busting regressive tax cuts without any offsets (the elimination of which now would all but end the yearly budget deficit, according to the CBO) and a low-balling of the Iraq war's cost at $50 billion-$60 billion (it ended up being about $1.9 trillion). Furthermore, Daniels was involved in planning the deficit-financed expansion of the Medicare entitlement that was a giveaway to the prescription-drug industry, for which Daniels was a former executive.

To paint Daniels as anything other than a major contributor to our current red-ink crisis is misleading and ignores how we got here in the first place.

Gray Whisnant.

Henrico.

Adult entertainment isn't the problem

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In reviewing legislation introduced at the General Assembly, I am appalled at HB1200 introduced by Del. David Bulova, which would mandate the placement of a sign stating, "If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, whether it is commercial sex, housework, or any other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-3737-888 to access help and services," in all establishments that provide adult entertainment.

As the CEO of Mid-Atlantic Showclubs, which operates six adult entertainment venues in the Richmond area, I say that the legitimate adult entertainment industry is not the problem. We pay our taxes and are in constant contact with law enforcement and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. I also know of no documented incidents of human trafficking by legitimate adult entertainment clubs in Virginia. I am baffled as to why my industry has been singled out by Bulova.

Why not put these signs in big box stores? I see lots of foreigners there. They could all be victims of human trafficking. Is there a bigger problem of illegal immigration that Bulova is alluding to but too timid to attack? I have no doubt foreigners are brought to this country illegally every day with promises of wealth and fortune, and I feel badly for them. However, their plight is not my problem. My problem is lumping my industry in with them, thereby creating guilt by association.

Bulova is exactly what is wrong with government and politics. Instead of attacking the problem head on by going after illegal immigrants and strengthening immigration laws so that they cannot come or stay here, he wants to blame everyone else and hurt business in the process.

Michael R. Dickinson.

Richmond.

It is time to fire Eric Holder

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

President Obama has been a failure. Nowhere is this more evident than the continued employment of Attorney General Eric Holder.

During the 2008 elections, Black Panthers dressed in camouflage and bearing nightsticks patrolled a Philadelphia voting precinct in an effort to intimidate people. They hurled racist epithets at whites. This was all captured on film. Holder refused to prosecute them.

This is the same guy who feels minority voters should not have to show ID to vote. The blatant racism shown by Holder offends me greatly.

Let us not forget Holder's latest debacle. The "Fast and Furious" program has allowed weapons to leave our country and enter Mexico so we could track where they went. Naturally they lost contact, and one of those weapons was used to kill a border patrol agent.

Getting rid of Holder is enough reason to vote against Obama. He is an incompetent, divisive president. November can't come soon enough.

David Packett.

Richmond.