Christians derogating Jesus’ teachings
Sue Gibson
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
There is a crisis in the United States that I would have never anticipated seeing in my lifetime. Basic tenets of truth, decency, and patriotism have been distorted and redefined. A sense that common decency and respect are expected in our interactions with one another in our personal and public discourse has eroded dramatically. During the 2016 campaign season, a steep slide into the profane began. The majority of voters looked at this behavior with embarrassment and shame and voted against it. A recent letter questioned who is accountable for the disturbing new reality. The real questions should be: Why have some Christians allowed loud and in-your-face elected officials to derogate the teachings of Jesus? Why are some people so full of self-loathing that they don’t trust themselves, their daughters, or their sisters to make decisions in the best interest of their families, their health, and their futures? Why do some people still believe that Donald Trump shows any concern at all for the country or for humanity despite every bit of evidence to the contrary?
Fuel taxes for infrastructure preferable to bonding
Bert Dirschell
Centertown
Dear Editor:
Gov. Mike Parson has proposed borrowing $350 million for road work. Some have suggested the interest on the bonds would cost taxpayers $100 million over 15 years. If the total cost is $450 million over 15 years, does that mean that the state currently has $30 million per year that could be diverted to repay the bonds?
Rather than borrow money, why doesn’t the Legislature raise fuel taxes, without voter approval, as it did in 1992 when it increased fuel taxes by 6 cents per gallon? Had it done this 5 years ago, much progress could have already been made toward road improvements.
The last increase in the fuel tax was in 1996, but it was not the last increase for MoDOT funding. In 2004, voters approved diverting the remaining half of revenues collected from the sale of motor vehicles to MoDOT. Previously only have of the revenue went to MoDOT while the other half went to the general fund. Those sales tax revenues were $379 million in 2018. The half that was added to MoDOT equates to more than 6 cents per gallon of additional funding.
From 2011-18 MoDOT revenues from fuel taxes, vehicle sales tax and vehicle licenses has increased by more than 16 percent.
Did we see significant improvement in the condition of our highway system due to the $1 billion(?) of “infrastructure” spending the feds dumped into Missouri via the post-recession American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?
I would vote to approve a reasonable increase in fuel taxes if the measure clearly stated all fuel taxes, vehicle personal property taxes and vehicle sales taxes were to be used only for road and bridge projects, not mass transit subsidies, walk path subsidies, etc.
P.S. If a new bridge is needed over the Missouri, near Columbia, why not make it a toll bridge? Indiana and Kentucky recently built a new bridge over the Ohio on I-65 and then refurbished the existing bridge. Upon project completion, both bridges were turned into toll bridges.
Free speech and political correctness
Leonard J. Steinman II
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
The Constitution of the United States allows for the freedom of speech for the citizens of the United States. It does not address a so-called right of political correctness.
I served proudly in the United States Navy and the Missouri National Guard to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States and the right for the freedom of speech, not for this so-called political correctness.
Doesn’t political correctness take away your right of the freedom of speech, just because a select few think it doesn’t sound politically correct? Please let me know where in the Bill of Rights that freedom of speech was changed to the right of political correctness.
Think about it! Another right is being taken away from you.