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What happens to our thoughts, if they are not expressed? What good are ideas, if they are never heard ? Where is "the truth"... in this world of calculated deceit ? |
John N. Todd IIi, M.D.
The "designer", "editor", "publisher", and author of this website; photographed 7/03, by Phyllis J. Todd (wife)
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Affirmative Action for ALL... regardless of skin-color See link to the full article: Affirmative Action for ALL... regardless of skin color "Affirmative action" is desirable and beneficial, some say.... but only for "black Americans", and perhaps for "Latinos". As for me (JNT, the author of this website), I am not against "affirmative action".... but I believe that affirmative-action should not be restricted to those of a certain skin-color. Why doesn't "affirmative-action" apply to any United States citizen who has been enslaved and deprived and over-looked, for all of his developmental years.... by poverty; or by lack of parental guidance; or by negligent and abusive parents; or by inadequate schools with unsatisfactory teachers; or by classrooms where slow-learners are "tracked" with bright students? What about those students.... white or black.... who have been stultified in their learning-development because of undisciplined childhood behavior.... at home -- and on the "streets"; or those who may be impaired by a genetically-induced learning-disability; or by psychological impairment and quirks related to the absence of a strong, guiding "father-figure" at home? Shouldn't ALL of these students be granted the same "support".... regardless of their "color". Aren't many, many whites in the "same boat" with some blacks? What about "white Americans".... those "whites" who may not have scored well on "the SAT".... or those who were raised by a "single-mom", who happens to be "white". What about the "white" students who were born to "underprivileged" parents, rural parents, working-class parents? What about students of any "color" who have faced the same "obstacles" that so many black-Americans claim to have been impediments to them? Why are these "white" students any less "entitled" to affirmative-action, than "black" or "tan" students? It's like I heard Jesse Jackson say on TV, at one of his recent "protests" of some sort, "It's not black or white.... it's wrong or right." Is it "right", to favor certain blacks with affirmative-action.... and not to do the same for comparable whites? Why must we have a "Black Miss America"; or a "Black Caucus" in Congress? Why do we have a group in my hometown called "Black Elected Officials"? Why do we have colleges that are labelled "Predominantly Black Colleges"? Suppose we had comparable groups for "whites".... such as "White Elected Officials"? Would the "Black" community be satisfied with such a fragmentation of races? What do you say? Why are "whites" not encouraged by "affirmative action", to enter college.... and why should they not be recruited by the colleges.... and by industries that may want to assist in the intellectual development of "whites".... as well as "blacks"? Why don't we who want to improve the "public education" system of the United States demand "affirmative-action" for superior students, whether black or white or "yellow".... those intellectually-advanced individuals who should not be abandoned to languish and waste-time in classrooms and schools that are over-run and over-crowded by slow-learning students... or by students wth behavioral and/or psychological impairment, or with physical incapacitation? Will you, the reader, please give these questions some thought.... and will you please answer the questions.... for me. See related subjects: RACISM, and anti-racism (link) TRACKING in public schools (link) EBONICS and ALBONICS (link) Taj Mahal PUBLIC SCHOOLS (link) |
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The Tuscaloosa VOICE ! Editorial Comment ( A section of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ) ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) 3/20/03 This essay, by John N. Todd III -- the author of this website -- was published in its entirety in "The Tuscaloosa News" (Alabama), on Sunday,16 March 2003.... in response to a number of recent editorials and opinion-pieces in the Tuscaloosa News, concerning taxing "the poor". What would Santa Claus do... about taxes? What would Robin Hood do? CLICK HERE for Easy-Print format of this essay What would Santa Claus do? What would Robin Hood do? These are the most appropriate questions about tax-reform, in Alabama. Read on. I almost hate to disturb the Tuscaloosa News's peacefully somnolent editorialists. and their preachy guest writers; but someone needs to awaken all of them to the truth that there are many, many hard-working and productive and "religious" tax-paying citizens who do not want to pay more tax. In recent months, the readers of the Tuscaloosa News have been bombarded by repeated hand-wringing lead-editorials about how little tax the "rich" people of Alabama pay, as compared to the low-income citizens. In January 2003, a Presbyterian Sunday-School teacher (Bob Montgomery) wrote a laborious epistle about taxing the "poor". He called upon Christians to ask themselves "What would Jesus do" about taxes in Alabama, evidently an attempt to shame the "religious-rich" into demanding to pay more tax, so that more benefits can be granted freely and without obligation to less productive individuals and families. In February, there was a letter-to-the-editor from Dusti Deaver, a Presbyterian "lay pastor", who unctuously stated that, "Our tax system must be changed. We must stop oppressing the poor." On Sunday (3/2/03), Ms. Hamill, a teacher at a local law school, proclaimed in a 1200 word essay in the Tuscaloosa News, that we Alabamians must demand "tax reform", so that we can "save our children". No suggestion was made to "save the adults", who pay for almost all the tax obligations in Alabama. Ms. Hamill sanctimoniously urged that we taxpayers should remember Jesus's admonition concerning "the least of these", and that we should "eliminate the injustice that is poisoning our State". Gee whiz! I am a Protestant church-goer; and I am well-informed about various religious and "spiritual" subjects; and I am a lifelong student of the Bible. I truly resent the "holier-than-thou" attitude of these churchy guest-writers. I am not aware that the Bible suggests anything more than a "tithe", as a donation for "the poor". I know that in Biblical times, the tax-collectors were hated and resented, and that they were grouped with "sinners, prostitutes, rogues, and adulterers" (in Matthew, and Luke). I do not know of any Biblical admonition that says that hard-working, industrious, intelligent individuals, who are already paying as much as 50% of their income in various taxes, should be penalized for their achievements, and for their lifelong habit of saving and investing. Neither is there a Biblical mandate that those who pay taxes should be forced to share their worldly acquisitions with those who simply declare themselves to be helpless, and poor. We tax-payers have repeatedly heard the word "fair", especially among politicians, when Alabama's tax situation is demagogued. As for me, I know of nothing "fair" about extracting more and more of the possessions of successful workers and investors, in order to give more unearned benefits to others. I want to refresh the readers of the Tuscaloosa News about certain facts that are almost never mentioned in newspaper reports about taxing "low-income" families. It is true that some low-income families may pay a small amount of State income tax; but the great majority of low-income earners actually receive many "benefits" that far out-weigh the small amount of income tax they pay. Here are some of the the benefits that are already being generously financed by productive over-taxed citizens. These "programs", which are readily available to the "poor" -- from both Federal and State sources -- include the following: earned-income tax credit (as much as $2500 per year); food stamps (fulltime free groceries); Medicaid (free healthcare and medications); "Section 8" rent subsidy (free $600 every month); aid-for-dependent-children (free monthly cash to "single-moms" for one or more children); unemployment compensation; SSI (Supplemental Security Income), a monthly unrestricted $512 cash payment for each rowdy, or "disabled", or slow-learning child (the so-callled "dummy-dollars"); and on and on. So, do not let your hearts bleed too much for the "helpless" or the idle poor. Their "benefits", paid-for by active and educated and diligent citizens, reward the "poor" with as much as $30,000 per year -- tax-free, and long-lasting, and without an obligation to earn, or to repay. All of these free programs, payments, and benefits are utilized by many, many individuals and families, regardless of "race".... probably by more "whites" than blacks. "Race" is not a part of the debate. Obviously, no cognizant and caring human-beings want to deprive the truly helpless, the sick, the aged, and the disabled, of needed assistance. I say that the apparent position of the Tuscaloosa News editorialists is "What would Robin Hood do?". Their answer always seems to be, "Robin Hood would take more and more from those who are educated, and who own property, and who have a good-paying job. Robin would extract more of their money, and lavish it freely upon those who are un-schooled, un-skilled, un-married, and un-willing to help themselves. Robin would tell the idle-poor that they don't need to work, or pay taxes, or produce.... because 'the system' will take care of them, and send them a nice monthly check." The attitude of some welfare recipients has become, "What can Santa Claus do for me?" Many under-ambitious individuals have learned that all one needs to do is to make a Christmas-list of wanted and expected benefit-gifts. Then, our obese and benevolent governmental Santa Claus will reach into his bottomless bag of benefits, and freely bestow whatever is requested, at no cost or obligation to the wishful supplicants.... but at great expense to farmers, small-business-operators, and to other hard-working and educated taxpayers; those who are forced to sacrifice to pay tax for all the Santa Clausian benefits, that are handed-out to unknown recipients. Wake up, Tuscaloosa News. Why don't you try to present both sides of this important question! And, try to understand, there ain't no tooth-fairy. |
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The Tuscaloosa VOICE ! Editorial Comment ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) 10/02; 2/03; 6/5/03 "Scientists have all the answers about creation" The following opinion-piece, by John N. Todd III (the author of this website) was printed verbatim in "The TUSCALOOSA (Alabama) News", on 10/18/Fri/02. This was written in response to an article in the Tuscaloosa News, by Dr. Michael L. Roberts.... concerning the thoughts of a "scientist" in the age-old "debate" about evolution/creation. Gee, I feel old and dumb and uneducated, now that I have been enlightened by Dr. M. L. Roberts. I've been believing in a personal Creator-God for all of my mature life. Now, I have been awakened by this "scientist"; and I have learned that I, and 90% of all other Americans, have been duped; and have been led into "unscientific" and nonsensical religious notions. I am so glad to learn that there are two books available, both blessed by Mr. Roberts. These books will allow us ignoramuses "to know what our best scientists know". At last I understand where I should turn for ultimate "truth". It makes me feel a lot better to learn that "scientists" are now in control of the Universe. I see that I can now abandon my antiquated Bible, and Sunday-school, and church. Now, I need only the physics book.... and dice. For some reason, I must admit that I remain trapped in my ignorance. I still believe in a personal God who guides and protects His people (link); and I believe that the plans and purposes of God cannot be thwarted by man.... even "scientists". I believe that God is in command of all human events; and I believe that God is still actively involved in His evolving creational process. (See link God's evolving creation.) I feel sorry for those individuals who believe only in a nothingness that has been "created" by Father Big-Bang, and Mother Nature. Bless you, Doctor Roberts.... or should I say to you, "Good LUCK". |