March 29, 2024

Letters 12-01-2014

Nov. 30, 2014

Our simple rules: Keep your letter to 300 words or less, send no more than one per month, include your name/address/phone number, and agree to allow us to edit. That’s it. Email info@northernexpress.com and hit send!

Act For the Future

"What worries you, masters you," according to John Locke.

Anyone paying attention these days has plenty to worry about; things like endless war, accelerating climate change, lack of meaningful living-wage jobs, and internal threats to such rights as voting and privacy.

We ignore these at our peril. Radical change is needed, one that assures our children a secure and hopeful future.

No one person has the answers, but collectively we can take an in depth look at what is happening with our climate, our economy and our democracy.

Changing how we think about the production and use of energy is an important start.

Cities can responsibly change to green energy and keep prices low. Public utilities are superior to private ones where citizens have no voice and prices can be raised arbitrarily.

As Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus told us in a recent interview, we need to produce energy where we use it. "˜As local as possible’ should be the mantra for much of our economy, and especially the energy that fuels everything in our lives. We are the ones who must demand change.

Ann Rogers, Traverse City

Retail Fairness Now

Last year, the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide retailers in Michigan with a fair chance to compete with online sellers. In July, the Senate again made efairness a priority by introducing the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act.

It’s now time for the House to consider efairness without further delay. For years, local businesses have been disadvantaged by a decades-old loophole that gives online-only sellers a 6 percent price advantage in Michigan. Many online-only sellers lure customers in by advertising "tax free" shopping, when in fact, online shopping is not tax free and they leave customers with a tax liability. The Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act supports and protects small businesses, gives states the power to enforce their own sales tax laws, and strengthens our free enterprise system. The future of U.S. entrepreneurship and the survival of our communities depend on its passage. I strongly urge Rep. Benishek to support our local businesses by voting "yes" on the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act.

Dan Marshall, Traverse City (Owner, Marshall Music)

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I am sending my letter to you a bit early this year. The toy you sent me so very long ago is broken, and cannot be fixed. They used to make things better when I was still a kid. Too much plastic these days, it seems.

How are you doing, my old friend? I hear that the North Pole has been warmer the past few years. Please don’t tell the conservatives that I mentioned this. They don’t believe in global warming, you know.

There will be plenty of snow this year with the seven-month long winters that we are getting lately. Remember to drive carefully in the sky. That sleigh isn’t getting any younger either. By the way, how did Rudolf come out with his eye exam?

I have to go for now. Drive carefully, and remember not to speed on your way to Northern Michigan. The children of today need someone to believe in, just like it was for us old people so very long ago.

Merry Christmas, Santa.

William Scott, Traverse City

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