Speakout 11/17/15

Marginal tax rate

The top marginal tax rate (the key word is marginal) was 90 percent during the Eisenhower years, a time with some challenges but one of general peace and prosperity. When reminded of this, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders quipped in reference to the upper income marginal tax rate during the Eisenhower years that he (Sanders) was a socialist but not as much of one as President Eisenhower. That should give you a little historical perspective on just how much marginal tax rates for the richest among U.S. has dropped (39.6 percent) and how desperately it needs raising again on the millionaires and billionaires among us if we are to ever make any progress on reducing the wealth gap.

Reverse racism

Our family moved from the St. Louis area less than two years ago. I took a cut in pay, as did my wife, to move here, but we moved for the safety and well-being of our children. In their school and in our neighborhood, students were often the object of racist comments and race-related bullying. The thing is, we are white. When we and other parents raised the issue at conferences at the school, we were told that it was difficult to enforce rules against racism and racial slurs. Really? Had either of my sons ever used the N-word, I can guarantee you they would have been suspended. My oldest son is now a freshman at Mizzou. He said the racist comments by black students are a common occurrence. Believe what you want about what happened in Columbia last week, but ask yourself this: Do you really believe that a white kid in this day and age would dare to utter a racist comment to a black kid? Knowing they would probably get their butt kicked and then suspended or expelled?

Thanksgiving sales

Are you for are against retailers staying open Thanksgiving day? If you think it is more important for employees to spend that day with family and friends, then don't go shopping.

Learn a trade

To all the former college students who are complaining about student loans: Learn from your mistake, learn a trade like plumbing. I made my mistake and fell for the college scam. Just do what I did -- burn your worthless degree and move on.

ISIS strategy

This isn't comforting but when you get right down to it, neither the current administration nor the Republican or Democratic parties or, for that matter, any of the contenders for the presidency have a coherent strategy for defeating ISIS. None of them. They're good at criticizing one another but completely lacking in articulating a clear and workable strategy.