Letters to the editor: Evangelicals embrace Trump - why?

I have been deeply disturbed at the support that my fellow evangelicals have been giving to Donald Trump. Not only has he flip-flopped on many issues, but he has consistently pursued a life of immorality, greed and blatant egotism.

These are not values that evangelicals should support.

I understand the anger that many of us have toward our current government, but there are better choices than Trump.

Mark Watkins

Columbus

Keep the freeze

I hope that the homeowners in Columbus will vote NO to the removal of the property tax freeze. You are benefiting from this law that gives you this protection of keeping your property taxes the same as long as you live in your home.

Should you vote no, you will continue with this protection; however, all future buyers of your home would then no longer have this protection. I know we are told that this will be offset by a reduction in our tax rates, but this is only a trick that won't last long.

This property tax freeze was voted into law by the people of Columbus some years ago and ever since then it has been challenged by Realtors and now our Mayor because by eliminating the freeze the city will have more income. Don't we already pay enough taxes? Our citizens are very generous as gauged by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes they vote for when the previous one runs out. I think it is time for our city government to cut back on spending and start living within its means.

I put some of the blame on our elected officials who sue the same city they serve when things don't go their way, thus leaving the tax payers to foot the bill. This is called incompetence and they should not be reelected.

Richard Tieken

Columbus

Needlessly divided

I am thoroughly disgusted. What is this fetish about conservative and liberal?

"He's not conservative enough!" "He's not liberal enough!" What are we thinking?

Are we thinking at all? I'm a liberal, therefore I must think a certain way. I'm a conservative, therefore I must think a certain way. How ridiculous is this? Where is the common sense?

This has been a nasty election season; one of the worst. We have candidates at both extremes of the spectrum. Sorry, this does not make for good governance.

We seem to be looking for what is best for "my" party rather than what will be good for the people of this country.

The United States government is not a business. It does not need a CEO. It needs a president. We do not need to make a profit for stockholders. We do need to keep our heads above water. If borrowing money will help us do that, so be it. I'm not recommending this, but we're making such a big deal out of solving the budget crisis when we have people starving, jobless, no health care. There is tremendous wealth in this country, unfortunately in the hands of too few people.

Let's get rid of labels and take care of the needs of this beautiful country.

A.J. Kravtin

Columbus

Solutions, not promises

Candidates running for President who tell us things they know they cannot do are liars in the worst way. We already have a dysfunctional Congress, if we allow someone to be elected on the basis of untruths then we deserve the consequences.;

Several candidates say they will build a "wall" to protect our southern border. So what are these candidates going to do that both Republican and Democratic presidents could not?

These candidates are also promising to deport the "illegals" -- all 11 million of them. The cost to deport just one, according to testimony before Congress, is $12,500. The cost will be at least $137 billion. We cannot get the Congress to fund the money to complete the fence at $3 billion so how is it possible these candidates think they can get $137 billion? Nothing but blowhards!

We need problem solvers, not people who promise things they know they cannot do. Why not solve this by giving those who are not criminals green cards? They already have jobs, and let them pay a fine. A $300 fine would give enough money to fund the fence and secure our borders, leaving 11 million paying taxes who can now buy automobiles, houses, insurance and other consumer goods. Probably make a huge positive impact on our economy!

Vote responsibly!

L. Ray Vinson

Midland

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Evangelicals embrace Trump - why? ."