Make your point

To the editor:

Letter writer Jeffery A. Goldmacher chastizes an earlier writer for stating "misinformation and emotion to make a point." Then, Goldmacher does exactly what he accuses. He states that it is emotional to want to include a ballot question to reduce taxes if we are asked to vote on raising them. He thinks we would all vote to reduce taxes. Now, that is emotional and misinformation. I know people who would not vote to reduce taxes, and may or may not vote to raise them. Then Goldmacher misinforms us by using the emotional words that people who are elected to make tough decisions will vote for lower taxes. That is his agenda, but it is not a fact. It is tough to vote for higher taxes, too. Isn't that why the county commissioners punted?

Goldmacher goes on to use the standard emotional line "no mandates from government for programs that are not supported by a majority of the voters." He correctly advises that we are a republic, and that we have representative government. Then, he trounces his own correct fact by stating that a majority of voters have to vote on government programs. We voted for a president because he promised to try to provide health care for all our citizens. We voted as a majority. He also uses the old line about "making government smaller," which states an emotional issue. When people have tried to make government smaller, those whose "ox is being gored" protest, which makes it even more emotional.

Finally, Goldmacher ends with the rest of the mantra — strong defense (which includes items that the military doesn't need or want but continue to be provided because special interests don't want to lose the billions in our tax dollars spent to make those items), and "family values," which continues his emotional criticism of Mr. (Tony) Ferentinos. With what we have witnessed on all sides, there seems to be no real definition of family values left upon which we can rely.

So, I agree with Mr. Goldmacher. Let's stop using emotion and misinformation to make a point.

Nancy Y. Smith
Kissimmee

Commission protects jobs

To the editor:

Kudos to the Osceola County Commission for not increasing fire fees on Osceola County businesses.

For the past several months, the commission has been wrestling with the fire fee issue. At one point, a massive increase on business was under consideration. Fortunately, the commission adopted the recommendation of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and chose to “buy down” the fees and protect our businesses from an increase this year. We particularly want to thank commissioners Hawkins, Quiñones and Smith for voting to defend Osceola employers.

Businesses in Osceola County are struggling in this economy and many are barely hanging on. By not increasing fees on business, the County Commission is helping to prevent layoffs and bankruptcies that hurt our citizens and our economy. Chairman Hawkins was right in his statement that “We need to help our local businesses or our economy will continue to falter.” Holding the line on the fire fees has been a top priority for the chamber this year and it is gratifying to see the commission take decisive action in support of free enterprise.

In the past, the Osceola News-Gazette has editorialized against buying down impact fees for business. This makes the stand taken by commissioners Hawkins, Quiñones and Smith all the more courageous. We hope the Gazette’s editorial team will reconsider their opposition to this important relief measure for business.

The county has taken an important step to benefit Osceola County’s economy. The chamber believes there is even more work to be done to help Osceola County’s businesses. We encourage commissioners to re-evaluate other county policies that hinder our economy, including high impact fees and slow permitting.

Mike Horner
President, Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce