Letters to the editor: Hoarding, grocery tax, Sanders, fire chief
Hoarding
While I appreciate that local grocers are acting to prevent COVID-19 spread by eliminating “samples” of food in their stores (definitely important), it would really be great if they would act to help us all, by setting limits on everyday commodities like toilet tissue and similar hygienic commodities. What is a person to do that actually “needs” more toilet tissue because they are out? This hoarding insanity in the aisles should be managed better, with grocers and other outlets clearly indicating “Limit One.” Do folks really think COVID-19 is going to shut down the paper manufacturers? Or hand sanitizer factories? Please, set reasonable limits on purchases, asap!
Patrick L Klocke, Boise
Grocery tax
Groceries should be exempt from Idaho sales tax. Many Idahoans agree, but our Legislature clings to the convoluted process of taxing everyone’s food and eventually returning a rough equivalent to those who ask for it and can qualify.
The annual tax credit peaked several years ago at $100 per person. Now it falls short by more every year, compared with the sales tax we have actually paid on our food. Bills to exempt groceries were introduced this year but failed in committee. The committee endorsed HB 494, to increase the tax credit to $135 and leave everything else the same; anti-hunger advocates supported the increased credit as better than nothing, HB 494 was filed for third reading in the House on Feb. 19, then postponed nine more times. As of March 12 it is still pending.
Legislators want to go home this week. With HB 494 still not advanced to the Senate, one wonders if this bill will die unfinished, even though its lead sponsor is the speaker of the House. It begins to look like HB 494 is just a ploy to sidetrack the grocery exemption movement with no intention of raising the tax credit.
Darcy R. James, Boise
Sanders piece
A couple of weeks ago, con artist…er…columnist Marc A. Thiessen puffed up his meager chest and wrote an opinion piece about the ‘danger’ of electing Bernie Sanders. Mr. Thiessen concluded with “The idea that a man who embraced communist tyrants could soon be elected president of the United States is stunning — and would have been unthinkable 40 years ago during the Winter Games in Lake Placid. So spare us the outrage if some of the heroes of those 1980 Olympics want to ‘Keep America Great.’”
Meanwhile, the man who would be king but is now serving beneath his self-proclaimed greatness as our 45th POTUS, has embraced, complimented, honored and kowtowed to most of our worst current “tyrants” — Erdogan, Putin, Kim Jong Un and Duterte among them. Oh, and gave Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mr. Thiessen should come down off his Trump-cult high and join the human race, the vast majority of whom find Donald J. Trump to be a petty, vindictive, philandering narcissist whose appropriate place would be shoveling elephant dung at the clown car circus from which he and his buddy Thiessen apparently escaped.
Jefferson Young, Boise
Fire chief
The recent, contentious issues between the (Boise) mayor, City Council and (Fire) Chief (Dennis) Doan were completely unnecessary. They were certainly beneath the expectations and higher standards that elected officials are held to. Their job is to serve all Boise city residents’ best interests, not pursue personal, petty and vindictive political agendas.
I sincerely hope the mayor is now focusing all her attention on her campaign promises and Boise issues that demand thoughtful consideration and prudent action. We have a right to expect better and demand better from our elected officials. You are not in office to waste taxpayer dollars on schemes to punish anyone who has opposed you or offended you. Chief Doan earned and deserved a celebratory retirement.
Holly Louie, Boise