FactCheck Mailbag, Week of July 14 – July 20

I looked at your new web page and appreciated the new clean look and layout. Thanks to those who worked on it and made it look so good. 

Wendell Hendershott
Corvallis, Oregon

Have always been impressed with your non-partisan stance. The new format is wonderful because it makes the issues more accessible. Thank you.

Reader Edits

Thank you for your continued efforts to sort through all of the garbage and present the clear facts without bias, letting the reader make their own informed decision.  However, I feel that you have neglected to stress a significant point in your analysis of contracts that were issued by Chris Christie’s office [See "Corzine on Christie: Contracts for Cronies?"]. The television ad not only gives the appearance that Christie acted unethically, but it gives the impression that the money that was paid in these contracts came out of the taxpayer’s pocket. You note towards the end of the story that these monies were paid directly by the firm that was being monitored, but I feel that it is important to include this information in your summary towards the top of the article for those that may not have the time to read all of the detailed and well researched analysis presented in the body of the article. Thanks. 

Paul Woitko
Cherry Hill, N.J. 

Keep the Chain E-mail Stories Coming

In response to Charles G. of Atlanta, Ga.’s letter: I am one who truly appreciates your efforts to sort out all the erroneous e-mails that are floating around on the Internet. I seem to be surrounded by many folks who, although very intelligent, tend to believe every political e-mail that they receive as long as it supports their position/ideology.

I am one that does not associate myself with any one political party and therefore find the impartial stance of FactCheck to be the perfect tool to try and educate/enlighten those that are locked into party ideologies. Their reluctance to verify the facts stated in many of these zombie and bogus e-mails just amazes me. Even trying to send them to your site proves to be quite a task because they have convinced themselves that your site is politically biased towards the liberals, whatever that means.

Again, great work and please continue to help us keep the truth visible in the important issues that face every one of us these days.

Randy C.
Albuquerque , N.M.

Proud to Be Covered in Canada

Michael Moore had a lot of it right.   

Bill Conkie
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada 

Economic Theory

The government’s health care plan is based upon a certain false assumption. If we raise taxes (on the rich, or on whomever), revenue will be generated to pay for the plan. Where did they get the idea that revenue depends upon taxes? Revenue depends upon the economy. If people are working in the private sector and making money, government revenue will have a basis to increase. If the economy slows down, which it is doing now, revenue will drop. The health care plan will harm the economy, and so government revenue will decrease.

A second reason is that as tax rates increase, the incentive to avoid paying taxes increases. Goldman Sachs pays very little taxes to the federal government. People and organizations do things to reduce the tax burden.

The Wall Street Journal discussed this at length during the campaign. The Democrats never addressed this issue. We must repeat this theme, advertise the message, and write letters and columns again and again. The government cannot depend upon increased taxes to increase government revenue for costly programs like health care.

Sanford Aranoff
Monroe Twp, N.J.  

Conspiracy Theory Fatigue