The Norman Transcript

Opinion

Discussion

November 30, 2012

A bit of common sense

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Rep. Tom Cole’s comments about Republicans accepting a tax cut extension that impacts 98 percent of all Americans and take up tax cuts later on those earning $250,000 or more a year sounds like some good common sense, but it may not be the best political sense.

His opinion, leaked from a meeting of top Republicans in Congress, smells like a trial balloon sent up by some of his colleagues. Most quickly shot it down, saying their goal was to eliminate tax increases for all Americans.

Mr. Cole, R-Moore, told reporters there is no sense using the majority of American taxpayers as leverage when the debate really involves the tax rates on upper income taxpayers. His speaker and friend, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said raising taxes on upper income Americans, many of whom are small business owners, will harm the economy.

But even more harm to the economy is the uncertainty placed on the majority of consumers and businesses. The U.S. and foreign stock markets surged a bit Wednesday, perhaps sensing some sort of compromise coming from the nation’s Capitol.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion
  • U.S. must address shootings

    Editor, The Transcript: This is sent in reply to the letter from Earl Herfurth regarding Second Amendment rights. Certainly, the Second Amendment is an important part of America’s history, but the argument set forth in support of gun ...

    May 20, 2013

  • Republican Party has unmitigated gall

    Editor, The Transcript: When it comes to unmitigated gall, the Republican Party has no equal. Take the current Benghazi hearings, for example. This is nothing but a political charade aimed at the 2014 election and Hillary Clinton’s ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Airline changes coming

    In the airlines business, time is money. American Airlines wants to try and speed up its boarding process. Passengers who travel with only a personal item such as a purse or a brief case can now get on first....

    May 19, 2013

  • SEC should act on conflicts

    Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want....

    May 19, 2013

  • We all deserve better

    The tough treatment of the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) party and other conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service is being assailed by leaders of both political parties....

    May 19, 2013

  • John Tullius’ cartoon is wrong about education

    Editor, The Transcript: John Tullius’ last Saturday cartoon has jumped up and stepped right on my toes, along with, I suspect, the toes of teachers and school personnel all over town: “Growing up — we learned good morals, values and ...

    May 19, 2013

  • What hope for our humanity’s predicament?

    Editor, The Transcript: Well, what is it, this “predicament” of ours, our humanity’s? What’s behind or underneath this predicament, this predication, this saying before or is it a “before saying?” Ah, that might be getting closer to what ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Gas stations used to command loyalty

    More than 50 years ago, Ed Ruscha set off on a road trip from California to Oklahoma City and back. The young artist was driving to see his mother, who still lived in Oklahoma....

    May 19, 2013

  • Women can’t be at the front in Catholic church

    Editor, The Transcript: Kathryn Jean Lopez’s editorial, “Women to the front,” made me scratch my head. Since it was about the Catholic Church, she must know that Catholic women can’t be at the front. They cannot be priests, bishops or ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Tax plan gets projects going

    A deal to divert state use taxes to fund completion of the American Indian Cultural Center Museum in Oklahoma City and build the Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa looks like a good way to get some momentum on both projects....

    May 18, 2013