Editorial refutes Gingrich's appraisal

Editorial refutes Gingrich's appraisal

Monday night's debate from Florida had Saint Newt attempting to canonize himself. His facts about himself did not fit known history.

It was worth my 25-year subscription to The Times to read your accurate assessment of his record in your editorial Jan. 24. Gail Collins added the lighter sauce!

ALAN MANGAN

Opinion at odds with advertising

I read your editorial of Jan. 25, "A hope to tackle gangs," with interest. You recommend to legislate the restriction of gun sales at "wide open gun shows ... and personal ads," and cited AK47 and AR15's as examples of the problem.

I flipped to your Classifieds and was amazed to count 24 guns for sale, including one AR15. Given your enormous advertising voice in our community, and your long tenure in business, you must have facilitated many thousands of gun sales.

For this advertising I can only think that your remuneration for the vast accumulation of advertisements over the years must be considerable. You brand the NRA as the author of our misfortunes, for fomenting a "stunning absence of gun-control."

You appear to be at odds with your own logic, unless you see no conflict in the paper taking money for that which you abhor.

BOB HUTCHISON

Rocky Face, Ga.

Krugman distorts tax rate history

It was with interest that I read Paul Krugman's article, "Taxes at the Top" (Jan. 21). In his article he says "it is about time we had this discussion." The discussion he describes is that those at the top wrung, income wise, enjoy exceptional benefits via our taxing system. I, too, would enjoy such a discussion, but not with Mr. Krugman, since his article contains so many distortions that I'm afraid he would add little to topic.

For instance, in discussing income tax rates, he says, "The rate rose to more than 29 percent during Bill Clinton's first term." It actually rose to 39.6 percent. Then he adds to his mistakes by stating, "Low capital gains taxes date only from 1997, ..." A half-truth, as the capital gains rate differential was re-introduced in 1997, not first introduced, after an absence of 10 years. Capital gains differentials have been with us at least since the early '70s. As prior to 1987, we only had to report but one-half of our long term gains. Thus, it was always at 50 percent of ordinary rates.

JOHN R. BROWN