Doc Anderson’s tax troubles

The quandary presented by the problems of state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, to reportedly pay his taxes is one of the many symptoms of the unwillingness of Texas to pay for decent representation.

Here we are in a very prosperous state and we expect our representatives to serve in the duties of their office for $7,200 per year. While it is true that this office should be filled by patriotic citizens because they feel that they can better their fellow man, the consequences of such low income is manifested in many ways, such as the inability to pay personal taxes.

Why is it that it is mostly persons who are independently well off or who have families with seemingly unlimited sources to support the person in office have become our representatives?

We wonder why so many of these representatives seem to vote against our best interests in favor of the large corporations. The only thing that one can surmise is that they are beholden to their wealthier constituents to such an extent that they feel they have to go along with those that brought them to this office.

A few simply have the moral courage to do what they think is right and refuse to acquiesce to the pressures brought to bear upon them. I personally feel that Doc Anderson is one of those persons.

Anderson is a veterinarian. This profession usually supports the vet with an adequate income with which to pay their bills and live comfortably — but only through their daily presence at their practice. When they are not in the office working, the income stops flowing into the cash register. How can one serve in the state legislature and still be present in the office?

So, our unwillingness to pay a decent livable wage to our public servants is causing us to have the type of representation that we are willing to pay for, and then gripe about. So, rather than being so harsh in our assessment of Doc, we really should accept the fact that we the citizens of Texas are really to blame for such situations. We are getting exactly the fruits of the salary standards that we have been willing to pay.

Gene Karels

Robinson

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If “Doc” Anderson’s practice is suffering because of his duties as a lawmaker, then his duties as a lawmaker are suffering also.

It is apparent that he should resign.

He cannot serve the people if he cannot serve his own house. Doc, resign!

David Gray

Waco

Keep health care competitive

If single-payer health care is not in either the House or Senate bills, then we must demand that the public option in the House bill be included in the final reconciled bill.

The public option allows people younger than 65 to buy into Medicare. It is a government-run system, just like Medicaid and CHIPs and the VA and TriCare.

I don’t know anyone who is currently enrolled in those systems who would trade the plans. They are examples of how government-run health care works and we need to allow competition between those systems and private health insurance.

The only way to hold the private system accountable is competition with public health care.

Jose Villanueva

Waco

Citizens: Get involved in policy

Do you believe that your national representatives know what you want of them ?

We do not have responsive representatives, and it is our fault.

What can we do to fix the situation?

How about educating ourselves and taking action by either picking up the phone or going online and telling our representatives what we want them to do?

 Don’t be naive enough to think that will cause them to vote on legislation the way we want them to do, but if we do that often enough we are then justified in going to work to throw them out of office.

What a revolutionary theory: Telling our elected officials how we want them to do the job for which we elected them!

Democrats: Don’t just talk to Democratic officials. Likewise, Republicans: Don’t just call Republican officials.

Once they are elected they represent us all. We have huge piles of information heaped upon us daily in print and by radio and TV. Pay attention to it. Make a personal decision on issues and take action. 

We have the right as well as the means to have our voices heard.

The alternative is to continue to sit and complain and let others make decision for us. So educate yourself first, then act, or just keep watching and complaining.

Jim Bawcum

Waco

Art Briles should stay at Baylor

In regards to a Jan. 4 letter by Joe Walker of Lorena, this Texas Longhorn fan is offering this bit of advice (for what it is worth) to Baylor University Football Coach Art Briles and the Baylor family:

The Baylor family has made a “bird nest on the ground” for Coach Briles, and we all believe that it would behoove him and the Baylor family to continue this relationship.

Things will get better for the football team. Just take a look at the university’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball teams, track, and baseball programs.

These programs are all successes and there is no reason that the football program can’t be the same. To bolt for Texas Tech would be in my opinion, a huge mistake for Coach Briles. I pray that he will give Baylor the patience that is required to turn around a struggling program.

Bill McCown

Waco