By - The Washington Times
Alexandria Police Officer Peter Laboy was doing the job he loves when he was viciously shot in the head ("Hundreds turn out to raise funds for wounded Va. officer," Web, March 10). The horror of what transpired has affected many. Officer Laboy, a respected and well-known cop in the community, has prompted a desire for many to help in some way. This was evidenced by the approximately 2,000 people who appeared for the fundraiser at a restaurant in Old Town Alexandria recently. I was pleased to be part of that crowd. The common bond that brought together friends, colleagues and those not personally acquainted with Officer Laboy was heartwarming. It brought home the fact that people do still care about law enforcement officers. Published March 18, 2013
By - The Washington Times
President Obama's stimulus package and health care law were partisan, lengthy and unread -- yet they passed and were subject to interpretation and regulations, including the addition of fees and taxes to be written in later. The economy has been slowed, and unemployment remains high. All taxpayers have been saddled with higher and hidden taxes, higher costs for health care and fewer participating physicians and patient services. Published March 18, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Ever since I can remember (58-plus years), I have been a proud gun owner. As a child, I owned children's toy guns, also proudly. I have owned all types of firearms, with different types needed for different applications in the same way a golfer needs numerous clubs or a baseball player needs a variety of bats. The big difference between these inanimate objects is the ownership of my firearms is protected (at least by constitutionally cognizant courts, legislators and executives) under our Bill of Rights. There is no Bill of Needs. Published March 15, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Your editorial "Crowding out the future" (Feb. 28) is incorrect about entitlements and debt interest crowding out all other spending, consuming every penny of federal revenues by 2025. Published March 15, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Sens. John McCain, Arizona Republican, and Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, would do well to make amends for their unreasonable and callous rebuke of Sen. Rand Paul and the Tea Party -- unless they are willing to give up their seats to a new generation of Republicans. Published March 15, 2013
By - The Washington Times
President Obama canceled public tours of the White House in response to sequestration cuts ("White House visitors, get lost," Comment & Analysis, March 8). Before doing so, did the president consult with Alan Krueger, chairman of his Council of Economic Advisers? Published March 15, 2013
By - The Washington Times
I am not a Redskins fan, but I say it's about time various groups stopped going on the warpath against Washington's football team. Published March 14, 2013
By - The Washington Times
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's 2014 budget includes repeal of "Obamacare" ("Paul Ryan introduces GOP budget, sees balance in decade," Web, Tuesday). Faint-hearted Republicans say President Obama was re-elected, and previous efforts to repeal this disastrous law have failed. Published March 14, 2013
By - The Washington Times
History repeatedly has demonstrated that when a people and their leaders lose their virtue, freedom perishes. It has recently come to light that Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat, allegedly sponsored and promoted legislation that would benefit a major donor to his political campaign. The legislation in question would have granted special tax credits and grants to a company in which Mr. Menendez's donor had invested heavily. Published March 14, 2013
By - The Washington Times
An entitlement is access to benefits guaranteed by legislation. Social Security was established by legislation, but it is more like a retirement benefit that both employees and employers are forced to pay into. Politicians and some financial commentators are making Social Security sound like a federal government handout, but in reality, recipients were compelled to pay into the system. Published March 14, 2013
By - The Washington Times
When an idea sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This applies especially to gun buyback programs ("Gun buyback program won't end violence," Web, Jan. 2). These programs are simply evidence of loopholes created by feel-good bureaucrats, and they are perfect opportunities to legally dispose of weapons that may have been used to commit violent crimes. Published March 13, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Former sex-trafficking victim Barbara Amaya highlights the need to "educate the public about the horrors of human trafficking or modern day slavery" ("Sex trafficking: Has anything changed in 45 years?" Web, Saturday). Published March 13, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Republican outrage over the trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith in New York is misplaced ("CIA nabs Osama bin Laden's son-in-law; federal court date Friday," Web, Thursday). Universal resentment should arise instead from legislator disparagement of the Constitution because neither party shows reverence for the mandated requirement for the political departments to provide for national defense. Published March 13, 2013
By - The Washington Times
If politicians are the problem, then perhaps "we the people" should be more selective about whom we elect into office ("Sequestration isn't the problem -- politicians are," Web, Saturday). We should vote for people who have a clear understanding of what our problems are and who have effective, "real-diamond" solutions -- not cubic-zirconia ones that sparkle and glitter enough to attract support but are worthless, ineffective and costly. Published March 13, 2013
By - The Washington Times
In the opening summary of the report "Advertising by the Federal Government: An Overview," analyst Kevin R. Kosar writes, "Government advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens' views about the proper role of government. Yet some government advertising is accepted as a normal part of government information activities." Mr. Kosar notes the difficulty of calculating the amount spent by the feds on advertising each year, writing that "there is no governmentwide definition of what constitutes advertising" and "there is no central authority to which agencies are required to report advertising expenses." Published March 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
As threats to the United States are evolving in both the real and virtual worlds, our defenses against cyberattacks have to be coordinated and strengthened, according to military analysts and members of the House Homeland Security Committee. Published March 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
The United States of America, once the greatest and wealthiest nation in world history, has gone broke. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke continues to print crazy amounts of money to cover up this fact, but the truth is that we are on an unsustainable course. We continue to spend more money than what we take in every year. Piggyback that on the amount of interest we have to pay to service our debt each year, and you get a recipe for financial ruin. Published March 12, 2013
By - The Washington Times
It is comforting to know that our negotiations with North Korea have been turned over to the "highest-profile American to ever meet with Kim Jong Un": former NBA star Dennis Rodman ("Dennis Rodman: N. Korea's Kim Jong-un is 'just a great guy,' wants Obama to call him," Web, March 3). Published March 11, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Sen. John McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham criticized Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster last week, and in my opinion, they should be the ones ashamed of themselves ("Graham, McCain blast Paul filibuster," Web, Thursday). Published March 11, 2013
By - The Washington Times
Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. George Miller's proposal for a $10.10 minimum wage -- a 39 percent increase over the current level -- is a recipe for employment disaster ("Democrats propose measure to raise minimum wage," Web, Tuesday). Published March 11, 2013
Illustration by Dana Summers of the Tribune Media Services
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