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Letters to the Editor: Don't show me the money What are the potential costs of the proposed Iraqi invasion? The American people are unaware of the financial burden that will hit our pocketbooks. In the first Gulf War, 80 percent of the costs were borne by our allies. This time we're out of luck. Most of our supporters are not too solvent themselves. Projected costs for the increased military spending ranges between $50 and $140 billion. Peace-keeping and occupation expenses are between $75 and $500 billion. Finally, humanitarian aid and reconstruction are posted at $10 to $100 billion. And what hidden deals have been made to insure support? In the first Gulf War, Syria received $3 billion, largely to stay out of it. These agreements receive little publicity. During WW II, 45 percent of the war costs were paid out of current taxation. Today no similar contribution is required of the American taxpayer. Rather, tax rates are dropping, insuring huge debt increases. Let the children pay the bill. Containment of the USSR - a far more lethal country with the capacity to annihilate us many times over, was successful. Surely the same policy would work with the shattered Iraq - roughly with 5 percent of our population and 5 percent of our area. Any provocative attack on us or our allies would meet with massive retaliation. The costs of this war - not counting the human suffering - are enormous. Say "good-bye" to domestic spending on Headstart and Medicare for all and public infrastructure. We won't be able to afford it. Lyn Levin, Ashland Soon we'll be free to � invade Flag burners cannot be tolerated because they speak against freedom that people died for. We used smallpox to free the land of pagan idol worshipers so white man would take the land for free. We turned the land to free range so cattle can wander freely. Now George W. is freeing the country of Arabs. We are free of health care and stock dividends are free of taxes. I only had to be a Republican to see W. speak, they didn't charge me anything; so we got free speech. When we free the country of these protesters, we'll have freedom to invade whoever we want. Eric Navickas, Ashland Tidings' paper waste is annoying Does the Revels advertisement in The Tidings seem like a big waste of paper re: trees to you? The entire midsection is empty. The back includes a plea for prompt payment from an appealing paper boy. It is a small thing, I know, but it is still annoying to see what appears to be a silly waste. Ellae Elinwood, Ashland Guest forum: Rebuttal to the flag burner By Joshua Tilley Ashland The guest opinion posted in The Tidings from the flag burner, Joseph Powell, offended me beyond my own belief. You are obviously blinded to the true reality of our great nation. First, you and I both have been given a great opportunity to live our lives in as true of a free nation as possible. We both have freedom of speech, protected by the Constitution. We have the right to express opinion in a meaningful, tactful way. We have the right to practice our religion of choice. We have the right as an American citizen to roam our countryside free of harassment. We are truly a free nation. My love and zealous support of the United States of America is beyond your comprehension, for I swore to defend this great nation against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. Your burning of our national flag was nothing short of a tyrannical act. Our flag represents justice, liberty, nationalism and unity. Thomas Jefferson stated: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." You stated: "I love this land and the people of this country, and I will fight to the death to defend it. I am not leaving." I ask you this Mr. Powell, you speak as if you are a patriot, however, your actions are of a tyrant. So, which one are you? One cannot be both. If you are unhappy with the way our elected officials are serving our freedom, then I urge you to move out of our country. You do have the freedom to do so. All of us readers were asked to ask themselves: "Are the needs of the working class people being met?" Does our great nation not provide you with enough freedom? Or are your needs monetary? Taxes, wages, what are your needs as a working class man? Let me enlighten you on my needs as a working class American. I need to go to bed at night knowing my children are safe. So that when a group of war protesters are congregated at the downtown Plaza in Ashland, burning the American flag, my children are not injured or trampled passing by your tyrannical acts. I need the comfort of knowing that I can go to work and not worry of an anthrax threat, terrorist bomb exploding, or a commercial airliner being flown into my work place due to terrorism. Finally I need to know that my children and their children to come have the freedom and safety of our great nation to reside in. In addition, our great nation is doing its best effort to keep our homeland safe and free. For I do not feel free and safe when a lunatic such as Saddam Hussein has his hands on biological weapons of mass destruction. For I do not feel safe while Osama bin Laden is running free, especially after he organized the killing of thousands of innocent American citizens, and North Korea, a communistic nation with wanting nuclear weapons after agreeing to not posses them. The United States of America is not going to war; we are already at war, once again fighting for our independence to be free. Free from terrorism, free from fascism. Our elected president is leading us, the American people, to the freedom, the security, the liberty, and the justice that all Americans duly deserve. So I ask you Mr. Powell, where have your values gone? You cower behind the Constitution and burn our nation's blanket of hope, for what, attention? I pity you, for every night I blanket myself and my family with our beloved flag of freedom and lay my head to rest on the pillow of the Constitution. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -