Blogs

Here's a letter sent to Frontpageafrica regarding "...Gyude Bryant Sets the Record Straight":

The Editor,

Gyude Bryant brags "that after 135 days of trial, the jury unanimously acquitted me and others (Snowe and Devine) of all charges), but does that mean that Bryant isn't an old rogue??? Please!! (Re "...... Gyude Bryant Sets Record Straight")

In most criminal cases, the prosecution (government) bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt and in some cases, they (prosecution) may be unable to do so for a variety of reason (s).

But the rest of us can discuss the evidence (things that we know and see with our own two eyes like Bryant's Hairy Bank accounts, Snowe's sunroof house and Devine's designer shades) and have opinions about the case, regardless of the jury's verdict. To paraphrase Groucho Marx "Who are you going to believe, (the jury) or your own two eyes???"

Look: The only regret I have about Gyude Bryant theft case is, after the jury acquitted Bryant, Snowe and Devine of stealing, we didn't get to look in back pockets of those sleazebags (judge and the jury) sitting on the bench!

Bryant proclaiming his innocence after stealing LPRC funds reminds me of O.J Simpson proclaiming his innocence after murdering Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman!

Here's a letter sent to Daily Observer regarding Affrimative Action in Liberia:

Mr. Editor,

Professor Armaso Bawn suggests "an affirmative action law (be implemented) that would require international donor-sponsored missions to set aside 30 percent of their businesses for Liberians." (Re "Can Affirmative Action Work in Liberia")

Ok, if Professor Bawn is someone who practices what he preaches, then I suggest that, starting next semester, he implements an Affirmative Action Grading System for his accounting classes at the AME University:

In other words, all assignments, graded work, and computation of student final grades will be the same as in the past, BUT in the interest of promoting Affirmative Action, there will be one difference: Students final grades will be computed based upon one's nationality. For example:

(a) if you are Liberian student who usually miss class because you don't have access to money or transportation, 20 points will be added to your final grade!

(b) If you are a Liberian student who asked to be exempted from the class attendance policy because your absences are caused by an unexpected outbreak of a venereal disease (you caught from Happy Corner) like herpes, gonorrhea, AIDS, or syphilis, 30 points will be added to your final grade!

Here's a letter sent to Daily Observer regarding "Can Affirmative Action Work in Liberia?" by Professor Armaso Bawn:

Mr. Editor,

Writing about Affirmative Action in Liberia, Professor Armaso Bawn argues that "the well-to-do do not want to pay taxes because of the loopholes available to them and the have-nots are too poor to pay anything." (Re "Can Affirmative Action Work in Liberia?")

In support of his argument, he rhetorically asked: "Did you know that in the United States the lion’s share of income tax revenue comes from common working people as opposed to the big businesses"?

In other words, majority of the U. S Government income tax revenue comes from "big businesses"

Really???

Ok, let's see: According to the Internal Revenue (IRS.gov), the gross collections (revenues) for individual income taxes in 2007 and 2008 were $1,366,241,437,000 (1.4 trillion)and $1,425,990,183,000 (1.4 trillion) respectively.

Compare to the gross collections for corporation income taxes aka "big business" in 2007 and 2008 which were $395,535,825,000 (400 billion) and $354,315,825,000 respectively.

As you can now see, Profession Bawn assertion that "in the United States, the lion’s share of income tax revenue comes from common working people as opposed to the big businesses" is a factually inaccurate.

The facts contradict Professor Bawn's fantasies..

Here are my comments sent to Liberianforum.com regarding "(Firestone) Worker taps 650 trees for three dollars and nineteen cents" by J. Yanqui Zaza:

Mr. Editor,

No one is defending Firestone for paying its tappers "$3.19 to tap 650 trees" nor does anyone think that Firestone shouldn't provide tappers with protection against "potentially blinding latex"--BUT let's compare Firestone tappers to other tappers in Liberia...

In other words, if you say Firestone Tappers are the being paid $3.19 cent to tap 650 trees, then how much are tappers, who are exposed to "potentially blinding latex" from the rubber trees on Nikita Zayzay farm in Zorzor are being paid to tap 650 rubber trees?

Also, how do you explain why "profiteers" like Firestone invest overwhelmingly in more affluent countries that have higher wages, higher productivity and higher profits than poor countries with corrupt politicians and cheap labor like Liberia??

The sad irony of all this is that people like Nikita Zaza who are demonizing Firestone are providing NOTHING to these poor tappers except their Soviet style rhetoric... (profiteers! profiteers! profiteers!)

But can their hot air Soviet-style rhetoric replace the much-needed income that Firestone is providing for these poor tappers? Hell no!

Here's my letter to Daily Observer regarding the "Tussle Over Alien Work Permit Fee":

Mr. Editor,

By the stroke of his pen (Regulation #17), Minister Gongloe jacks up the Alien Work Permit Fee by 120 percent and then he has the gall to say that "there is no violation of the Constitution concerning the increase in the fee...."

You say WHAT?? There's no Constitutional violation concerning the raising of revenues by the Minister of Labor?? Who give him all that power??

Ok, let's look at the Constitution and see who can raise revenues for government: Article 34d (i) of Constitution explicitly states that "all revenue bills, whether subsidies, charges, imports, duties or taxes, and other financial bills, shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills"

So what part of "all revenue bills..shall originate in the House of Representatives" does Minister Gongloe not understand?? Seriously, did Gongloe graduate from law school??

Using the police power of government to seize money from foreigners isn't only unconstitutional, it is also immoral (stealing)!.

Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia