Sunday, July 6, 2008 — It was refreshing to see the poll in the SNAP showing that North Carolina voters reject the state takeover of Alcoa. They are showing a better understanding of some basic economic principles than some of our local government officials.
It may be correct that the water in the rivers belongs to the public, but the dams on the river and the land under the lakes are private property. They were built with private money. They were built with the expectation of making a profit just as any investor would expect when a business is started or expanded.
There are no legal limits and there should be no limits as to how long a company may make a profit. There are also no legal limits on the amount of profit a company may earn.
Private property and the right to earn a profit from ownership of property is a cornerstone of our free enterprise system that goes back hundreds of years. It is a fundamental requirement of the free enterprise system. Without it there is no free enterprise.
If the government can take over the private property of Alcoa because it is producing too much profit, what is to keep the government from taking over the local bank or the local farm or the local building supply company or any other business that is “making too much profit?”
The British broke into the sanctity of private property in the late 1940s and forced many large companies to sell their property to the government. By the 1980s the British realized that government ownership of business resulted in less production and less income in the country. The companies were sold back to the public.
Surely we in America and we in Stanly County won’t make the same mistake.
Eugene Pickler
New London
Letters to the Editor
Don’t make the same mistake as the British
- Letters to the Editor
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A few items to factor in
Regarding the recapture of the FERC license, it seems some folks want to focus solely on the money spent instead of the accomplishments that have been achieved or planned.
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Thank you, EMS professionals
May 20-26 is National EMS Week, and EMS for Children Day is May 23.
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Time to wake up
Only in America could people who believe in balancing the budget, and believe in sticking by this country’s Constitution be called extremists.
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Response to Storm’s letter
I would like to comment on Richard F. Storm’s (Storm Technologies, Inc.) letter that appeared on April 22.
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Tournament a success
I would lake to take a moment to thank all sponsors and those who participated in the Second Annual West Stanly FBLA Golf Tournament on April 20 at Red Bridge Golf Club in Locust.
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Kathy Kimrey
Kathy Diane Biggers Kimrey, 41, of 24281-B Old Aquadale Road, Albemarle, passed away, May 1, 2012 at her home.
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Looking for retraction
I was so anxious to read my SNAP newspaper for a retraction from Justin Burr concerning the huge contributions from companies looking for favors from the State House in Raleigh.
- Can we get a response
- This election is important
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Tired of all the lies
The people of Stanly County have been lied to and are unknowingly spreading those same lies regarding ALCOA and the Stanly County Commissioners. The only way to find the correct solution to the re-licensing is for the truth to be told.
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
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A few items to factor in


