Bruce Simmeth – 9/21/08

This page was last updated on September 25, 2008.

Safety net needs to be reinforced; Bruce Simmeth; Beaver County Times; September 21, 2008.

An editor’s note asserts, “The writer is executive director of the United Way of Beaver County.”

This is the at least the seventh letter from Mr. Simmeth since June 2005 lobbying for more government redistribution of income/wealth. If you look at my previous critiques of his letters (here, here, here, here, and here), you’ll find Mr. Simmeth tends to overstate alleged cuts and requests huge increases. In one case, Mr. Simmeth appeared to request a spending increase of from five to 10 times. In January 2006, Mr. Simmeth wanted federal taxpayers to increase their funding of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $2,000,000,000. I did not critique that letter (“Hike LIHEAP funding”; January 24, 2006) and it is no longer on the Times website.

While I applaud Mr. Simmeth’s efforts to help the less fortunate among us, I oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to fund any of these efforts. It’s wrong to take income from one person and give it to another, regardless of good intentions.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“This year’s United Way campaign has goal of $900,000 to achieve during this challenging economic period, which has led to an increase in community needs.

“We see the safety net provided by our 20 member agencies being stretched to the limit as we continue to experience a major increase in inflation with fuel and food costs continuing to rise.

“We are working with our congressional representatives to obtain additional funding for several human services programs, including the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.”

[RWC] I wish Mr. Simmeth would focus his effort on the United Way and stop trying to pick my pocket via government programs. Should people in need get help? Of course, but from private charities funded by voluntary contributions, not by confiscated earnings.

“Frontline organizations like the United Way and the human service agencies that we support see the growing need for increased funding of these programs every day. This need grows stronger as the winter months approach.

“Due to the difficult economy and the increase in community needs, there is a tremendous need for the success of the campaign on behalf of our 20 member agencies and the important programs that they provide for all of us. Thank you for your support of the United Way.”