Over and over we see our legislators get caught with their hand in the till.

July 16 was Cost of Government Day, according to Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. The average American worked until July 16 to pay a share of all the costs government imposes on us which now consume 53.9 percent of national income. This is the latest in the year that the day has fallen since 1992.

“I am sure most Democrats don’t understand the comment about how Carmona should protect women by snubbing Clinton. They either weren’t alive in the 90’s or aren’t smart enough to realize the man’s actions have proven time and again what he really thinks of the role of women. Their continuing support of him tells me everything I need to know about the Democratic party. That is why I left the party to become an independent.”

“Read the paper and saw a new reason for the liberals to celebrate: Abortions in Arizona are up. Liberals: Pro choice, as long as the choice is abortion. Proud of that?”

“Now that Mr. Pat has explained the Taliban, perhaps he would tell us why candidate Santorum constantly tells us about former President Reagan? Personally, I think he was too young to remember the ‘wonderful changes’ he made while president. Number one, he immediately fired all the air traffic controllers. Why? Because they were unionized. In my estimation, unions are necessary evils. And what about the law he passed called Fair Reporting? One could say or write about someone you didn’t like without punishment. That law helped the Fox stations.”

The head of the organization that was able to convince a majority of Republican legislators to sign a "no tax" pledge gave his permission Friday for them to send a measure to the ballot asking voters to temporarily hike the state sales tax.

Karl Frisch

Saying younger workers need jobs, a House panel voted Wednesday to allow Arizona companies to pay them less.

"I don’t understand why so many women today feel like they have to expose so much of their bodies for everyone to see. Why not leave something to the imagination and show respect for your body and yourself?"

There’s a clever e-mail being passed around that tells the story of a sea captain who complained to the first mate “that the men smelled bad.” The captain concluded that the crew needed to change their underwear more often. Thus, the first mate immediately set about to execute the captain’s orders: “Pittman, you change with Jones, McCarthy, you change with Witkowski, and Brown, you change with Schultz.”

"Anyone listening to KEZ's Christmas music this year? Do they play anything else besides ‘Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' by Brenda Lee, ‘Silver Bells' by Doris Day and ‘Jingle Bell Rock' by Bobby Helms? Last year they played those three songs ad nauseum, and I'm wondering if they added more variety to their repertoire this year."

"How come those who contend they love America so much are the ones who want to secede?"

A lot of Republicans seemed genuinely surprised that they lost, that Mitt Romney was defeated by President Obama, and that Republicans lost seats in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. They actually thought they were going to win!

"I don’t understand why so many women today feel like they have to expose so much of their bodies for everyone to see. Why not leave something to the imagination and show respect for your body and yourself?"

You asked, and yes, there is something you can do. But, it’ll take extra oomph to fight off the federal power grab. You never thought you’d become politically active. You’re busy taking care of your families and embracing gifts of American citizenship. But all that is threatened now.

It is an article of faith among Republicans that tax cuts are the cure for every problem the economy faces, and that tax increases are the equivalent of economic poison. Any hint by Democrats that the current administration's tax cuts should be revisited in light of changing economic or fiscal conditions is met with charges that they are proposing the largest tax increase in history.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

Editor's Note: These letters to the editor have been sorted by topic by the Tribune editorial staff in an effort to allow readers to read varied opinions on the issues, candidates, and other circumstances surrounding the 2012 general election. These submissions are the opinions of the author, not the Tribune, and have not been edited for grammar or content.