For “Locked Out” film participants

We want to thank you, Goochland Middle School, our sponsors, and especially Ron and Margaret Reynolds for contributing to a meaningful gathering on Sunday.

A sense of community was created in the sharing of a story that needed to be told. We were so pleased with Ken Odor’s article about our event, but need to make one correction: Bob and I were co-producers of the film but Mason Mills was the director, not Jacquelyn.

As founders of Community Action Dialogues for Greater Richmond, we and our volunteer facilitators look forward to hosting other dialogue events at your invitation.

Bob and Jacquelyn Pogue
Crozier

Taxes as oppression

I am responding to Ms. Ford’s letter in the March 4 edition of the Goochland Gazette.

Our political philosophies could not be further apart. To me, it is critical that we return this country to the principles of our Founding Fathers, namely, individual rights, fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited governments.

So, what does that have to do with raising the property tax rate in Goochland County?

When the government oppresses the citizens with ever higher taxes and other monetary penalties and mandates, the fewer opportunities the citizens have to pursue their God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A bigger government always equals fewer citizen rights.

Both individuals and governments have a responsibility to live within their means. This is the fiscal responsibility part. If we spend too much, we need to find ways to cut expenses to offset the deficit. The citizens do not represent a never-ending money stream that the government can take and spend at will.

The suggestion that we increase taxes – for anyone – for any reason – at any time – is a blow to returning our country to the constitutionally-limited republic model on which our country was founded. The more any government uses its citizen’s money, the more expanded that government will be.

An often over-looked result of progressive fiscal policies is that taxes become a threat to productivity and creativity of the American people. The cost of doing business keeps businesses from hiring new employees. With very few exceptions such as national defense, Interstate commerce and international treaties, the citizens of this country can do everything better than the government can.

The citizens of this country will be more efficient in the use of the tax money they are spared than the government will be in the use of the tax money they collect. Allowing its citizens to keep more of their hard-earned money is the basis of the free market system which will create prosperity for all of its citizens.

I leave you with two quotes from one of my favorite founding fathers.

“A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.” (Thomas Jefferson, letter to Lafayette, 1823)

“Excessive taxation will carry reason and reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election.” (Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, Nov. 26, 1798)

Susan Lascolette
Columbia

Appreciation for dog rescue

In this time when fear and violence are constantly in the news, I wanted to write about an extraordinary act of courage and compassion that took place at a pond in Strawberry Run in Goochland County recently.

I was relaxing in my armchair after a day of housecleaning, enjoying the quiet and the sense of peace that order can bring, when I heard loud and repeated barks that sounded like a dog in distress. I got in my car and drove toward the sound to see if I could discover what was amiss, and as I drove down a road with a large, ice-covered pond on my right, I encountered another vehicle.

The man in the vehicle, Dan Doody, yelled, “Is that your dog?” and I looked out over the pond and saw my 90 Collie mix, Jimmy, desperately trying to get out of the freezing water where he had fallen through the ice, far from shore.

“Yes” I yelled back and he replied, “I’ll go get an extension ladder.”

I watched as Jimmy helplessly thrashed about, trying to get out of the water, but he just couldn’t do it. Soon, Mr. Doody, Sherry, his wife, and two children returned with an extension ladder. We watched nervously as Mr. Doody placed the ladder on the ice, and, with his feet wide apart, walked out over the ice to Jimmy. The ladder wasn’t quite long enough and Mr. Doody had to slide it closer while standing upright on it.

As we watched, he reached for Jimmy, but was unable to lift the heavy dog up onto the ice. Suddenly, Mr. Doody and the ladder slipped into the freezing water. “Dad!” his son called out, “Dad!”

“I have to save this dog,” Mr. Doody yelled back, and the next thing we knew, Jimmy was out of the water and scrambling and sliding back over the ice to us on shore. Somehow, Dan got himself out of the water and made it back to land. Mrs. Doody and the children helped me put Jimmy in the car, and, seeing that I was pretty shaken, said, “Are you all right?” “Yes” I said. “Call me if you need to,” she said. “We’re in the phone book. Are you sure you’re all right?”

I thanked Dan, but words are so inadequate in the presence of a man who just risked his life to save your dog. As the Doodys headed home, I took off to the emergency vet, where Dr. Farber and the gentle veterinary technicians warmed Jimmy, stabilized his temperatures and heart rate, and kept him overnight to ensure that he did not catch pneumonia.

Jimmy is back home now with me and the granddaughters, who lost their father in a whitewater rafting accident seven years ago. We are deeply grateful to the Doody family for their kindness, and especially to Dan Doody, for his courage, compassion and extraordinary problem solving skills.

Joan Garrabrant
Crozier