To the Editor:
There are only two ways to finance the government: borrowing or taxes (“Trump vs. Biden: Who Can Handle the Reins of a Hot Economy,” Cover Story, Feb. 16). Taxes make certain groups of people mostly involuntarily “taxpayers.” Borrowing is in essence an indiscriminate tax on the entire domestic and some foreign economies. Neither way is evil. It’s our political choice. Both come with societal costs, albeit different ones.
Edward Kwok
On Barrons.com
To the Editor:
If we want to consider who would be best for the economy, how do we overlook Nikki Haley, a trained accountant who has made clear that she understands the problem that our massive federal deficit represents?
John Ore
On Barrons.com
Berkshire’s Stock Split
To the Editor:
In Andy Serwer’s excellent discussion about the relative absence of stock splits in recent years, I would add two points (“Stock Prices Are Astronomical. How They Became So Costly,” Up & Down Wall Street, Feb. 16). First, buying round lots of 100 shares was very popular 40 years ago because of the existence of an “odd lot differential,” which resulted in shareholders paying higher commissions per share for the purchase or sale of fewer than 100 shares. Second, in addition to Berkshire Hathaway issuing lower-priced Class B shares in 1996, it also split its B shares 50-for-1 in 2010 as part of its acquisition of Burlington Northern. Thus, Berkshire’s Class B shares represent a 1,500:1 stock split relative to the Class A shares.
David I. Kass
College Park, Md.
A Market Top?
To the Editor:
Regarding “This Company Is Going All-In on Alternative Asset Management. It’s Time to Buy the Stock” (Feb. 16): Is the decision by DigitalBridge to cede control of some two dozen data centers to concentrate on its fast-growing private-equity business an indication of a market top?
Robert Whalen
On Barrons.com
Military Preparedness
To the Editor:
L3Harris could at any minute be front and center in our military preparedness (“Military Stocks Are Struggling. Why This One Is a Buy,” Feb. 16). I’m 78 and can’t remember a time when worries concerning world peace were as bad as they are today. A prudent portfolio of military-related stocks makes sense to me.
John Isenburg
On Barrons.com
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