Companies should practice what they preach

Companies like First Solar accept massive tax subsidies in manufacture of their product, and consumers get tax breaks buying it. Additionally much of First Solar's production is in Malaysia, where it can avoid American labor and environmental laws while still enjoying tax breaks. I find it ironic then that Paul Stebbins, director of First Solar and spokesman for the advocacy group Fix The Debt, spoke with Iowans Oct. 1 asserting that governmental debt is unsustainable ["'Fix the Debt' asks Iowans to press candidates on federal budget," Oct. 1].

While I agree with that stance, I find it offensive he asserts this point because the conduct of the corporation he oversees is an example of what put us where we are today. One way to start to drive down the debt is for companies like First Solar to pay back all the governmental money they were given and bring their production to the United States. We’ll call it being a good American corporate citizen.

— Jonas Cutler, West Des Moines