Another letter to the editor

People just don't get it. From today's Beloit Daily News, a letter to the editor:

Tax wealthy, reduce deficit

Published: Friday, September 17, 2010 12:07 PM CDT

As the nation staggers toward the promises of the upcoming election, we must keep a number of issues forefront in our minds.

The nation bears a burden of gigantic problems, affecting every aspect of our society and political system. Irrespective of where one might stand on any aspect of this crisis, we should all agree that the ill-considered temporary tax cuts for the wealthy - put together as an economic stimulus early in the Bush Administration - be allowed to expire. The reduced taxes for the already strapped and financially damaged middle class should be extended.

Other parts of the Bush Tax cuts must be allowed to expire. When one is deeply in debt, increasing one’s income is sensible. Debts are due. The small numbers of citizens who have benefited in far greater magnitude than the vast majority by the temporary tax reductions should step up and pay their dues. The wealthy benefited in greater proportion from the temporary cuts, and now should bear a proportional increase via the restoration of the previously established tax rates.

That this will have grave negative impact on the greater economy is nonsense - with the cuts in place, the economy still imploded. Taxing the wealthy quite possibly will do the economy some good, if used to reduce the deficit.

George Ferriter
Beloit


My response - we'll see if it gets printed.

In response to Mr. Ferriter's letter of September 17th:

It should be obvious to anyone who follows recent history and understands what has been happening in our federal and state governments for the last few decades, that "taxing the rich" never works, and ends up taxing everyone.

Look at the recent government bailouts of banks and other firms "too big to fail". The American people were saddled with trillions in debt, debt that will be paid, if ever, by our grandkid's grandkids. This money ended up being paid by the millions to the people in charge of those banks and firms.

The recent "health care reform" bill, crammed through Congress in the wee hours without being read by anyone, will pay billions to select organizations and to government bureaucrats, while again saddling the common folk with immense debt.

The "wealthy" that will end up paying these taxes will be the family owned small business with 25 employees or the family farm which will have to be sold rather than passed on to the next generation because of the evil "death tax", and again, the common folk. If you tax a corporation, they just raise the price of the commodity they sell to us - so if you want to pay more, let's end those tax reductions. I'm sure the government can find a way to waste the extra money.

Or - we could insist that our public servants work for US, rather than foisting ever more grandiose schemes on a long-suffering America.

Chuck