TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2008

Wealthy Will Do Fine

Regarding "Politicians Who Vilify the Wealthy" by Community Columnist Jim Dyal (Other Views, Sept. 16):

Dyal's column led me to the presidential candidates' Web sites to read the details of their tax proposals on households. Here's what is stated on their respective Web sites:

Obama: Long list of tax cuts for the middle class. No tax increases for families making up to $250,000 and individuals making up to $200,000. The top one percent of households, making more than $1.7 million, would see their taxes increase from 21 percent to 24 percent.

McCain: Web site lacked specifics for household taxes, but there was a comment that "the top tax rate would stay at 35 percent."

Regardless of who wins, the wealthy will do fine.

MELANIE YOSHIDA

Tampa

Stop Class Warfare

The column by Jim Dyal should be required reading for all liberals and those who believe the "wealthy" do not pay their "fair" share. (What's fair?)

Americans are constantly being bombarded by liberal politicians about tax breaks for the wealthy and how the middle class is being gouged by taxes; and that if he/she is elected the wealthy will be stopped from taking advantage of the poor and will be made to pay. As Dyal points out, nothing could be farther from the truth. Americans who made less than $75,000 (83 percent of those filing income taxes) paid an average of 6 percent of their income. The wealthiest 2 percent of filers paid 22 percent of their income and nearly half of all income taxes paid. Taxes paid by the wealthy are carrying the rest of us. Also, a good percentage of filers pay no taxes; some get a check back from the government if they didn't make enough. It's called Earned Income Tax Credit. Imagine that, the government pays you if you don't earn enough.

It is time for politicians to stop the class warfare and the lying. As difficult as it may be for them, they should tell the truth.

KENNETH LOWE

Sun City Center

Important Facts Missing

I wanted to comment on the community column written by Jim Dyal wherein he claims that it is unjustified to ask the wealthy to pay more taxes. His argument is lacking in many important facts.

For example, he only considered federal income taxes in his calculations. There are also state taxes, sometimes city taxes, property taxes, gasoline, alcohol, and cigarette taxes in addition to vehicle registration fees, excise taxes, and sales taxes. Poor people have to pay those too. I'm one of the citizens who earn less than $75,000 and have been all my life, and I have never paid only 6 percent of my income in federal income taxes as his article claimed. For three years in the 1980s, when I earned between $15,000 and $25,000, I was in a 50 percent tax bracket where half my income went toward paying one form of tax or another. Believe me when I claim that it is not fun to live like that.

The most important fact presented in Mr. Dyal's article that politicians need to consider is the fact that the wealthiest 2 percent of American citizens earn more than 25 percent of the American income. As long as that disparity occurs we will continue to vote for politicians who tax the rich. We are keeping score.

STEVEN A. ENKEMANN

Lutz

Liberal On Many Issues

I am getting sick and damned tired of corrupt and dishonest Republican ideologues throwing the word "liberal" around as though it were the worst of insults or labels. Let's set the record straight.

Liberal means many things, among them the following. It means being open to valid new ideas and proven factual information, also being open to possibilities. It means standing for individual political and civil rights. It means standing for equal opportunity and justice under the law. It means having social institutions and conventions serve the people, not vice versa. It means concern for the well-being of all the people, not just a select few of economic elite. It means standing for the principles of democracy. Given these defining attributes, I am proud to be a liberal on many issues.

WALT MICKLER

Tampa

Socialism At Its Worst

So where is the indignation? I always read here how the Democrats are leading us down the path to socialism. However, I hear no cries of indignation over the fact that the Bush administration is bailing out so many failed companies. This is socialism at its worst! It takes taxpayer money and rewards failure. Obviously, socialism is OK when it benefits the wealthy.

Whether you argue it's for the benefit of the country or not, it is socialism in form. You cannot deny that. I guess the Republicans now need to eat crow.

KEN STURMER

Hudson

Our Self-Destruction

After Sept. 11, 2001, it was said that al-Qaida wanted to destroy our economy. Al-Qaida can rest. We now pay more for defense, energy, housing and health care. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, their homes, and their health care. Trillions of dollars will be spent for an unnecessary war, at the cost of the lives of our troops, while the president's oilmen are maneuvering to grab Iraq's oil. The Bush administration used our fears to allow the few to profit at the expense of the many. We get the color orange while the oil companies, insurance companies, speculators and war contractors get the color green.

RON KUHLER

Lutz

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT