I have nothing against wealthy people. In fact, I have wealthy relatives. But in talking with them, it is clear they have no conception of what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck, to have to struggle to get by.
Unfortunately, many politicians who are supposed to represent everyone often suffer from the same lack of experience.
I have nothing against business. In fact, I used to run the branch office of a successful firm. But I know from that experience that giving more tax breaks to corporations won’t cause them to hire more. The only thing that will spur hiring is greater consumer demand.
I am not in favor of wealth distribution. I am in favor of wealth opportunity — an equal shot for everyone to succeed. But the nation cannot afford to offer those equal opportunities while giving breaks to the rich while cutting back on the public services (schools and libraries) that working families need to move up in the world.
All that leads me to support continued tax relief for middle-income families (the 98 percent making less than $250,000 a year), while allowing higher rates to resume on the 2 percent of families making more than a quarter million dollars annually. That added revenue can be used to pay down the nation’s debt while making the kind of public investments that will increase the well-being and buying power of the middle class.
That’s the best way to ensure everyone, including the wealthy, enjoys true prosperity.
Bob Warrington, Paris
Send questions/comments to the editors.
