Dear editor:
Is there justification for a war in Syria? Iran? Two caveats: Do not expect to be greeted as a "liberator," and when the IEDs and car bombings escalate, don't exclaim "Bring it on!!!"
Never mind Medicare Part D saved not one dollar in the escalating cost of Health Care by failing to create patient pools and use large groups to negotiate lower drug prices, Rep. Billy Tauzin needed a new job. He got it. Not an apple or an orange. A "plum" job.
But let's get serious. Let's talk taxes.
Isn't it strange "paying taxes" only applies to the Federal Income Tax and the Capital Gains Tax, the taxes paid by the rich? Why don't they ever mention the "payroll taxes" of Medicare and Social Security? Do you know your employer pays these payroll taxes in the same payment as your withholding (income) tax?
Do you know persons making $50,000 - heck, even minimum wage earners - pay a 13.3% payroll tax without even paying one DIME in withholding tax? Don't get fooled that the payroll tax is a 5.65% withholding from the employee and 7.65% paid by the employer. Workers earn every dime of their tax or the employer wouldn't hire them, and it is 13.3%. It used to be even higher, 15.3%, but President Obama reduced it as a middle class tax cut.
A single person making $50,000 pays about 12.5% in income tax for a net tax of 25.8%. A family of 4 would pay 5.2% income tax for a net of 18.5%. Do you know Governor Romney postponed deductions for 2011 so his total tax rate was fudged to be above 14%?
Do you know the higher brackets of the wealthy simply replace the payroll tax of Social Security that is stopped at $110,100? At $100,100 the overall tax rate essentially DECREASES by 10.6%?
So whereas the rich whine they pay way too much in income tax, they NEVER complain that they pay proportionally much LESS to fund Social Security.
Why not pay taxes? Doesn't anyone want to fund the wars? Help the veterans?
I understand folks don't like to help the poor. Here is my weakness. I was raised such a strong Christian that I just can't read the Gospels without feeling I need to share a bit with those whom God didn't seem to bless as much as me. I try to get over it but I can't. I'll keep working on it.
Why isn't either candidate mentioning the drug crisis? FYI, drug pushers don't pay any tax.
James S. Spangler, OD
Warren