I picked up The Star recently to notice the article on Rep. Mike Rogers and his visit to a local 5th-grade classroom. From the reaction that Republican constituents have been giving to the recent vote on the “Path to Prosperity” or the Rep. Paul Ryan budget proposal, Rogers found one of few audiences that would be accepting to these ideas.
There is no doubt that we spend too much money, and there is also no doubt that we collect far too little revenue. We have a much worse revenue problem in Washington than spending.
There is no evidence I could find that indicates tax breaks for the wealthy create jobs. Without deficit spending, more jobs are created. This is what Republicans are saying. However, their approach is for the middle class to absorb the pain while the rich get richer.
President Clinton marginally raised taxes and cut spending. The job market grew and government revenue grew. More people working, more revenue, lower unemployment and lower costs. Bush lowered taxes and job creation floundered and was mostly flat. We had only an illusion of prosperity in middle America.
I have been paying into these programs for 40 years. Medicare and Social Security are a promise; these are paid into and should have been a trust fund. These things were promised and backed by the United States of America. These are not taxes, these are not entitlements. These are funds that have been collected in return for a promise of goods or services. This is a contract.
Now the promise is about to become a nightmare. It does not matter what political party you trust in, what color you are, what sex you are, or what church you worship in. If you are a working-class American, the promise, the contract of Medicare and Social Security, is about to be broken. It’s a breach of contract.
Mark D. Voorhest
Anniston
