Why tax cuts are ‘for the rich’
I have listened to Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi bellyache about “tax cuts for the rich” so long that I needed some education on how that works. According to the Democrats, tax cuts benefit only rich people and do nothing to help the poor. I think they may have a valid point, but I wanted to get it clarified through one of the most logical thinkers of our time, retired Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant Arleigh Ermy.
“The U.S. tax system is based on earned income. This has been the case since 1913. If you have earned income, you will be subject to paying a portion of it back to the federal government in the form of income taxes. If you have no income, you will not have to pay this tax. The way it works is this: rich people became that way by earning income. Poor people became that way by not earning any income.
“It only makes sense that tax cuts will effect only those people who pay taxes. That would be rich people. People who pay no taxes will continue paying that same rate of zero, to reflect their lack of any income. That would be poor people and smart rich people who who don’t declare any income.
“Therefore, the Democrats are correct: tax cuts are for the rich. This ain’t rocket surgery, people!
“Do you understand? I can’t hear you! I still can’t hear you!”
Clears it up for me. How ’bout you?
Pass the Fair Tax.
Richard W. Walker
Seabrook
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This story was originally published January 20, 2018 at 8:42 AM with the headline "Why tax cuts are ‘for the rich’."