Letter: Politicians apparently think we can't count

Like many, I have seriously watched the political debates featuring would-be presidents. I think it would be reasonable to say that their promises for the future seem to follow the same theme, regardless of what political banner they are under.

Cut taxes. Take from the few to give to the many, or something like that. In reality, such suggestions are totally unrealistic. The Tax Foundation predicts that any plans to cut taxes are doomed to fail.

The general policy from both sides indicates that they would cut up to $10 trillion over the next 10 years. Question: How can the federal government absorb such a loss?

If the tax rate for the wealthy was raised from 39 percent to 50 percent, it would generate a mere $100 billion, while the expected increase in Social Security payments caused by the coming of age of the baby boomers and Medicare, not forgetting our veterans' increasing needs, requires at least three times that amount.

I suggest our political hopefuls are either not telling us the truth or think we can't count, or both.

In short, no matter who wins, we will see an increase in our tax payments over the next year or so. To think otherwise is simply following the dream that they are suggesting.

Geoff Wheatley

Hilton Head Island

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Letter: Politicians apparently think we can't count."