<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Letter: No excuse not to balance budget

The Columbian
Published: December 26, 2012, 4:00pm

The repeated assertions that a tax of a little over 39 percent punishes the successful is absurd. High incomes result not only from individual circumstances and initiative, but also opportunities our nation affords. Our government provides invaluable services through infrastructure, security, education, resources, and much more that private corporations cannot.

Our country has investments that deserve a fair return. Taxes are our way of paying for those services. Unfortunately, Grover Norquist and many of his GOP representatives act as if the wealthy are entitled to exploit governmental services at reduced rates. If the government were a private corporation, the Norquist gang would bankrupt it and dispose of its assets to their wealthy cohorts.

Congress has not acted responsibly with tax rates, tax revenues, and budgets. It is past time to increase revenues and cut unnecessary expenditures. As a start, Congress can follow New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to determine what services are essential, calculate the costs and find adequate sources of revenue.

Balancing the budget should not be difficult for reasonable adults, but with childish games, politicians avoid fiscal responsibility and weaken our country in a time when we and the world need a strong America. There is no excuse for the fiscal cliff.

Jon Clyde

Vancouver

We encourage readers to express their views about public issues. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Limit letters to 200 words (100 words if endorsing or opposing a political candidate or ballot measure) and allow 30 days between submissions. Send Us a Letter
Loading...