Chicago Tuesday 1 November 2011
Editors, The New York Times
Gentlepeople:
The New York Times editorial “Flat Taxes and Angry Voters” opens
“... Americans are now telling pollsters they want a tax system that raises more money and is more fair by asking the rich to pay more.” In November 2010 a Tea Party invigorated Republican party took 63 House of representatives seats away from the Democrats, effectively telling their elected officials they wanted, among other things, a flat rate tax for all citizens.
The editorial continues: “Take the flat tax plan of Gov. Rick Perry of Texas... what it would really do is give high-income Americans a big tax break, while almost everyone else could expect relatively modest tax savings or none at all.” That 'everyone else' must certainly include the “47% of Households” who pay no income taxes at all (New York Times Tuesday 13 April 2010.)
The editorial concludes “The country also needs a ... tax system... that strengthens progressivity.” Progressivity is easy to strengthen, but there are limits to how far you can go – Soviet Russia and North Korea are two examples.
Arnold H Nelson (50 bc)
