It’s all about the spending, stupid

Numerous letters to the editor recently have embraced the idea that we have to tax the rich. The rich are becoming the “blame all” in this country, mainly thanks to the current administration and left-wing politicians in Washington who are hoping to shift blame from themselves so the ignorant masses will let them hang onto their power.

This is nothing but class warfare fueled by the left and it must stop. We do not have an income problem, we have a spending problem. Washington can confiscate all of the wealth in this country and we still wouldn’t have enough to cover the amount of deficit spending this administration has done in only two years.

What we need is entitlement reform and tax reform. Social Security and Medicare recipients as a whole draw more benefits than they have ever paid into the system. They need to pay more into the system — period. ObamaCare needs to be repealed, as it will bankrupt the system. Reform the tax system by going to a 15 percent to 20 percent flat tax on everyone above a certain threshold, like $15,000 for a single person and $25,000 for a couple. Everyone could file his taxes on a postcard. Get rid of all deductions and non-tax status for many, if not all, churches, institutions, etc.

I would also cut every government agency budget by 10 percent. Do all this and just maybe there will still be a free America, as we know it, in 2012 and beyond. Keep blaming the rich, and we will become just another socialistic second-rate economy, like many in Europe.

Warren Willis Sr.

Las Vegas

Personal worth

To the editor:

In his June 27 letter, Edward Hayes said that the “real problem” in society is the income gap between wealthy and poor, and that gap is increasing.

Actually the problem is workers’ economic value to society. Technology has increased the productivity of some, making those knowledge workers more valuable. And it has decreased the value and employment of those not willing to leave their comfort zone.

Indeed, many people are not lazy or shiftless, but each still has his current worth. At every age, education and experience to do something useful increases that value.

Employers do not arbitrarily devise income gaps. There are some abuses, particularly with government employers who do not face competitive pressure. But averaged over society, companies have to pay an employee at least his value. And companies cannot overpay that value and stay competitive.

Mr. Hayes should try to devise a business that uses all the eager but unskilled workers. Or just try to manage 10 Generation-Y workers to get them to accomplish something. Then 10,000. After failing at those necessary jobs, he may better appreciate the value to society of the people who can do them.

Paul Albrecht

Las Vegas

Shame, shame

To the editor:

Many people nurtured in an environment of entitlements say the government should do more for them. They imagine the government as a faceless, nameless entity which has enormous wealth and whose job is to take care of their needs.

In reality, the government is all of us, your friends and neighbors.

When your child is sick and you didn’t have the foresight to purchase health insurance, your friends and neighbors are required to pick up the tab at the emergency room with higher medical and insurance rates.

When your aging parents cannot afford housing or medical care, your friends and neighbors are required to pick up the tab with higher taxes.

When your child cannot take a foreign language class in high school because of reduced tax revenue, you are upset and demand that the government increase taxes on your friends and neighbors.

When you graduate from high school and want to go to college but can’t afford tuition at a private college, you want the government to heavily subsidize your higher education by taxing your friends and neighbors.

You cry “shame” and demonize fiscally responsible government officials who demand efficiencies and reform in education instead of raising taxes on your friends and neighbors.

I would ask those residents addicted to entitlements: Would you have the nerve to go to your neighbors and ask them to pay more taxes to help you with your problems? I wonder if they would cry “shame” and demonize their neighbors when they refuse their request.

Brian Aiken

Las Vegas

Public scorn

To the editor:

Regarding Dina Titus’ Wednesday letter to the editor: This woman has no shame, as she continues her attempts to dupe the public regarding her record.

Dina Titus was an ultra-liberal congresswoman who portrayed herself as something else. While in Congress she voted for a trillion dollar bailout of a collapsing government backed Ponzi scheme related to unscrupulous home mortgage lending practices, which she supported. She also voted for the $750 billion waste of taxpayer dollars called the Obama stimulus package. Then a few months later when it came time to vote to raise the debt ceiling, Ms. Titus voted against it.

When I wrote a letter to the editor calling out her hypocrisy, she called me whining that my letter wasn’t fair. Now when Glenn Cook questions her part-time work at full pay for UNLV at taxpayer expense she toots her own horn and whines louder than a B-1 bomber on takeoff out of Nellis.

This woman needs to grow up and accept public scorn for her selfish decisions at taxpayer expense.

The good news is that she is no longer ripping off the taxpayers at her congressional job.

Skip Blough

North Las Vegas