“Wally and Gladys” (“Questions for President Obama,” The Daily Progress, Jan. 8) wonder how much do they have to contribute to pay “their fair share” of federal taxes?
As a person who grew up in a lower-middle-class family, had a paper route as a child, worked his way through college as a mechanic’s helper in an oil refinery, and then has had a modestly successful career as a physician, I think I am in position to answer their question.
Wally and Gladys have lived a very good life. By their own admission their income during their working years eventually placed them in the “top echelon of earners.” In retirement their income continues to place them in the “top 10 percent.” They are both “blessed with excellent health.” Even their children are “doing well financially.” It sounds almost perfect.
Well it is, except that despite all their blessings, good fortune and success, they have found it necessary to complain that being in the top 10 percent of income earners is not enough; they want more. Taxes are just too high, and they have had enough.
Now is the time when so many Americans have lost their jobs and are still unemployed, and many families are suffering as a result. Lower and middle-class earners are worse off than those of 30 years ago. Strangely, federal income taxes are pretty much the same as they have been over the past 25 years, give or take a few percentage points. Certainly, they are dramatically less than when Wally and Gladys were children.
So I find it sad that, despite their more than comfortable situation, Wally and Gladys have taken the time to whine about not having it all.
It sounds petty when the top earners in this country complain about paying the top tax rates. It’s more than petty, it’s just greedy. The lessons about the poor and needy apparently were lost in church.
I wonder if Wally and Gladys would be happier if they were in the bottom of income earners and paid little or no taxes.
Maybe Wally and Gladys should be happy for their blessed situation and spend their retirement time helping others to climb the economic ladder, rather than lamenting about why they feel vilified.
Sometimes you should say thank you for all you have, or just shut up.
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