Death And Taxes: Your Letters

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Education Isn’t Our Future Anymore

Re: The Raid On Student Aid

The ultimate purpose for this cut in student aid is for the administration to avoid the need for a military draft.  This works perfectly for the ruling class as it forces poor kids into the military, since they are now cut off from education to pull them out of the cycle of poverty.

Richard Hudson

Follow The Money...

Re: Fighting Feudal Taxes

What amazes me most about this column is the fact that Alperovitz has the courage to call this system of exorbitant acumulation of wealth what it really is: feudal. Its political consequences to democracy are truly devastating as the citizenry (classes) become stratified and upward mobility becomes next to impossible. Historically, an economically disempowered people do not vote; and if they do, they tend to vote the interest of their employer. Ergo, no authentic democracy.

Over 800 years ago this economic, caste-system experiment failed. Its abuses were finally put to rest with the introduction of mass literacy.

Someone should have canonized Gutenberg centuries ago.

Carlos A

I find it amazing that in addressing inequity and overreaching in the land of taxation that your only approach is to find more things to tax.

An asset tax sounds good but should only apply over 10 million.  I've been afraid for some time that a tax like that would devastate my few hundred thousand I will need to live on very soon.  I know I'm lucky to have it but it represents a lot of saving and scrimping.

And, even more amazing, no mention of cutting spending.  The left is only going to be credible if they get serious about reducing the size of government and they will have to assure crediblity by giving up some sacred cows.  I could name several.

Jefferson meant it when he said "That government is best which governs least." I read something that attributed this to Tom Paine, so I no longer know who—but it should be the core of any effort to regain sanity in this country.

Sincerely,

Jan Cohen
Boonville, MO

Re: Paying Our Fair Shaire

Way to go!  Now wouldn't it be wonderful if you could designate the tax on your inheritance to the domestic cause of your choice, instead of funding imperial wars.

Frank M

Re: Why The Minimum Wage Wins 

I enjoyed your piece "Why the Minimum Wage Wins" and believe that it's an important part of addressing the immigration "crisis."  I was surprised however that you failed to note that Washington and Oregon have the highest minimum wages in the land at $7.63 and $7.50 respectively. Further, that California's Republican governor is taking steps to catch up. In fact, you mentioned no western states—the source of your veggies, wine, salmon and lots of other things the country depends on.

David Flaningam

Border Wars

Re: Hurting Peace Not Hamas

Israel has never formally declared what its borders are. In a very real sense, this means that Israel has never really recognized itself. It is quite absurd to insist that Hamas recognize Israel, but not require Israel to recognize itsself. However, the policy of cutting off relations with Hamas is more than just absurd, it is also shameful and counterproductive.

Terry Greenberg

Rami Khouri should be heartened , as I was, that Israel's government has decided against a wholesale escalation in response to Monday's terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. The only appropriate military response is a targeted focus upon the Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade cells that continue to attack Israeli civilians and are not stopped by Palestinian Authority personnel—whether loyal to President Abbas or Hamas Prime Minister Haniyeh.

Haniyeh needs to stop excusing such criminal attacks as "resistance" or "self-defense" and, yes, both sides should reach out to each other diplomatically. But Hamas as the new ruling party is responsible for controlling its territory.

Ralph Seliger, Editor, Israel Horizons
www.MeretzUSA.org