LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the editor: At its heart, tax plan is for wealthy

"The current tax bill being debated in the House of Representatives is a solid starting point," writes Donald Munkacy.

As The Blade recently noted in a Nov. 8 editorial, the current tax bill being debated in the House of Representatives is a solid starting point (”Solid starting point on taxes”).

But there need to be significant changes. The GOP mantra that this is a massive tax break for the middle class falls short in several areas. Who it really helps is the top 1 percent, defined as those with an income of $750,000 per year.

The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center finds that middle income taxpayers would receive an average cut of just $700, or about 1 percent of after-tax income.

Middle income earners would receive 12 percent of the tax cuts, and those making less than $48,000 would get 3.9 percent of the tax cuts. 

How is this a bill that is not designed to benefit the wealthy?

The tax code should be modernized. Tax reform shouldn’t come at the expense of the working class or future generations. It shouldn’t come at the expense of senior citizens or working mothers. And it shouldn’t come at the expense of rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure.

DONALD MUNKACY

River Road

Check out Behind The Readers’ Forum

Toledo may regret mayoral decision

What a shame that Paula Hicks-Hudson didn’t get re-elected. She was a very good mayor and she accomplished things.

I, and many others, voted for Hicks-Hudson. I do not have faith in the newly elected mayor. In the near future, people who didn’t vote for Ms. Hicks-Hudson will realize their mistake.

LOTTE HALL

Knower Street

Those who don’t vote unpatriotic

Brother Washington Muhammad said that voters have only themselves to blame if they don’t like black candidates losing elections (Nov. 9, “Possible issue of race in election results is debated”).

On Election Day, I talked to blacks and whites who hadn’t bothered to vote because it “really doesn’t make any difference.” 

Those words took me to the recent furor at the NFL regarding those who chose to “take a knee” during the national anthem. For those who look at that action as the ultimate sign of disrespecting our flag, I ask, what of those who don’t bother to vote to help in the shaping of our country and the flag all of our veterans have defended? Which is the greater dishonor?

MARY J. PILCHER

Prouty Avenue