RE “Obama can’t just soak the rich” (Op-ed, July 23): After all the bitter, petty, divisive political rhetoric, Josh Barro finally proposes a reasonable and sound vision for deficit reduction on the income side of government. Yes, cutting government spending is a critical aspect of reducing the unsustainable deficit. Government programs must be reduced in size; there is no doubt about that. However, a fair approach to increases in tax revenue is also needed.
President Obama’s singling out and scapegoating of the so-called rich makes no sense in the context of achieving a balanced budget. Whatever his motives, I have to believe he understands that. As Barro points out, Obama’s proposal to increase taxes only on the rich barely affects the deficit.
haven’t we all benefited in one form or another from the excessive spending spree of the past several decades? Some may have had it better than others, but as Americans, we all have it pretty good.
In times of crisis, Americans stand shoulder to shoulder, proud and willing to sacrifice regardless of class. Our financial deficit is a crisis. It’s time for everyone, individually, to sacrifice a little more. The richest citizen certainly should contribute the most, and the poorest certainly the least. But everyone must contribute something if we are to solve this problem fairly and realistically. We are all in this together, and only by sacrificing together can we rebuild the American dream for future generations.