Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Fight for middle class

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In response to John Yates’ letter, he talks about the majority of that class that does not pay into the system, apparently referring to the fact that about 47 percent of Americans do not pay any income tax. Which is true because most of that 47 percent are children, retirees, or do not make enough income to pay the income taxes. Income taxes are used to make sure the rich pay their fair share of taxes, even though with their influence on our political system I believe they still do not pay their fair share percentage-wise.

He also said that everybody should pay for their own health care. Most Americans do, but since the Reagan era, middle-class income has shrunk substantia­lly, I believe because of the Republican attacks on unions and workers, while the top 10 percent’s income has risen greatly. If the rich would allow more income to go to the workers, they could afford to pay for their own health insurance or maybe have it provided by their employers.

In the good old days, when unions were stronger, more workers had health care and pensions provided by the employer, but today because of Republican­s, it seems most jobs do not. Republican­s do not care about people’s needs; only the needs of the rich and tax cuts for them, and that is sickening. The middle class prospers under Democratic presidents and Congresses, and as Casey Stengel said, “you can look it up.” I am proud to say I support Democrats because they fight for the middle class and the poor and enact laws that do that. Without Democrats there is no Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs that help average Americans. LEE LEWIS Bella Vista

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