If this tax bill becomes law, America is in trouble

Conservatives are fond of quoting the statement, “The power to tax is the power to destroy.” Based on the various versions of the current tax bills or thelittle that has been made public of these, we should consider what and who our Republicans in Congress, such as Rep. Keith Rothfus and Sen. Pat Toomey, aretrying to destroy. The list includes: • The most fiscally responsible states (mostly blue states).

• Those with terrible medical problems resulting in large medical bills.

• Those least able to afford adequatehealth insurance.

• Graduate education and our best universities. •The housing market. • Property values, especially for those trying to sell their houses.

• Those making under $75,000 a year with the early end of their initial tax breaks (tax reductions for the wealthy and for corporationsare not reduced over time).

• Children in low-income homes.

Meanwhile, the benefits will go overwhelmingly to the top 1 percent, and this will be paid for in the long run by removing safety nets for those with less.

Mr. Rothfus personally told me of his concern with deficits, and now he’s backing a “reform” plan that is estimated to increase the national debt by $1.5 trillion! Apparently he doesn’t even listen to himself.

The last time a similar tax reform took place, the Great Depression followed. If this passes, we’rein huge trouble. ROBERT J. REILAND

O’Hara

Adding the value of such waivers to the earned income of beneficiaries from janitors to grad students to faculty would not only increase the income subject to income tax. It could also increase the income subject to FICA (Social Security and Medicare). A graduate student with cash income of $23,000 could be subject not only to income tax based on theoretical income of $70,000-plus but also to FICA withholding of more than 7.5 percent on that total. Further, the colleges and universities could owe the employers’ portions of FICA on those same highly inflated totals. That could significantly decrease the funds available to provide scholarship assistance as well as impact their overall costs of operation.

Our research universities have provided immeasurable value to our country over the decades. Their programs have been the envy of much of the world, drawing top talent from around the globe and producing innovations, medical advances and scientific breakthroughs that benefit all of us. If this tax imposition stands, our country stands to lose. There are fine research facilities in other countries. I fear that we could witness the loss of our best and brightest asthey vote with their feet. SHIRLEY HOOPS

Oakmont

Following Monday night’s brutal football game, a group of Steelers and at least one Cincinnati player knelt together. They were presumably praying for players who had been injured in the hard-fought game. The momentwent beyond sports rivalry and the bitterness that the teams harbor toward each other. It was atranscendent moment.

I yearn for other transcendent moments, experiences and attitudes. In today’s society and political climate, are they possible?

Would it be possible for elected officials to come to believe that there are issues more important than winning the next election or promoting their

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political agendas? (Is winning elections more important than electing people of character?)

Would it be possible for all of those in power to use it for good, not for self-promotion and the exploitation of others?

I long to see a time when children, whom we instruct to be kind to each other, would not see adults relating to each other in ugly ways. Above all, I want our impressionable youth to have positiverole models.

I wonder how long parents will need to shield their children and teens from the evening news. Do we want our young people to grow up thinking that profane talk is normal? Do we wantour young athletes to be engaging in “locker room talk” that is demeaning? Don’t we want the next generation to matureinto people of integrity?

I try to be an informed citizen and I find myself sickened. I want to say to everyone from the media to public figures to the president: “Don’t you know the childrenare watching?”

Years ago, my high school government teacher declared, “You can’t legislate morality.” Perhaps it would not be necessary to enact legislation related to morality if we — as elected officials, public figures and individuals — would strive to live it andteach it. Remember, the childrenare watching. PEGGY OSBORNE

Upper St. Clair