Some sleight of hand

I was recently surprised about the final result of preparing our taxes for 2018. Despite all the wild promises of the new tax law (such as the alleged $4,000 raise per household) our effective tax rate increased from 2017 to 2018. We ended up paying a greater percentage of our income because of the tax bill.

I personally believe my household pays a fair rate in taxes, but it was still off-putting the way I feel the American public has been deceived, not to mention the broader issue that our tax system is unbelievably complicated. Representative Hill and Senators Boozman and Cotton sure touted this new law as a revolutionary way to help out citizens. I am sure there are some people who have benefited, but a vast number of Americans are in my situation of not seeing too much of a financial change. Even with some instances of higher refunds, there are still the unaddressed issues of rising health-care monthly premiums, stagnant wages, and so forth, while corporations use profits to benefit shareholders instead of employees.

One way to describe this situation is a sleight of hand, akin to a magician performing a trick through skillful hand movement. Politicians have promised great things, but in reality, they have just shuffled money between deductions, credits, and loopholes in the tax code. It is still the same complicated system. Some may benefit out of sheer luck, while others—particularly those self-employed and small businesses—are not so lucky. BILLY McMAHON

Cammack Village decades.

Let’s look at a few ways taxpayer funds are being used collectively to benefit society as a whole, despite income, contribution, or ability: Medicare, Social Security, public schools, military, highways, public libraries, police and fire departments, farm subsidies, public parks, GI Bill, Hoover Dam, student loans and grants. Of course, we can’t forget taxpayer support for salaries, medical care, and pensions for those in Congress. I don’t see anyone burning their Medicare cards in protest. I daresay the streets to Trump Tower came from taxpayer funds.

So spare me the cries of a socialist being around every corner threatening our society. There is socialism for the rich and poor, and everyone in between. It only seems to be a problem in election years when it is dusted off and branded un-American. BETTY McSWAIN

Fort Smith