Socialism is a loser, because nothing in our world is free

Letter writer Patricia Abraham argued on Thursday that the wealthy need to pay their fair share.

The wealthy now pay at least 80 percent of the revenue. Social security and Medicare are paid into by workers and retirees according to their salaries. That is a social benefit, but it’s not socialism.

Highways, bridges, etc. are paid for with dollars raised by bonds. A fair share according to population would mean that each citizen should pay 1/360 millionth of the taxes and no one should get excused.

Fair share according to consumption of resources would make the poor or needy pay more as a fair share. The wealthy now pay the most and reap the least benefits.

If you really want the true presumed benefits of socialism, look to Venezuela, Cuba, Italy, Greece or any socialist country. Living there is not the promised land. Free medical care for all means no one gets prompt, responsible, acceptable care.

Look to our VA. That will be your future. There is no free anything. You get only what you pay and work for.

Socialism is the rifle and scope that shoots the golden goose

A reader argues that we are already a socialist country. She says the call for higher taxes is not socialism. Everyone should pay their fair share.

When do they reach that point? Would that be when the business owner can’t make enough profit to sustain his business and has to lay off all his workers?

Or when paying his fair share makes him realize he should go out of business and start collecting his fair share of free stuff earned by others?

And who has the formula for a business owner’s risk/reward, energy expended and profit earned to determine ❚ ❚ what his fair share of taxes is?

Finally, what have the people who pay no or very low taxes contributed for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, federal highways, bridges, electrical grid, free abortions, free emergency room treatment and more?

What is their fair share? Nothing is free. Someone somewhere is paying the benefits. Don’t forget the fable of the goose who laid the golden eggs.

Who can argue with the letter writer demanding that the very wealthy pay their fare share of income tax?

The top 10 percent of earners already pay 70 percent of all income taxes collected.

The bottom 50 percent of earners pay 3 percent.

Is this fair enough?

Our highways, bridges, etc. are not socialism, but the results of thriving free-market economics or capitalism.

Socialist countries like the former Soviet Union and Venezuela today cannot even manage to provide enough food and medicine for their suffering populations.

Socialism is frightening.

In a recent interview, Bill Gates suggested tax rates should be higher and he should pay more in taxes. The interviewer didn’t bother to ask him why he simply didn’t pay more.

Gates said he has paid approximately $10 billion in taxes. His accumulated wealth is estimated at $80 billion.

No wonder he thinks he should pay more. He has accumulated wealth of $80 billion on which has paid taxes of $10 billion or an effective tax rate of 12.5 percent. Most middle-class taxpayers have paid a higher rate than Gates.

Gates can be in favor of higher rates because he can hire an army of lawyers and accountants to help him circumvent the system.