It would be normal for the working class to believe that all of our nation’s wealthiest people are greedy and ignore the growing difficulties of the majority. We know that the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson own the Republican Party, and have a single purpose; to see their profits increase.

But we must also look at Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg. These billionaires care about the people of our nation and the world; they are true Americans who believe in the principles of our founding fathers.

They are not alone. In New York State more than 40 millionaires wrote a joint letter to Governor Cuomo, asking him to raise their tax rates next year when the lower rates expire. They said that they could not only afford the increase but it was their responsibility to pay their fair share. This group included members of the Rockefeller and Disney families. In the letter they said that they “have both the ability and the responsibility to pay our fair share.”

“We can well afford to pay our current taxes, and we can afford to pay even more,” wrote the group, which included Abigail Disney and Steven C. Rockefeller.

I’m certain that the Republican establishment is very concerned about this situation. Every tax plan offered by GOP presidential candidates protects the tax rates of the wealthy, and would increase the national deficit. Ronald Reagan’s failed ‘trickle-down’ economics continues to dominate Republican fiscal policy.

The new rate in New York would require those who make over 100 million dollars per year to eventually pay a rate of 9.99 percent instead of the present 8.82 percent.

If America is to return to its former greatness, our nation must offer opportunity for all of its people, not just the one-percent. Not only must tax rates be considered, corporations must pay their workers fair wages and offer adequate benefits packages.

Growing income inequality in the United States is raising the numbers of both the wealthy class and those living in poverty as the middle class continues to diminish.

We must not fall into the GOP trap of generalization. Every American must be admired or despised based on his or her concerns for our nation’s future and the future of every man woman and child within our shores.

When you vote in November, and you MUST, vote for yourself, not for a party which has failed you, your family, and your friends. Independence is a good thing.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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