LETTERS: TIME TO ELIMINATE INCOME TAXES

To the editor:

I was just listening to a news program where they were discussing how wonderful it would be if Mrs. Clinton ran for U.S. senator from New York. Undoubtedly she could continue or expand on her socialistic endeavors to make every American safe and happy by stealing money from wage earners and using it to expand government bureaucracy. Before I totally give up and sign up for every government program available, I would like to discuss taxes again.

According to a Feb. 11 article in the Southeast Missourian, the United States will collect $1 trillion in federal income taxes for fiscal 1998. As I understand money, you could drop a $20 bill down a hole at a rate of one per minute for 20 years to get close to $1 billion. It takes a thousand billions to make a trillion. Therefore, you would have to drop a $20 bill down a hole at a rate of one per minute for over 20,000 years to get $1 trillion. This is a lot of $20 bills and a really big hole.

The same article stated that in 1992 the federal income-tax revenue was $476 billion and that today employment is at a high level. Utilizing this information, it seems to me that if more people are working, there is less need for government programs to help them. If people are working and are allowed to keep the money they earn, they can take care of themselves.

I have a proposal. I know it will be hard for our government to give up one penny of the money we earn. However, I believe it is time for all wage earners to stand together. We can take care of ourselves. It is time to look at your paycheck. Look at the total amount earned. Then look at the amount you take home. You should be entitled to all the money you earn. You should decide how it is spent. You should spend, save, or give away your money any way you choose. It is time to cut federal income taxes.

I propose that Congress should pass a three-year tax law. This law would state that every taxpayer would figure his taxes as usual but only be responsible to pay half what he would normally pay. At the end of three years, if it is still a booming economy, as I suspect, with individuals spending and saving and contributing their money, we cut the taxes in half again. This could continue until the federal government was cut back to living on the other taxes it collects. If for some reason the government needs more money, it should have to ask us to contribute. If enough people believe a government program is worthwhile, they could give as much of their own money as they wished.

Every wage earner should petition Congress, write letters and talk to each other. Government will not relinquish the power that tax money gives it unless enough of us demand it. It is time to put a stop to the power that allows government to reward some with programs purchased with money stolen from others.

MARY NALL

Marble Hill