This page was last updated on May 25, 2011.
The more things change; Mark S. Hogan; Beaver County Times; May 25, 2011.
Previous letters from Mr. Hogan I critiqued are here, here, and here. Mr. Hogan wrote four other letters I did not critique.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“In the 1860s, rich plantation slave owners and their associates were able to convince the less fortunate population to support and fight for their cause.
“One method used was the hope that some day [sic] these people could ascend to their status through grit and determination as they wanted you to believe they had.
“The other was fear, a most powerful motivator. Status quo supporters talked of how they would be forced to the level of the black man and see their daughters married to former slaves.”
[RWC] I encourage you to do your own research before accepting Mr. Hogan’s history presentation.
“We see similar methods used today. The common people are asked to give up education, social programs, and even Medicare. And they seem to have convinced many of us this is the right thing to do.”
[RWC] Mr. Hogan is right when he asserts “We see similar methods used today.” In fact, his letter is an example of the “fear” approach. I haven’t seen any reports “common people are asked to give up education, social programs, and even Medicare,” yet Mr. Hogan makes the assertion anyway.
“Notice the cuts don’t really affect the wealthiest of us, but do greatly impact the least able to afford it. Many of the millionaires who received that last tax bonus from Bush don’t really want it and acknowledge it is the wrong path to take.”
[RWC] There’s nothing stopping those “many of the millionaires” from voluntarily paying more. In any case, Mr. Hogan appears to forget lefties finally conceded the tax rates that have been the law of the land for at least seven years lowered tax rates for everyone. You may recall President Obama conceded not extending the rates would result in an average tax increase of $3,000 per family.
Based on 2008 income tax data, the top 1% of filers paid 38% of the total and the top 5% paid 59%. Mr. Hogan doesn’t tell us why those who already pay the most should have their rates increased. FYI, the tax rate increases Mr. Hogan wants to see aren’t just on “millionaires.” The increase is for those earning more than $200,000 per year for single filers and $250,000 for a joint return.
Finally, why does Mr. Hogan want to pick on “millionaires” to have their taxes raised? Does he believe “millionaires” deserve what they earn less than the rest of us? I know nothing of his financial status, but could Mr. Hogan be jealous of “millionaires” and believes increasing their tax rates is a good way to get even?
“State governments are working in similar directions. Don’t tax the people making millions off gas extraction but make painful cut backs in education. Our America is better than that.”
[RWC] As I wrote in a previous critique, “people making millions off gas extraction” pay taxes just as any other business. What PA is not doing is charging a royalty for extracted gas, a charge the Times finally conceded is “a tax that is paid by consumers.” In any case, using Times figures, tax revenue, regardless of who paid it, would only address about 6.2% of the projected deficit and would be less than 1% of the General Fund (GF) budget. On the other hand, education spending consumes 38.9% of the GF budget. The idea taxing gas extraction would have any material effect on the education cuts is misleading at best. Also, as a state we’re not in a good position tax-wise and adding another tax would make a bad situation worse.
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