Michael Torbic – 9/6/05

This page was last updated on September 7, 2005.

Nation must plan to compete; Michael Torbic; Beaver County Times; September 6, 2005.

Mr. Torbic is a broken record. Most of what’s in this letter was in five previous letters beginning in October 2004. See “Use entertainment for funding,” “Expand entitlements’ tax base,” “Use lottery for Social Security,” and, “Hands off, Mr. Fix-It” as examples.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The Ford Motor Co. reportedly can produce a car for about $1,500 less in Canada than we can in the U.S.A because its workers and people are covered with national health insurance. This puts our nation in a very poor position to compete with Canada and other nations abroad.

“We lose jobs and tax funds to balance the budget and put a burden on the federal pension board, which is operating at a deficit now.

“These problems can be solved by the people of this nation in various ways and can help to fund national health care, Social Security, Medicare, tax revenue to balance the budget, employment, the federal pension board agency and many other projects.

“The people of this nation support various entertainment projects like professional sports, actors, concerts, movies and other fun activities by paying high prices for admission and food and drink products.

“High salaries are paid for the athletes and actors and high prices paid for stadiums and other facilities built for these events.

“A small tax on each admission ticket sold and for refreshments and food and a small donation from professional athletes and actors paid more than $100,000 or more for performances is suggested.

“Other sources of income from legalized gambling, lotteries, sale of packaged alcoholic products, tobacco and a 1-cent-per-gallon fee for gas sold at the gas station can produce revenue for the problems faced. Each new and used car sold could be taxed.”

[RWC] There are already taxes on all of these items.

“The 1 percent tax break for the rich should be rescinded and the payroll deduction for Social Security for people earning $90,000 or more should be rescinded.

“Taking the suggested steps can make this nation stronger and more competitive with other nations, including Canada.”

[RWC] Yeah, right, increasing taxes will make us more competitive. If that’s the case, why is Pennsylvania not an economic dynamo?