Readers Write: Nov. 1

Tax cuts are ‘two for me, one for you’

We have all seen it before: Bank robbers dividing up the loot, with the mastermind of the bunch counting out the take to his dimwitted co-felons “Two for me, one for you…”. The folks in Washington are using the same counting method in the latest “tax reform” proposal. A tax cut, says President Trump. A tax cut for the businessman and well-to-do, say the experts. A tax cut does only one thing: It shrinks the funds in the federal treasury. When you see a tax cut, think to yourself “this is an austerity program.” Austerity means cutbacks. If you think the cutbacks will not apply to you, you could be right. Just keep counting to yourself, “two for me, one for you.”

DAVE HOLBROOK, LAWRENCEVILLE

Column reminds us of caring for elderly

Thanks to the AJC and to Rosalynn Carter (“Caregiving support has come a long way,” Opinion, Oct 21) for reminding us of the progress that has been made – and the work still ahead – to support the vast number of Americans who provide care for elderly and disabled family members.

Thanks also to state Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) and Rep. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) for championing the Family Care Act, a modest but hugely important bill passed in 2017, that allows employed caregivers – those balancing the need for a paycheck with the need to care for a loved one – to use up to five days of their accrued sick time to care for family members. It is heartening to see multi-generational and bipartisan efforts to address the need for paid family leave.