Cain plan simply levels the playing field
As a former Georgia state representative and a financial analyst I am somewhat qualified and have analyzed various tax plans floated by the GOP candidates (especially Herman Cain’s plan).
If the plans are revenue-neutral and everyone pays the same before and after reform is implemented, we have gained nothing. In any plan, there will be a shifting of burden — which means some will pay more and others will pay less, as Cain admits. The beauty of the Cain plan (apart from its simplicity and lower rates) is that the government will not be the one to choose winners and losers. Without powerful legislators to protect someone’s turf (for example, horse breeders in Kentucky), fairness will be restored. A national sales tax has the added advantage of bringing in revenue from those who don’t pay taxes (like foreign visitors).
Our current tax system is complex, confusing and riddled with loopholes. It’s time for a change.
Mitchell Kaye, Marietta
Protesters distract from real culprits
The Occupy Wall Street protest encampments are a wonderful idea — wonderful, that is, for the Obama administration. Instead of people examining the actions of this president and their impact on our economy, the finger is pointed in a different direction. Blame Wall Street.
Wall Street didn’t decide to give itself bailouts. This president and Congress did that. Ditto with bailing out the auto industry. So, anybody who is unhappy with our economy, anybody who doesn’t have a job or hasan ax to grind now has a convenient target. Blame Wall Street. Just don’t blame our president and Congress, who initiated the failed programs that have been such a disaster for our economy. Maybe we should just look upon Occupy as a dry run as to what we can expect to be happening prior to the 2012 elections: anarchy as a diversion, while everybody ignores the fraudulent votes being cast — and an election is stolen right before our eyes.
Seymour Richards, Atlanta
D.C. memorial great, one in Atlanta needed
Every time there’s a spate of news about the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, I think how terrific it would be if a more inspiring statue of the man were on display in Atlanta.
Bob Johnson, Smyrna
‘Truth’ about Romney and health law thin
The “truth” in the Truth-O-Meter (“Romney right on Massachusetts’ support for health law,” Metro, Oct. 17) is questionable. A “survey” involving 537 people out of a population of millions is insignificant. Most readers will glance at the headline, glance at the meter and move on.
Patrick Hahn, Lawrenceville
