Tax hike opinion speculation not based on research
When I saw the Opinion piece on tax rates in the Oct. 13 AJC, I expected to see academic research or analysis. Instead, I found nothing but politically biased speculation. These gentlemen assert that the rich are not the only ones in for tax hikes. Their basis is that if President Biden pursues a tax on unrealized capital gains for billionaires as he might, and if that is expanded to much lower-income groups, and if that expands to tax increases on the estimated values of houses of the middle class, then it could mean more taxes for the owners of median-priced houses. That is a lot of if’s. There is not a whiff of actual analysis. Given these gentlemen’s education, they obviously know that this is baseless claptrap. There can be no possible purpose other than creating a backlash against higher taxes for the rich.
LARRY AUERBACH, ATLANTA
Why we hear more about racial disharmony than harmony
Bill Torpy chronicles some recent hate crime hoaxes where minorities have faked race-based incidents, illustrating “there’s currency in victimhood,” “Hate-crime hoaxes exemplify appeal of claiming victimhood,” (Metro, Oct. 11). While that’s true, sad, and corrupting for those gravitating toward victimhood, it’s just as disturbing that media finds great currency in victimhood.
And which party finds greater currency there? It’s a valid question as both the hoaxers and media feed off each other in this regard, perpetuating a vicious circle.
It’s long been said that “dog bites man” is not news, but “man bites dog” is. Perhaps that axiom explains why media rarely, if ever, present a story about racial harmony, cross-race events of helpfulness, kindness and love. Media, instead, go for the “man bites dog” stories of racism because they are the exception rather than the rule in our country. So much the case that even phony racist incidents cause media to salivate like Pavlov’s dog.
GREGORY MARSHALL, MARIETTA