Dear Editor:

If politicians were honest about the tax breaks they promise, they might consider an across the board tax cut that would benefit all of us equally, such as increasing the standard deduction. Instead, they create tax loopholes for themselves and their privileged rich clients and do little about actual job creation.

For example, there is the huge break for investors who earn dividends and capital gains. A single wage earner who makes $48K, pays $5,190 in income tax plus Social Security. An investor who makes the same amount in so called “qualified dividends” pays nothing.

Another example is Gov. LePage’s proposed tax plan that reduces the taxes for the rich but gives little or no relief for the rest of us.

And then there are millionaires like Sen. Dow with his proposal (LD 571) to reduce taxes for the rich.

Don’t we wage earners deserve the same tax favors as the rich? Are we not also investing in our economy?

The problem with tax favors for the rich is that they do little or nothing for the economy and shifts the tax burden onto the rest of us.

Wealthy business owners like Sen. Dow talk about using tax breaks as a business incentive, but do little to create good paying jobs. The tea-party formula of suppressing wages while giving tax breaks for the rich is just making America poorer.

Job creation is driven by consumer demand and spending. What we need is jobs that reward an honest day’s work with an honest day’s pay.

Every wage earner is part of a family. Every family has children, old folks, family members who get ill or need special care. Yet, politicians give the rich a break and demonize those who struggle and need help to make ends meet.

We need to make the tax system fairer for those who work for a living. Politicians should be more honest about who benefits from tax cuts for the rich.

Fred W. Nehring

Boothbay