'Tax breaks for rich' mantra is wrong

William Switzer's Nov. 18 letter, "Keep leadership by God out of D.C.," is the latest in a long and seemingly endless line to blame our problems on "cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations." This is an all-too-familiar mantra from the liberal litany against capitalism and deserves scrutiny.

In 1999, corporations paid $185 billion (rounded off) in federal tax. In 2006, that number was up to $354 billion, a 91 percent INCREASE. Looks like corporations are more than lifting their share of the load.

How about "the wealthy"? Let's first attempt a definition of that term. In 1998, one needed a gross income of $114,729 to be in the top 5 percent of taxpayers. It would probably take about $150,000 to $175,000 today, and that should surely be at the bottom end of anybody's idea of "wealthy."

In 1999, the top 5 percent paid 55.5 percent of all federal income tax and averaged $75,900 tax per return. In 2006, they paid 60.1 percent of total tax, and averaged $91,177 per return, a 20 percent INCREASE. It certainly doesn't appear that the wealthy are feeding at the public trough.

And finally, what of those who are neither corporations nor wealthy, the remaining 130 million plus taxpayers? Their average total tax per return went from $3,203 to $3,186, a one-half percent DECREASE.

Total tax revenue from all sources soared by $580 billion in those seven years, and that was a 32 percent INCREASE. The "Bush tax cuts" increased tax revenue dramatically; Congress raised spending even more dramatically. Put the blame where it belongs.

John Brenan, Corvallis

Church's abortion stand hardly news

Why did the Gazette-Times think it was newsworthy that a Catholic priest in Greenville, S.C., told his parishioners that they must be contrite about voting for Barack Obama because Obama has said that the difficult decision on abortion should be made by the woman within the limits of existing federal law?

It will be newsworthy when a Catholic congregation refuses to support their church hierarchy until the church recognizes that support for contraception will decrease the rate of abortions.

Keep an eye out for that Associated Press article. I will shout for joy when I read that one.

It is better to slow the increase in human population by actively supporting contraception than by the naturally increasing death rate from starvation, disease, poisoning, flooding and war.

Louise Ferrell, Corvallis

Scammers always seem to find targets

The article on page 2 of the Nov. 14 issue about a Sweet Home lady who lost $400,000 to Internet scammers made us very sad. It should be read by everyone.

Most scams work on a gullible person's greed, sympathy, ignorance or a combination of these. Mail, telephone and Internet scams have been well publicized for many years, but somehow the scammers seem too smart for us.

Ron Coffey, Corvallis

Seek accountability in bailout, officials

A free nation depends on accountability in government, productivity and the news media, as well as in citizens. Value depends on accountability, not on "air."

Money transactions must be based on accountability, in banks, at the federal level, and on Wall Street. Our current financial woes come from non-accountability at all levels, starting with mortgages granted beyond the ability to pay. Then taxpayer subsidized Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and some Wall Street execs traded these bundled and increasingly "airy" mortgages at their face "value" while creaming off large "bonuses," causing global financial shocks. (Also giving large grants to far-left causes.)

The more recent federal response? More of the same. A three-page $700 billion proposed bailout ballooned quickly in Congress to 451 pages. Voted down. The Senate added another $150 billion, often as earmarks. Passed.

Back to the House, it now, strangely, passed. President Bush signed it, all in haste. All on taxpayers' backs. With what accountability?

Worse, the bill's purpose: "Provide authority to the Treasury Secretary … to ensure the economic well-being of Americans." But, that's the citizens' job. And citizens' dollars.

Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Obama's chosen chief-of-staff, served on the board of Freddie Mac. Through September 2008, he also received over $1 million campaign contributions from the finance/insurance/real estate sector.

Watch out. And demand accountability.

Jane Newton, Philomath

ODOT was cruel to displace homeless

Thank you, Becky Geier, for your letter concerning the homeless shelter off Highway99W.

Like you, I am surprised and appalled by ODOT's behavior. The shelter did not disturb for 16 years and now that winter is coming, it is a safety hazard.

This sounds more like an excuse to me. If ODOT were concerned for safety and sanitary conditions, they could work with Allied Waste to donate a container - or at least raise the issue with community leaders, maybe lead a discussion within the community.

Let's face it. By definition, homeless people have nowhere to go. There are other options for helping or solving problems.

What ODOT displayed was cruelty. Shame on you, ODOT.

Bea Michalik, Corvallis

We all use some forms of 'socialism'

I wonder whether Richard Creaser has thought about all the programs that he has used in his lifetime that would be called "socialism," using his definition (Letters, Nov. 18, "Each is responsible for realizing dreams."

For instance, did he attend public school? Taxes that other people paid may have played a part in funding that.

It's wonderful that he has remained clean and sober for all these years.

I guess he'd rather that other people get no help from anyone else, ESPECIALLY not from Richard Creaser.

It must be awfully lonely for him, not caring about anyone else's welfare.

Rebecca Stillwell, Albany