Regarding your editorial "A Very Grim Reaper"
(Sept. 21): Your critique of my Responsible Estate Tax Act sides
predictably with millionaires and billionaires over the interests of
middle-class and working Americans.
The truth is that under
my bill 99.7% of all Americans would never pay a dime in federal estate
taxes. At a time when we have a $13 trillion national debt and the most
unequal distribution of wealth and income of any major country, I do not
believe it is appropriate to lower taxes on the very richest people in
this country who have become much richer in recent years.
Apparently, despite the
horrendous record of President George W. Bush, the Journal and your
wealthy supporters continue to adhere to the flawed theory of
trickle-down economics. Been there. Done that. It failed dismally.
During the years Mr. Bush was in the White House, more than 600,000
private-sector jobs were lost; median income shrank by over $2,000; more
than eight million Americans slipped out of the middle class into
poverty; and four million manufacturing jobs disappeared. Meanwhile, the
wealthiest Americans made out like bandits. The 400 highest-paid
Americans saw their income double while their effective tax rates were
slashed to the lowest level on record.
We need to end policies
that make the rich richer and everyone else poorer, and promote policies
that strengthen the middle class and tackle in a fair way the
record-breaking deficits. The Responsible Estate Tax Act is a step in
that direction.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.)
Washington
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 