Tax Crisis

The eye-catching juxtaposition of headlines on Pages A22 and A23 on Oct. 20 (“GOP Senators Offer Capital Gains Cut” and “Social Security Benefits to Be Increased”) is a good snapshot of the crisis in America. Past experience and the government’s accountants both say that after two years the capital gains cut will only add to the federal deficit. Does anyone care?

Americans continue to believe there really is a free lunch. We want to fight drugs, hire more police, build more prisons, help the homeless, improve education, clean up the air, increase entitlements--yes, do it all! But don’t you dare raise taxes! In fact, why not cut taxes? And to make matters worse, our so-called leaders in Washington encourage us in the delusion that we can successfully fight these major problems with decreased taxation.

WILLIAM S. SIMMONS

Los Angeles