Tax-Cut Proposals

Your report on President Clinton’s Dec. 15 address displaces any thought I might have had that he is not looking to the future. He is. In fact, it was quite obvious that this was the opening shot of his 1996 reelection effort.

GERALD M. BRONSON

Sherman Oaks

* It is fashionable nowadays for politicians to insist on lowering our taxes. I must admit that I like lower taxes. It should be remembered, however, that before tax breaks help a family, the income must be enough to be taxed.

Then we are faced with the consequences. Some government agency is cut back in order to pay for the tax cut. This takes a part of government out of our lives and we are freer to “live better.”

But living better very often depends on our needs and our family’s needs. We hear some sad stories about education needs being out of the reach of potential students because of tax cuts. Many people’s needs are put out of reach by tax cuts.

NEWT LEBARON

Laguna Hills

* Doesn’t any elected official have the guts to say we don’t need a tax cut at this time?

I think most economists would agree that a tax cut should be used when the economy is faltering. According to Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve Board, etc., our economy is still in an expansion phase. In fact, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates six times this year to halt an overheating economy and inflation.

So why a tax cut now other than to pander to the voters of both parties?

If a tax cut is inevitable, at least we should remember that those still suffering in this expansion are the unemployed and underemployed who would be helped least of all. I would hope that injury would not be added to insult by reducing their benefits to help pay for a tax cut.

CHARLES SPIRA

Santa Monica

* Tax cuts proposed by President Clinton appear to be fair (targeted toward the working middle class), wise (with federal assistance for education and job training), reasonable (since IRA funds can be withdrawn without penalty not only for retirement, but also for education, major illness, buying a first home, caring of elderly parents) and responsible (by major restructuring of federal agencies with sizable cuts, along with spending cuts in order to prevent the deficit expanding again, like in the ‘80s). Wonder why it took him so long?

NANDA SENATHI

Los Angeles

* I am a parent, but have both parties forgotten that a lot of middle-class workers aren’t? In a few years my sons will be grown and I will no longer be able to claim them as dependents. Do I lose my tax cut? Yes. Those who are single or don’t have children never even get one.

DON CAPES

Carson