$500 Child Tax Credit

* Re “Child Tax Credit: Just No Respect,” editorial, Dec. 5:

I agree 100%. It is voter bribery on the part of both Republicans and Democrats. Not only does it placate the religious right, but also wins the votes of beneficiaries. For poor families it does nothing! What else is more important than votes to our dedicated, greedy, overpaid, overpensioned, self-serving congressional representatives? Democrats propose a lower ceiling, Republicans a higher one to reach more of their voters.

No tax cuts should be made until the projected savings are realized! It is highly unlikely that a balanced budget will be achieved. The tax cut is “front loaded”; the major savings are planned for the sixth and seventh years. Thus, in the early years, at best, our annual budget deficit will increase!

H.J. BENGEL

Westminster

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* This editorial missed the whole point. The $500-per-child tax credit would give 39 cents tax relief per child per day to those in the 28% tax bracket who have children. You say this is only 40% of the taxpayers. I propose instead that we give a free, small carton of milk to each child every day. The families would be, if anything, better off financially than getting the 39 cents every day. The children would be better nourished.

The liberal Democrats would like it, because it smacks of welfare. The government would be better off, because in the quantities required, officials can get the milk wholesale and let the people think it cost more than the 39 cents a day. It would be a God-send for the milk industry. The economists may not be as universally against it as they are against the child tax credit. Finally, kudos to Rep. Newt Gingrich and Sen. Bob Dole who are trying to raise the standard of living of 40% of our population by 39 cents per child per day. I never hear one word about this from our rabid Medicare proponents.

JOSEPH KAELLIS

Sepulveda

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* Give $500 to those who don’t have children who pay for those who do. This may also encourage those who have too many children not to have any more.

Just imagine how this would help our overpopulation, to boot!

GRAYCE W. WEBSTER

Laguna Beach