Democrats Voting With Republicans

Re “Senate OKs Tax Relief,” May 24: Perhaps the hoopla over Sen. James Jeffords’ realignment to independent was timed to try to obscure the fact that 12 Democratic senators voted along with all the Republicans for President Bush’s tax reduction for rich people. At a time when more money is needed for the Women, Infants and Children and Head Start programs, when Medicare and Social Security need to be financially reinforced, when the Reagan-Bush national debt needs to be paid off, 12 Democrats chose to give nearly half of the $1.35 trillion to the richest 1%.

In doing so, those senators clearly demonstrated that the Democratic Party is not an opposing force to the self-serving Republicans. It is merely “Republican lite.” I believe that ordinary Americans, most of whom won’t vote for either type of Republican, are ready to support a real opposition party, if leaders would step forward.

Bruce Joffe

Piedmont

The passage of Bush’s $1.35-trillion tax cut in the Senate is a significant and sad setback for the future of this nation. According to Democrats, this tax cut will result in the loss of our ability to pay down the national debt any time in the near future. Also, most of this tax giveaway goes to the top 1% or 2% of income earners. The fact that up to 40 million taxpayers actually may receive a tax increase under this plan is utterly appalling.

The Bush administration has created the greatest harm to this country in the shortest period of time ever in the history of this nation. I definitely think that we have the makings of a one-term-only president. And I say to the 12 Democrats who went along with this evil plot, let’s ferret you out and replace you with people who truly care about us, the ordinary citizens of the United States.

Robert C. Lutes

Temple City

What if individuals had the option to designate on their tax returns where the entire tax collected from them would be spent in the federal budget? Seems to me that this would counter some of the influence of big-money special interests and be a clear voice for the average citizen. Democracy, right?

Ted Knecht

Pasadena