Letters: Talk of taxes cuts both ways

Re “State needs a tax revamp,” Column, Jan. 16

George Skelton made some very good points on how broadening the state tax system will help keep California from going broke.

He states that “the best way to make the tax system more logical and predictable is to lower the rates and broaden the base.”

Isn’t that the same message the Republicans in Washington are delivering to stop the U.S. from going broke? I guess if a Democrat says “lower taxes,” it’s OK, but if Republicans say the exact same thing, they are labeled as elitists and uncaring toward the poor.

Louis Grinbaum
Northridge

Skelton misinterprets history when he assumes that tax increases on the rich have resulted in the rich paying a larger share of total taxes.

And if you still believe tax cuts for the rich produce jobs, you should ask yourself why the rich let President George W. Bush down so badly. He gave them two tax cuts, and net private sector job creation was negative. President Clinton increased taxes on the rich, and millions of private-sector jobs were created.

Explain that.

Bob Gould
Palm Desert

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