The rich just keep getting richer

Dear Editor:

What is more likely: that you will need Social Security and Medicare when you retire, OR that you will resent the taxes you have to pay on your million dollar income? What is more likely: that your family will need food stamps, OR that you will not have to pay attention to how much you're spending at a very fancy restaurant?

Is it more likely that you will go bankrupt from loss of a job or a health crisis in your family OR that you will need a new cabin cruiser to get to your private island? Is it more likely that your health insurance (if you have any) will refuse you treatment, OR that you can choose the best health care anywhere in the world? Is it more likely that your income level will stay about what it is, OR that you will become a millionaire?

Let's face it, Delta County is not a location with an abundance of super rich people. Yet Delta County continues to support policies and politicians that transfer more of the resources (money and otherwise) to the super rich in this country. Our congressional Representative Scott Tipton has signed a pledge not to raise taxes (on the rich), even though the majority of Americans of all political parties now favor raising taxes on people making over $1 million a year. Our tax policies (including the Bush tax cuts) have transferred about 20 percent of the country's wealth to the richest 5 percent (people earning $500,000 per year or more). That is 20 percent transferred from the middle class. This is money that would circulate in the economy creating jobs if it were in the hands of the middle class. The rich do not create jobs; what creates jobs is DEMAND. People without money cannot spend it. There were plenty of jobs before this recession started. Transferring money from the middle class to the super rich fuels the greed and speculation that caused the current recession.

I read that approximately 15 percent of the current price of gas ($0.54 for each gallon) is caused by speculation in oil in the commodity market. The workers of our country have become more productive over the last 30 years, but HAVE NOT SHARED in the profits their productivity has created. The wealth has been siphoned off to the top. Is this what you want? Let's find politicians (of any political affiliation) that support the real needs of Delta County!

Bernard Heideman

Hotchkiss

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