In 2017, the Republicans talked proudly about cutting corporate and personal tax rates, which, according to President Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, would promote business investment, grow the economy and pay for itself.
What actually happened, well before the effects of COVID-19, is that 85 percent of the tax cuts went to those with incomes over $75,000, while corporations raised dividends and bought back their own stock to increase its value. Meanwhile, the federal deficit has soared to a record $1.7 trillion, a huge burden for future generations.
In 2025, the tax break for the middle class is scheduled to begin vanishing. By 2027, the reduction in personal income tax rates will disappear for everyone — but the rich will continue benefiting from a patchwork of other tax maneuvers.
On Election Day, the middle class should vote for itself and recognize the fake “dribble-down tax breaks” of Trump and the Republicans, which only benefit corporations and the very wealthy.
Jim Marquardt
Sag Harbor
Shut Him UpFolks: it is time to take Michael Daly at his word(s), unpleasant as that may be. First: glide by his smarmy greeting card calls for “love.” His own words reveal him, above all, and consistently, a purveyor of hate and...
Suffering in SilenceWhen our world gets out of balance, we lose our comfort and security. Too much or too little of anything spikes our fear, and we lose our sense of peace. Those who have what they want and need are comfortable....
Advocate & Adjudicate?The previous administration of [Supervisor Jay] Schneiderman and current board member Tommy John Schiavoni did not give high priority to monitoring appointed public officials for ethical lapses in their private life activities. This laissez-faire policy towards ethics enforcement appears to...
Soil Is CallingIn a book titled “In Old Southampton,” Abigail Halsey reminds us that in the early days of Southampton, “every man was a farmer and a fisherman.” But those days are long gone and most people, today, have no connection to...
A Web of InterestsKudos to Craig Catalanotto [“What Are We Doing?” Letters, April 18] and Barbara Ring [“Tangled Web” Letters, April 18] for their letters to the editor shining a light on the web of special interests, conflicts of interest and misinformation that...
Dates of InfamySeptember 11 and October 7, similar dates of infamy for strong allies with similarly divergent reactions. Now gathered mobs of protesters are cheering on those who cry “Death to America” and call for the complete annihilation and genocide of the...
Your VoiceOn June 25, registered Democrats will go to the ballot box to determine who will represent their ticket for New York’s 1st Congressional District. Although CD1 has recently been held by Republicans, both parties have assumed leadership over the years....
Master ClassI thank Barbara Ring for aptly proving my point. In response to my letter [“An Alliance,” Letters, April 11], which decried the state of civic public discourse in Hampton Bays as being overtaken by misinformation, fear-mongering and conspiracy peddling, Ring...
