The ruling class

Re “One tiny step for budget reform,” Opinion, Dec. 17

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson represent today’s bipartisanship. They represent the political donor class, the only constituency that both parties rush to serve.

Sure, they may talk about closing tax loopholes for the wealthy in the abstract, but they speak in specifics when it comes to cutting benefits for you and me.

The top marginal tax rates were more than 50% when we did not have huge deficits. They were cut to the mid-30% in the 1980s, when the deficits ballooned. Now, wealthy CEOs pay effective federal tax rates that are much lower than your family doctor’s. Those are not loopholes, they are permanent tax cuts.

Any “grand bargain” will put the squeeze on us while serving the interest of the donor class. What else is new?

David Greene
San Pedro

Simpson and Bowles write that “we must reform Social Security to make the program financially sound for future generations.” I’m baffled as to why this is so complicated.

Just raise the maximum income level that is subject to the Social Security tax. This would also reduce the current regressiveness of the tax. Problem solved.

Next issue, please.

Howard Cott
Los Angeles

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