Donna Munro, Bremerton
Kitsap Sun
Regarding the Sun's March 14 editorial cartoon, showing a caricature of President Biden slyly lifting a woman's purse while she beams and comments, "Who's going to pay for this wonderful Covid $1400 check?" — Yes, most of us will pay for it! The same way we continue to pay for welfare to the very rich. But there's a difference.
With the expansion of the Child Tax Credit in President Biden's American Rescue Plan, 27 million kids will be helped and child poverty in the U.S. will be cut in half. This will benefit our entire society.
Moody's Analytics estimates that for every $1 spent on state and local government safety net services, the local economy grows by $1.39. That's an immediate return on the dollar. For instance, for every dollar spent on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the local economy grows by $1.64. For every dollar spent on Earned Income Tax Credit, the local economy is enhanced by $1.23. That's because people in need spend the money.
The richest one-tenth of 1% in our rich country owns about as much wealth as the bottom 90%, in large part because of tax loopholes. America's bottom half pays an annual tax on over half of its wealth. But the top 1% pay no annual tax on almost 90% of its wealth. We need a fair wealth tax.
Donna Munro, Bremerton