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LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Taxes haven't hurt middle class

Republicans extol low taxes and limited government. Let's see what history tells us about their stewardship compared with the Democratic Party.

The highest marginal personal income tax was 77 percent in the final year of World War I. GOP President Herbert Hoover had it down to 25 percent going into the Great Depression.

Franklin Roosevelt raised it to 63 percent, then 79 percent, financed huge recovery programs, and the country rebounded. The rate reached 94 percent during World War II.

It remained in the low 90s until 1964. Tax dollars rebuilt Europe, renewed our national infrastructure, and provided low-cost college education.

The highest tax rate stayed at 70 percent between 1965 and 1981, and the middle class flourished. Ronald Reagan reduced the rate to 50 percent, then 38.5 percent, and finally 28 percent. His "voodoo" economics and huge defense spending increased our heretofore manageable national debt 260 percent. None of his deficit spending went to education, infrastructure or programs to help the poor.

Bill Clinton raised the top rate to 39.6 percent, lowered taxes for low- and middle-income workers, established an economic environment that created 23 million jobs, and nearly halted the ascent of the national debt. George W. Bush has given the rich a 35 percent tax rate and substantial capital gains, dividend, inheritance and corporate tax...

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