Monday, June 16, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.
I strongly agree with President Bush that double taxation is wrong. Therefore I believe that double taxation of Social Security benefits should be ended. These were untaxed until the Reagan administration; the Clinton administration raised Social Security taxes. Recipients believed that Congress, when it enacted the Social Security program, would not tax this insurance.
Double taxation by the same party is far worse than double taxation by two different parties. As with dividends, taxation of Social Security affects mostly the middle class while a decrease in the dividend tax will mean an enormous savings for the very wealthy and increase the interest states must pay on their bonds. Since the Social Security benefit affects most people, it should be fully restored.
JOSEPH D. PATERO
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