Vote for your interests, not pols’

By Richard Rychtarik, Las Vegas

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Stop! Hands up! Don’t vote!

How is it politicians, Republican and Democrat, are able to get voters to either not vote or vote against their best interests? The last national election turnout was abysmal — the lowest percentage since WWII. Many Republicans, rich and poor, turned out. Why?

It’s been all about the blame game and a misinformed electorate. There’s always about 30 percent of the electorate that never votes, and some are parochial single-issue voters. Many voters have succumbed to the illogical, a type of government-sponsored bribery.

Lower- and middle-class Americans are led to believe there’s a great benefit to having an itemized federal income tax deduction. Deductions range from mortgage interest and local taxes to charitable contributions. They never realize the financial benefit lies only in the deductible amount above what’s already baked into a generous standard deduction. So why not eliminate itemized deductions and increase the standard? It depends on whose ox is being gored. Special interests are about garnering votes and campaign contributions.

Take the charitable deduction. Most middle-class folks taking this deduction will be lucky if they net a few tax refund dollars more, but what about the top 5 percent of the truly wealthy? When contributing to their favorite charity, they write off up to 39 percent. How does it feel to be subsidizing the uber wealthy? This is just one of many examples why our tax system needs fixing.

Next time, don’t forget to vote for your interests, not somebody else’s.