Letter: We don't need Reaganomics again

So, what did Reagan do as president?

He demolished the progressive income tax rate for the rich taxpayers. That sent the rich running to the bank to deposit their ill-gotten, sizable loot. A record number of millionaires and billionaires emerged. The U.S. Treasury deficit rose to record heights. The rich never had it so good.

Meanwhile, the Reagan policies hurt the larger nonrich population. He practiced union busting. He fought efforts to raise the minimum wage. The rich-poor gap soared. The standard of living for the working man fell. The U.S. once was first in this category. Now several European nations have better records than the U.S.

That Republican politicians want to reincarnate Reaganomics convinces me again that the Republican Party is the party of the rich. Now that the Clinton administration has brought down the deficit, we don't need Reaganomics again.

ORVILLE GOPLEN

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