Letter: Rich-poor disparity widening despite economic boom

How do the presidential candidates suggest solving the problem?

Among the Republicans, George Bush definitely ignores the problem. He is all out for a tax cut favoring the wealthy. Forbes' flat tax does the same. John McCain is making some moves toward slowing the gap by giving bigger tax cuts for the nonrich and paying down the national debt and relieving Social Security and Medicare.

The Democrats -- Vice President Al Gore and Bill Bradley -- would improve health care for the nonrich. Unfortunately, all of their plans include some tax cuts for the rich, which doesn't solve the problem.

My plan would give the nonrich a liberal tax cut and increase the tax on the wealthy and their capital gains. The increased federal revenue should be used to finance the tax cut for the nonrich, pay down the national debt, improve Medicare, Social Security and the uninsured, finance educational and training programs for the nonrich in an effort to raise their income level, and raise the minimum wage.

ORVILLE GOPLEN

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