Wealthy should have to pay their fair share

Joann Simmons, Las Vegas

Sunday, April 27, 2008 | 2:03 a.m.

Regarding Steve Rosin’s April 19 letter headlined “How the wealthy can save Social Security”:

I am in total agreement with him. Why don’t the wealthy pay Social Security/Medicare taxes on every penny they earn? The lower-middle and lower-income classes pay Social Security tax on every single penny they earn in wages.

On the same day that Mr. Rosin’s letter ran I read an article about Sen. John McCain’s tax returns for 2006 and 2007. Viola! This very wealthy man collects Social Security, along with his military pension, wages from his Senate position and a very nice royalty from writing a book. I do not resent Sen. McCain and this wealth — I just want him and all wealthy taxpayers to pay Social Security/Medicare taxes on all of their income.

I say remove the Social Security and Medicare tax limits and let everyone have the honor of paying into a system that ultimately stimulates the economy and continues to give wealth to the wealthy. In the end, if you think about it, we “little people” are the ones who go see their movies, buy their software, music, books, drink their lattes, pump their gas into our cars and wear their clothing lines.

Warren Buffett (one of the richest men in the world) has criticized the U.S. tax system because, quite frankly, his secretary pays more of a percentage of her wages in taxes than he does.

Is it possible, during this election year, that we will see a candidate stand up and say he or she will in fact remove the limits of taxation on wages for Social Security and Medicare and finally make it fair for everyone and not just the wealthy? Will our “wealthy” Senate and Congress agree to this request?