The ability to pay

Who are these people who can take off from work on a Wednesday to protest taxes ("Tax Day's Protests and Promises," April 16)?

Clearly many of them are retired, are collecting workers' compensation or are lottery winners. There's a large number of stay-at-home parents who home-school their kids and their kids who are obviously receiving extra credit for making signs and getting on camera. There's college students who read the CliffsNotes of an Ayn Rand book and now think that FDR is responsible for all our problems. And I would have to assume that there are some people who have real jobs, honestly felt strongly about this issue and actually felt safe enough with their jobs to take off work.

It's this last group that baffles me. If they're right in their political convictions and the economy is going to get much worse, then they're wrong for taking off work when it's so hard to come by. If their confidence in their personal employment is right, then what are they really complaining about?

Somewhere along the way, I learned that the tax rate itself is not as important as your individual ability to pay the taxes. I would gladly pay President Obama's top tax rate if I were in the top tax bracket, and I am working hard to get there.

 

JOHN J. HRIZO
Wilkinsburg