Before the election, I saw a small sign indicating that while President Trump paid $750 for two years in federal income taxes, registered nurses, firefighters and police officers, on average, paid $2,500 in federal income taxes. Remember what he said when asked prior to the 2016 election — that he didn’t pay much in taxes because he is a “smart” businessman?
It brought back vivid memories of when I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras from 1967 to 1969. All volunteers received a memo from Peace Corps headquarters regarding our responsibility to pay federal income taxes. We were paid $5 per day. Out of that money, we had to fund our housing, utilities, postage, food, clothing, travel and vacation. The memo indicated 10% of that $5 was considered entertainment and, because of that, we were to pay taxes. I paid taxes in both of those years, I guess because I was not a smart businessman.
Trump needs to spend two years in a third-world country, and then maybe he wouldn’t separate children from their parents who are solely looking for an opportunity to thrive and support their families.
Tom Niggel
Greensburg