"Chicago Tribune" readers respond to editorial favoring Bush tax cuts.

[DailyGrind51]

"Damaging tax cuts

I thoroughly disagree with "Extend the tax cuts" (Editorial, Sept. 15).

Maybe your memory is shorter than mine.

I remember why they were passed into law with a sunset provision in the first place.

In case you don't remember, I'll remind you:
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They were limited in duration because everyone knew they would explode the national deficit and the only way George W. Bush could get them passed was to limit the damage by limiting their duration.

It turns out, of course, that those who were opposed to the cuts then were exactly right.

Since that time more of our national wealth has been concentrated into a smaller percentage of the population, and the national deficit more than doubled (doubled, that is, during the eight years of the Bush administration).

— Timothy Heitman, Chicago

Help middle class

I disagree with the Tribune editorial suggesting we extend all the Bush tax cuts for a year.

Pew reports that based on at least nine polls, the public understands the unfair structure of the rich windfall, and supports retiring the top 2 percent tax cuts by margins ranging from 53 percent to 70 percent.

Over the last nine years, this 2 percent of the population, which, by the way, consists of Wall Street hedge fund managers and CEOs who get golden parachutes for moving jobs overseas, have pocketed, not spent, their portion of the tax refunds.

Fewer jobs have been created by this brilliant idea in the last decade than in any other decade.

So no compromise that treats the middle class like dirt.

Return the cuts back to the Clinton-era levels.

And encourage the middle class to recognize that someone is looking out for us in Washington for a change.

— Cindy Rochel, Tinley Park

No jobs

The Chicago Tribune seems to believe that doing the same thing in the same way will somehow result in job creation and a better economy. However, prevailing evidence has demonstrated just the opposite..."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-vp-0922voicelettersbriefs-20100922,0,6388141.story

[Hubert Flottz]

1. The Chicago Tribune must be in danger of becoming a full time

funny paper.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Readers have far more knowledge than the RepubliSymp Tribune flaks

Sorry state of affairs when corporate bias completely rules a so-called journalistic effort...causing the paper to publish propaganda that its readers must correct since its editors are on bended knee.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Sam Zell Wants His Tax Breaks!!!

This robber baron has destroyed both the Tribune and the LA Times along with WGN...buying too high and going into bankruptcy and afraid he might have to take a big haircut on his greed and avaraice. He's downscaled and outsourced...but he sure as hell wants his tax breaks. He has more motorcycles to buy.

[rustyd55]

4. top 2 percent

when will the greed stop how much wealth do they need they outsource jobs they elect our government and only reason republicans want to cut theyre taxes is they are the puppets for them how stupid do they think we are we need to unite and educate the poor we dont have the luxury to travel around the country like the rich tea party idiots we need to reach the majority which are living in poverty and fighting overseas to protect these 2 percenters