In the end, the poorer people will pay

When the president and Congress choose to raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses, who pays for it?

When we raise taxes, someone has to pay for it. If the government raises taxes on the extremely wealthy, they will reduce their taxable income to the point where they pay relatively the same amount.

Or, if the rate goes too high, they will move either to another state that has a more intelligent tax base, or to another country. The government then loses the taxes and has to reduce services or charge more in other areas.

Ultimately, poorer people wind up paying more and having more unemployment.

Businesses don't pay taxes. Essentially, they do, but they still have to make enough profit to stay in business. They either have to reduce costs (employees) or raise prices to compensate for the higher taxes. The same thing happens when Congress raises the minimum wage.

The above will cause inflation, which means higher costs on goods and services. In the end, who pays the taxes? The poorest people who can least afford it.

GERALD BRITTAIN
SALEM

A stomach-churning turn of the page

I enjoy sitting down after breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings and reading The Roanoke Times.

Saturday, I sat down with the paper, read an article on the front page, then flipped over to read the continuation on the back. Then I glanced down the page and immediately flung the paper aside.

I asked my husband to check out the picture and confirm that what I had seen was a picture of rats! How gross! The article was "NYC rat plague largely fantasy, pest experts say." He had to tear the picture out before I could finish reading the paper.

I can understand reporting on this, but really - did you have to include a picture of rats? Gross! Gross! Gross!

SHERRION STRUPPLER
VINTON

Weather Journal

1 day ago