Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, health care, childcare, and higher education, a small percentage of the population continues to accumulate enormous wealth at a historic pace.
Hard work should provide stability and opportunity, yet many full-time workers live paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, large corporations and the wealthiest Americans often benefit from tax loopholes and economic policies that widen the gap between rich and poor.
Extreme inequality weakens our democracy and undermines social trust. A healthy economy depends on a strong middle class, fair wages, affordable education and equal opportunity.
We should support policies that empower workers, ensure fair taxation, expand access to health care and education and create economic opportunity for everyone, not just those at the top.
America succeeds when prosperity is shared more broadly. It is time to address wealth inequality before the divide grows even larger. Please reach out to your elected officials and demand that they increase taxation of the rich and corporations to make it more equitable for all Americans while paying down our massive federal debt.
Jon Miller, Akron
How do we explain our government these days?
When Britain’s King Charles recently visited our country, he reminded us of the importance of checks and balances within a government such as ours. Nevertheless, the king’s words fell on deaf ears. What once was regarded as essential in our governmental structure no longer is of value. It makes me wonder how teachers in history and civic classes are explaining the three branches of government and how they are supposed to work. Are the teachers embarrassed when they point out the apparent lack of the system in our government or do they just skip it all together? Certainly, our three bodies of government have to be held accountable and responsible. Something tells me that King Charles is aware of the current political situation and that his mention of checks and balances might have been a reminder as well as a wake-up call.
Sister Kathy McIntyre, Fairlawn
Hands down, longer days are better
It is time for Ohio and our country to stop the changes to our clocks two times a year. The adopting of permanent daylight saving time (like the federal Sunshine Protection Act) should be our lawmakers’ responsibility to support and pass.
It is past time to work and spend money on the ridiculous, twice-year production of changing the clocks that hurts one’s health.
Do our lawmakers support this? Who can be against a longer, brighter day?
Robert Augustynovich, Barberton
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fair taxation could help struggling American workers | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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