THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610180004
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 26 lines
Once again the presidential elections are upon us. Four years ago Bill Clinton's campaign slogan was, ``It's the economy, stupid!'' Well, he was right, it is the economy. With a promise of a tax cut for the middle class, he was elected.
President Clinton has claimed that this is the ``best'' economy in the last 50 years. Well, I beg to differ. Since 1990 the cost of living has increased close to 40 percent. My pay has increased only 7 percent. Instead of a tax cut for the middle class, we received the largest tax increase in history. When all of the taxes I pay are added up - federal income tax, state income tax, property tax, sales tax, highway use tax and the extra BTU tax on gasoline and all the hidden excise taxes included in the products that I buy - I figure that I am paying a tax rate of close to 49 percent.
I am putting one daughter through college and I have another who will be going soon. I had to put my house up for sale to move to a house one-third as large in order to do this. Yes, Mr. President, ``It's the economy, stupid!'' I'm voting for Dole. A 15 percent tax cut sounds pretty good.
ROY VALENTINE
Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Oct. 12, 1996 by CNB