Letter: Bush Administration policies are problem

Here are some simple facts from 2000 to 2009. What we are seeing today is because of policies that were in place. There are attacks toward the current administration, but you need to all remember this is due to policy that was in place. What we are seeing and going through now is because of policy. Think about this when you go to vote. The Bush tax cut didn’t do anything for those who make less than $100,000 per year. Now there is a push from the right NOT to reform and put policy in place for Wall Street. This is census data. Don’t believe what you hear on Fox News and the promotion of big business. Take an honest look at this. Isn’t it time to reinvest in the United States of America? Isn’t it time to build our nation back up? Isn’t it time to go after the restructuring of this country with building of new infrastructure? Wall Street reform? Tax incentives where they belong? What made this nation great was NOT big business or those who had money. It was the little man … the middle man who is now shackled with war debt, crooked banks and over-taxed.
Census data shows families of all income levels had tepid earnings in 2009. The poorest Americans took a larger hit. Last year, the 20 percent of Americans earning over $100,000 a year received 49.4 percent of all income generated in the U.S. Those below the poverty line received 3.4 percent. That ratio of 14.5-to-1 increased from 13.6 in 2008 and nearly doubled the 7.69 low in 1968. This inequality is at its highest level The U.S. has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations. The 5 percent of Americans earning more than $180,000 had higher incomes last year. Families at the $50,000 median level slipped lower. The 2009 poverty level was set at $21,954 for a family of four. The poorest of the poor rose from 5.7 percent in 2008 to 6.3 percent and are at record highs — $10,977 for a family of four. It’s the highest level since tracking began. Child poverty is now 21 percent, compared with 9 percent for older Americans. In 2000, child poverty was 16 percent, and elderly poverty was 10 percent. Children with government-sponsored health insurance jumped to 37 percent, or 27,600,000, from 24 percent in 2000. Fifty-four percent of Americans support raising taxes on the highest U.S. earners. In 2009, lower-skilled adults ages 18-34 had the largest jumps in poverty because jobs were not available. Jobless young Americans are often forced to live with parents and others. They also face problems if they don’t get training for future jobs.
Michelle Hale
Former Meeker resident