Rich Elfers’ recent column bemoaned the wealthy not paying enough taxes which is the “scoop du jour” for the liberal media on a too-frequent basis. This constant mantra of taxing the rich borders on a near maniacal envy. A jealousy likened to “if I can’t keep up with the Jones, I’ll incessantly trash them for their fancy cars, boats and palatial palaces.”

As well, the high earners are in President Obama’s crosshairs under the present highly-progressive federal income tax system. The facts belie the rich capitalists not paying enough taxes. According to 2011 data, the top 10 percent paid 68 percent of all federal income revenues though they earned 45 percent of all income. The top 20 percent of earners paid 84 percent. The bottom 50 percent paid 3 percent of the income taxes but earned 12 percent of the income. When Obama claims the affluent do not pay their “fair share,” he’s right – they pay a whole lot more than they would under a proportional tax code.

Annual welfare benefits run as high as $49,000* (Hawaii) to a low of $16,000+ (Mississippi), an amount exceeding nearly 20 percent of the world’s countries average wages. Plus, 11 states have more people on welfare than working – Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, New York and Maine.

It would seem the capitalist system is supporting the liberal socialists fairly well. Perhaps rather than biting the few hands that help many, we should thank them.

Work for term limits!

George Terhaar

Enumclaw