Bush’s tax cuts only affect 1 percent of Iowa

The Gazette's lead story Aug. 14 announces “What it could cost you” if President George W. Bush's tax cuts to the wealthiest are not extended. The Gazette is not required to explain the math for you. Sensational headings are used to sell newspapers.

So, let's do the math together. If there are 28,000 Iowans who make $200,000 ($250,000 for couples), and there are 3 million Iowans, fourth-grade math would tell us that less than 1 percent of Iowans would be affected if these tax cuts are eliminated. To make it painfully obvious, the $1,560 (more tax for middle-income people) in the 1st Congressional District or the $1,639 in the 3rd Congressional District would be irrelevant to almost everyone. The fourth paragraph in the article tells us there is bipartisan consensus for keeping the tax cuts for lower and middle-income workers. That would be the other 99 percent of us.

I know ignorance is in vogue, but worrying about the richest 1 percent of our population is not. Therefore, I'm appealing to the Americans who are able to read critically, willing to do simple math and smart enough to know that the media person on your radio or TV who is yelling about the unfair taxes is most likely in that 1 percent.

“What it could cost you” this time is not money.

Mary L. Magner

Cedar Rapids