Tax increase will reduce national debt

In an April 8 letter, Tracy Anderson suggested half of our economic problem is not enough taxes paid to help reduce our national debt and our dependence on Chinese investments. I couldn't agree more.

How can anyone believe that reducing the national debt by simply cutting spending is going to meet some of our hopes to not pass on this huge debt to our children and grandchildren without other consequences? Simply cutting will leave us with a crumbling infrastructure, third-class education system and a society that is not the result of our government “promoting the general welfare,” as our constitution mandates. Taxes are a way we show our gratitude for the opportunity to live in a country that allows, encourages and assists us in obtaining the freedom and opportunities we enjoy.

My wife and I have been retired for 20 years. Our retirement income has remained the same all those years. Social Security has increased enough to cover the Medicare premium increase. Our gross income is under $50,000, but we could comfortably pay at least 2 percent more tax on our gross. There are many others in our position with substantially more income who could do likewise, and then maybe we could eliminate the national debt and still pass on a healthy nation to our children and grandchildren.

An increase in taxes is part of the remedy.

Al Seabrooke

Elgin