Wealthy need to pay bigger share of taxes

I recently read about World War II in the World Book Encyclopedia. Regarding the financing of the war: “In the United States, the tax rate on the highest incomes reached 94 percent.”

By many accounts this was America's greatest generation. So, why is the top tax rate now only 35 percent when we are waging costly wars in Muslim nations to make the world safe for democracy (and cheap oil)? It is time to once again ask the wealthiest Americans to carry their fair share of the load. It was an absolute disgrace President Obama didn't hold his party's feet to the fire last December and insist that the Bush-era tax cuts be allowed to expire.

Much the same could be said locally. Where are our modern-day benefactors and why won't they step up to the plate for their hometown? Why doesn't Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron “you can trust government” Corbett make appeals to the wealthiest to get their names on projects in exchange for some of their millions of dollars?

Alvin Cummings

Walker