Why are successful citizens being punished?

Millions of Americans ask:“Where are the jobs?” What has the government done to be “pro business” for job creation? The government has:

l Issued Environmental Protection Agency rules against industries such as coal to close power plants and lose jobs.

l Stopped offshore oil drilling in the Gulf Coast with loss of jobs, reduced domestic oil supplies and consequent increase in gasoline prices.

l Promulgated regulations making U.S. industry less competitive in a world economy, with loss of jobs.

l Government redistribution of wealth with unemployment above 9 percent and a shrinking number of millionaires in America.

What is going wrong in the “free market system?”

As reported in the Aug. 17 Wall Street Journal, the number of federal income tax returns filed from 2007 compared to 2009 are down 13 percent for those making more than $200,000, down 39 percent for above $1 million and down 55 percent for above $10 million.

Obviously, entrepreneurship and wealth in America are being destroyed. Promotion of “class envy” is eroding American ingenuity, punishing success and destroying job creation. You might ask why successful Americans are being punished.

What has Obama done but tax, spend and take a vacation? Is Obama fiddling while America burns?

Gary C. Young

Cedar Rapids