Dear Editor,

Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd,

We live in a Capitalist society. There are always going to be rich people because some of us are better at making money than the rest of us. Should they pay their fair share? Absolutely. Do they? Mr. Trump does not return my phone calls when I call to ask this question, so I digress.

I do think they take advantage of the tax codes that are in place. Tell me that you wouldn’t if you could lol.

When I rebuked to your Socialist rant about BBB, I railed at the level of surveillance required to adequately collect the taxes required to support it. You answered, comparing it to the Patriot Act. I pointed out that the Patriot Act didn’t require 85,000 new IRS agents, etc. You rebuke that PA didn’t need those agents because banks are already looking at transactions of $10K and above. You’re aware that BBB stipulates looking at transactions of over $600, which is the justification for 85,000 new hires, and was the basis for my original rebuttal to you, right?

I don’t understand which part of the picture you refuse to see. You also commented as follows: “Just think what could be accomplished with those uncollected funds.” Just think what could be accomplished with the over $5 billion per year we would have to pay 85,000 new hires.

And while you’re at it, just think, we wouldn’t have to print extra money!

“Why is it acceptable for the rest of us to pay for all of the government programs that benefit us all?” It’s not. But why would I want to pay for a program that doesn’t benefit me? That’s not fair nor equitable. It’s Socialism.

Have I answered all of your questions now? Looks like this conversation is moot anyway, at least for now, thanks to a couple level heads on your side of the aisle. Me thinks that you guys are still going to get the chance to spend us into oblivion but again, I digress.

I would like to end my side of this spirited conversation with this thought: we still live in a country where people like you and me can pursue discourse in an open forum. You may not agree with me, nor I with you, but at the end of the day I’d be willing to bet that we still take off our hats for the flag. Guess that will have to be good enough for now.

To borrow from my daughter’s vocabulary: “Peace, Brother.”

Rick Simpson

Kingman