Letter: Lighten tax load for middle class

Tuesday, April 15, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

Specific tax cuts might be made for those jobs with critical shortages, such as the medical field, engineering, trade schools, etc. or any "endangered species" jobs that the government determines is in the need of more workers. This would hopefully encourage our youth to enter these work fields, because of the tax breaks.

Lower taxes are an incentive to put in for voluntary overtime As a full-time nurse (frequently requested to work overtime), I would be inspired to work extra hours on a regular basis, knowing Uncle Sam is not getting the majority of those earnings, as he is now.

If additional revenue is needed to replace lost tax dollars, the federal government may have to consider a federal sales tax that everyone has to pay on purchases. This would seem to be a more equally distributed taxing method. Then at year's end, when total income is tallied, the overtime portion would be a separate entity.

Instead of loopholes on income tax (the rich avoiding taxes), we need to reward the blue-collar workers' dedication and reduce their tax burden. In the end, this solution will be good for all Americans.

CARLEEN KAPETANSKY

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