Helping the rich is devastating the poor

Gary Musser, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.

The tax rates on the wealthy are the lowest in decades. When they were given more breaks during George W. Bush’s administration, it did not lead to a robust economy. To the contrary, the poor and middle class have suffered greatly.

Now we have Republicans badgering President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats into cutting spending without raising revenue by having the wealthy pay their fair share. This will surely hurt our fragile economy.

Since many of the folks who are protecting the wealthy often espouse religious beliefs to justify what they do, maybe the Matthew 19:24 quote from Jesus can help bring clarity to the wisdom of the wealthy joining in the sacrifices being made by the poor, middle class and seniors: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”