Don’t take more from poor

Sat., April 25, 2015

We have a special election coming up. While I strongly support the need for improved detention facilities and mass transit, I’ll be voting no on both matters.

A sales tax is one of the most regressive ways to fund projects, with those at the poorest end of the economic spectrum the ones who have to dig further into their minimal disposable income to pay for the projects.

As authors Kevin Phillips, Thomas Piketty and others have shown through extensive studies of real data, we continue to see a transfer of wealth from the lower income segments to the very highest levels. That needs to stop.

If we need a property tax increase or other progressive measure, I’ll support it. Taking more from the poor? That I can’t accept.

David Teich

Spokane Valley

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: editor@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430