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Harold Henderson states that "Romney is rich; get over it," claiming that it's fine that Mitt Romney pays less than half the tax rate the rest of us pay ("Get over Mitt's riches," Forum, Oct. 7).
A decade ago, President George W. Bush insisted on huge tax cuts for the wealthy, promising they would stimulate the economy and create millions of jobs without adding to the deficit.
Bush was disastrously wrong. The main effects of his tax cuts were to add more than $1 trillion to the deficit (see http://costoftaxcuts.com), while widening the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Nevertheless, Gov. Mitt Romney and running mate Rep. Paul Ryan want even more tax cuts for themselves and their wealthy donors, partially offsetting them by gutting financial aid to college students, Medicare, Social Security and programs that help children, the poor and the disabled.
Today's Republican Party seems determined to create a nation where only the rich can afford education, medical care or retirement. That's what I have a problem with, not with Romney's wealth.
Blair Bateman
Provo