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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1985)
editorial__ Tax simplification is a positive move We all pay taxes, and we all dread the bite of the tax col lector. but it is virtually impossible for the average American taxpayer to comprehend the effects of President Ronald Reagan’s proposed tax-simplification plan. The present tax system is bulky and full of loopholes. Many believe it only benefits the wealthy or those who are clever enough to take advantage of the system. Many hard working men and women who earn middle-class wages pay more in annual income taxes than business executives and large corporations. iviusi mnencans una me prucess uxiiair, unnecessarily tedious and full of long hours of burdensome paperwork. The Reagan tax plan is intended to change much of this. Under Reagan's plan (according to. Monday’s Washington Post): • Taxpayers who earn more than $200,000 annually would pay 18.7 percent of their income in federal taxes, which would be a decrease of 2.3 percent from what they currently pay. • Taxpayers who earn between $30,000 and $50,000 annually would pay 7.3 percent, which would be a decrease of .5 percent. • Taxpayers who earn between $10,000 and $20,000 annually would pay 2.5 percent, which would be a decrease of .7 percent. . • Taxpayers who earn less than $10,000 annually would pay 0.9 percent, which would be a decrease of .5 percent. • Overall, individuals would pay 5.2 percent less in federal taxes than they do now, while corporations would pay 22.5 percent more. •' The plan also would: • Increase from 40 percent to 50 percent the amount of capital gains subject to taxation. • Allow for the taxation of unemployment arid black lung benefits, employer-provided death benefits, as well as all workers’ compensation benefits. • Let corporations deduct 10 percent of the value of dividends they pay stockholders. We support the concept behind the Reagan plan. It is high time that the federal government simplifies our na tion’s tax code. Currently there are 14 tax brackets. With loopholes and bracket creep, taxpayers rarely know in which bracket they belong. In addition, the present tax form is so complex that it can take a trained accountant days to sift through an in dividual's tax return. White House aides say that Reagan’s tax schedule is so simple that the Internal Revenue Service could annually calculate the amount of taxes most in-' dividuals would owe the IRS. The IRS could then send the bill to the taxpayer. But despite our support for the plan we are concerned with specific aspects of Reagan's proposal. Like Reagan, Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., and Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., have worked foj a number of years for the simplification of our tax system. (Reagan's staff consulted with the two throughout the development of Reagan’s tax plan.) Bradley and Gephardt have introduced congressional legislation calling for similar tax simplification. Their plan, like the Reagan plan, would limit the total number of tax brackets to three while closing many loopholes. But unlike the President’s plan the Bradley Gephardt bill would close a greater number of business loopholes. Sen. Bradley is concerned that Reagan’s plan is too generous to oil and gas companies, doesn’t boost the capital gains tax enough and hasn’t adequately estimated the revenues resulting from the Reagan bill. We have similar concerns. Past actions have shown that the President is firmly en trenched in the pocket of big business. Whether it is through earlier Reagan tax plans or by the actions of his subor dinates, Reagan has shown that in the heat of most any con troversy he will side with America’s corporations. Certainly, businesses need incentives for growth. Tax cuts and loopholes have their place in any creative fiscal policy. But Reagan must ensure that we all share the burden of paying for federal services. He has not done so in the past. The concept of the Reagan plan is good; it does have many positive aspects. We just hope that it will not prove to be another windfall for big business. Instead our elected of ficals must sift through the complexity of the plan and en sure that it is truly fair and equitable. letters Lip service We find in the British Medical journal, “it is alarming that some male homosexuals still donate blood, and it Is vital that all possible measures are taken to discourage this.” (March. 1985) Unfortunately, the new blood screening test won’t protect all the blood supply from AIDS either. A study in the December .22. 1984 issue of The lancet points out that not all people harboring the AIDS virus pro duce antibodies. So the test may show up negative (no an tibodies to HTLV-3) even though a blood donor is an in fected carrier of AIDS. . Our legislators should stop worrying about the objections of the small homosexual "rights" movement and put the public’s safety first. Because most Americans even oppose the concept of "gay rights.” ob viously the vast majority of peo ple wouldn't object to penalties for homosexuals caught donating blood. I’ll even bet many liberals would have no misgivings over such legislation. Too many homosexuals carry the HTLV-3 virus to risk allow ing them to donate blood. The Constitution allows for quaran tining people with leprosy and T.B., so making it illegal for homosexuals to give blood isn’t at all unconstitutional. Remember the Typhoid Mary case? emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently ot the Universi ty with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press General Suit Advertising Director Susan Thelen Advertising Sales Laura Buckley. Tim Clevenger. Jen nifer Fox, Michael Gray - Intern, Robin Joannides - Intern, Carlos Lamadrld - Intern, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Plckman, Laura Willoughby - Intern, David Wood Production Kelly Cornyn, Storml Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher. Dean Guernsey, Jackson Haring, Susan Hawkins, Kirk Hirota, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Mar tin, Karin McKercher, Laurl Neely, Kelly Neff, KaraOberst. Curt Penrod, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Karen Stallwood, Colleen Tremaine. Hank Trot ter, Mary VanCura. Production Manager Classified Advertising Assistant to the Publisher Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Friday Edition Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Michele Matassa Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ, Dave Bern* Brent De La Pa/ Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Michael Kulaga Associate Editors Administration Higher Education Politics ASUO Student Aclivlties Community Features Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetrldge Paul Ertelt Mary Lichlenwalner Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Stelnhauer Reporters Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence. Robert Colllaa, Julie Freeman, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides. Allan Lazo, Adam Worcester Photographers Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Staliwood, Hank Trotter News and Editorial 666 5511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 666-4343 Production 666-4381 Circulation 666-5511 Who-cares if supporters of the “right" of homosexuals to give blood might object? So what? After all, to prove their commit ment they could stipulate that if they ever need blood they would prefer only homosexual donors. However, I’m sure these people's convictions don't extend any further than lip service. Michael Cross History/Political Science Late Summer When my bloom was faded, my color soft from too much • sun. The dew my only shine, I looked up anxious and tried to please As I had done before, aiid I was plucked. • . But what was this? Not only cast aside, but fed to: sheep. Am I no more than that? I was not picked, but .gathered. - Fodder to munch. My bloom had turned to fruit. And then to food and then to flesh. Over and over I tell myself As 1 am being chewed, This is my purpose, this was my aim. I was made for this. The pain of being plucked Was worth tho satisfaction of the touch.,. But being mauled, and chewed, and swallowed. To be some creatures dung. This was my purpose? For this I bloomed? Lisa Stimple Eugene Prove it Recently, A.K. Stanton wrote in to take a few shots at Dan Martin and Dan Goulet, and then at the Bible. Stanton called it "the greatest book of con tradictions," and'then proceed ed to quota from it — of course using verses out of context. Time to hack up your careless pot-shot with some proof, Stan ton. 1 hereby .issue a challenge to you or anyone else who think-s the Bible is full of con tradictio'ns. or even has one , for that matter. Brian Frary and 1 will give $100. cash to the first person who can ’prove, a theological contradiction within the Bible. Do your homework, Stahton, and the word of God just- may surprise you. ... If you want to give* it u shot; call 4H4-5<J(i6. Charlie Richards Eugene letters Policy The Kmerald will attempt to print all letter* containing fair comtmmt on topic* of interest to th« University community. 1-otters to the editor must Im> limited to 250 word*, typed, signed and thn identification of thn writer must bn verified when She letter is turned in. The Kmerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style, Let ters to thn editor should be turn ed into the Kmerald office. Suite .100. HMD.
