If only capital gains were taxed as income; taxes were substantially increased on the wealthy; the limit on income subject to Social Security taxes was increased to at least $200,000 a year (including income from capital gains); we didn’t go to war each time the neocons wanted to; federal and state government invested in education and in infrastructure rather than cutting them; we’d re-regulate banks to prevent them from gambling for their personal benefit; we’d improve public schools rather than privatizing them; we’d quit giving tax breaks and loopholes to corporations that don’t need them (banks, oil, coal, frackers, etc.); and if only we had Medicare for all (based on Canada’s, for example) or a public option for health care.

We would be much better off. But conservative Democrats and Republicans in Congress prevent these ideas from being considered.

If income above $250,000 was taxed at 39 percent, income above $1 million was taxed at 45 percent, income above $10 million was taxed at 50 percent, income above $100 million was taxed at 55 percent and income above $1 billion was taxed at 60 percent, the American people would celebrate the wealthy rather than resent them.

Canada has weathered the great recession better than the U.S. despite having “socialized medicine.”

Alan Benesi State College