Rich do pay their share

Dear Editor:

In regard to the question posed to readers in "It's the Reader's Turn", please provide context. In 2008, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 38 percent of all taxes, while the top 5 percent paid 58.7 percent of all taxes.

The point: the wealthy DO pay a higher percentage of taxes! Based on the Reader's responses one would think that the wealthy (define that as well) pay less than others. Specifically, Mary Becker commented that she didn't see how they (the wealthy) feel that the lower income people should pay all the taxes.

News flash: they don't! The bottom 95 percent of taxpayer only pay 41.3 percent of all taxes and the bottom 47 percent pay ZERO taxes. Please don't pose ill-advised questions such as this with no factual context.

Edward Bielarski

North Whitehall