Hightower Lowdown

George W. has looked around the country, surveyed the economic woes of our people, and reached this conclusion: The rich are hurting.

Feeling their pain, Bush has responded with a $400 billion tax giveback for these privileged few—eliminating the taxes that they pay on their stock profits. It’s a matter of justice, says George.

Bush asserts that taxing the dividends of big investors is nothing less than double taxation! After all, he claims, corporations already pay taxes on these profits, so the 10% of Americans who own 90% of all stock shouldn’t pay again when the profits are distributed. George, who likes things simple, says, “It’s not fair to tax something twice.”

Yoo-hoo, George: We know you’ve never worked for a living, but has no one explained to you that working people have their incomes taxed not twice, but multiple times? Our wages are hit for federal and state income taxes, Social Security tax, unemployement and Medicare taxes—then these same wages are slapped with ever-rising sales tax, gasoline tax, property tax . . . and if we buy a six pack to try forgetting taxes, we’re hit with the liquor tax.

If Bush really gave a damn about fairness, he’d focus on restoring some progressive balance to a tax system that grossly favors corporations and the rich at the expense of America’s wage-earning majority.

To get the truth about how Bush’s policies rip off the middle class, call Citizens for Tax Justice: 202-626-3780.