MYTHS: Facts tend to serve better

If John Clark wants to debunk myths (My Turn: Time To Debunk Some Myths) he should stick to facts rather than wistful thinking. Repeating the same old myths doesn't make them true.

The myth that is Reagan is a good example. Facts to debunk Clark's fantasies abound. Read Kevin Phillip's Politics of Rich and Poor as a starter. Check the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt, and learn that the national debt increased every year under Reagan, Bush the elder and Bush the younger while it decreased every year under Clinton. Eisenhower was the last Republican who actually decreased the debt.

Clark makes some magical adjustments to military spending and determines it is "...probably down..." Take out the magic and the "probably" and we are left with the fact that it is up, way up. Bush ran the wars off budget but the cost shows up in the soaring national debt that characterized the Bush years. (As it did the Reagan years.) At least Obama has put the war costs in the budget.

Clark cherry picks his "tax thing" facts in ways that contribute to the myth that the rich are bearing a terrible and lonely burden. The bottom half on the income ladder pay no federal tax but they pay Medicare, social security, state and local income and sales tax and property taxes. And the vast majority of those who pay no federal taxes are working families with two or three jobs per household who pay no taxes because of their low income and because of the deductions allowed on a simple 1040 form. He neglects to discuss the dozens of major corporations and wealthy individuals who pay no taxes despite incomes in the millions, even billions.

Clark defines redistribution of wealth as welfare and perhaps it is. The myth, though, is who benefits. The facts are that the redistribution has been upward not downward. Particularly under Reagan and Bush The Younger, the rich have done exceedingly well while middle and lower income classes have actually experienced a decline in real income and net wealth. By his definition it is the rich who have enjoyed the fruits of welfare the most.

Clark's list of fuzzy assertions dressed up to appear as facts goes on and on and all who read it must either discount the whole piece out of hand or extensively fact check it on their own.

JERRY SHRINER

Coeur d'Alene