BANKS: Let them pay fair share too

Two months ago in report No. GAO-11-696, page 131 (Government Accountability Office) was an acknowledgement that our government, Republicans and Democrats, fed $16 trillion to the banks. OUR tax money! That's enough to finance Saturday mail deliveries for 5,000 years. 

Every man, woman and child in America could have received a check for $50,000. Instead, in return, I got increased bank and card fees (except at my credit union). Our entire national debt, accumulated over two centuries, is less than what banks received. Why isn't that in every newspaper, on every news channel, on every radio station?

Think about that amount. I recently read about Bank Of America's $2 billion profits... per quarter! We all know by now how many corporations and CEOs are paying little if anything in taxes.

I understand the need for all of us to pay our fair share, and I gladly do so. Why don't they? It's time for those at the top to give back, it's time to rethink the growing inequality and inequity in our current economic model. It's broke, like most of us now (unless you own a bank).

I recently read a book about Abe Lincoln and, upon completion, considered that he just might have been one of the smartest presidents we ever had, then I saw this quote:

"Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow." - Abe Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864.

Now I know he was!

THOMAS KEENAN

Coeur d'Alene