Illinois graduated income tax should be a bipartisan no-brainer

Thank you for the editorial, “How Do We Thank Essential Workers? Vote for a Graduated Income Tax on Nov. 3” that explained how the state would change from a flat tax to a graduated tax and reiterated that 34 states have this now.

These states have been run by both political parties, and rates did not go up for the middle or lower classes. This should be a bipartisan no-brainer. America has had this type of taxation since 1913, so it can hardly be called part of a radical or a liberal Democrat agenda.

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a bright light on income inequality. Workers who have lost their jobs may qualify for paycheck protections from the federal government. But this is the same government that tried for years to decimate Obamacare. Workers who lose their jobs also lose their health insurance and may have to apply for Medicaid, which has been expanded in Illinois under Obamacare.

The state’s budget needs money to keep the expansion alive. Without a graduated income tax, the burden of funding that budget falls disproportionately on those least able to pay.

Signs on the lawns and in windows thanking essential workers are wonderful and put smiles on faces. Voting yes on the Fair Tax Amendment is a great way to take that great mood and commit to concrete action.

Janice Goldberg, Riverside

Cut Saturday delivery, but keep the post office alive

Some people in high places think the U.S. Postal Service should be eliminated due to its debt. Granted, current technology means less of a need for mail service. But the USPS still offers a vital service, especially for rural areas where other services would be far more costly to customers.

There are ways to cut costs, and one that immediately comes to mind is eliminating Saturday deliveries. Services like Fed-Ex and UPS offer Saturday delivery for special packages but not standard packages. How much would cutting Saturdays from the USPS save? It could be significant. And what is the difference between receiving that utility bill or advertisement on Monday instead of Saturday?

John Farrell, DeKalb

America is not worth Trump’s time?

President Trump tweeted it was “Not worth the time and effort” to continue the daily coronavirus press briefings because the press has been hostile and unfair with him over his “sarcastic” remark about the possibility of injecting disinfectants inside the body to do a “tremendous number on the lungs.”

He knows he went too far. This time, it would be nearly impossible to put a different spin on the remark since there is clear video of it. Major corporations have rushed to warn against ingesting disinfectants. Calls doubled to poison control centers. He knows this not will go away any time soon.

But wait...isn’t the purpose of the press briefings to inform an at-risk nation of the newest medical information and to comfort the worried among us? Shouldn’t any personal slights be put to the wayside for now? This isn’t about the president. It’s about us!

I guess what we’ve suspected for a long time is true. What he’s actually saying is we are not worth the time and effort, proving that he’s not concerned about America’s health or peace of mind. Only ratings, the stock market and votes.

Louise Bajorek, Burbank