To answer C. Penard’s letter in the September Kingston Community News (“ ‘Ask what you can do …’ applies to all,” page 7):

The federal income tax system was aimed originally at all those with income (not just wages) paying a certain percentage of that income to the government, with the poorest paying little or nothing due to their struggle to simply survive.

The 51 percent C. Penard quoted as paying no income tax needs defining; I believe it would include these poor, and probably the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the incompetent and even possibly those too young. Many of that 51 percent are not capable of earning wages from today’s high-pay jobs even if they do have jobs. Let’s not forget that we do have a high unemployment rate and that most decent jobs have been outsourced (oh, yes, they have).

The majority of jobs added since the recession have been low-paying, with 58 percent in the $7.69 to $13.83 range (J. Talton, Sept. 2 Seattle Times). In addition to these being “minimum-wage jobs,” they come without health insurance or sick leave and are usually part-time! Let’s see, a 20-hour work week with $10.76 per hour (median of above) — that would be $215.20 per week or approximately $861 per month. What kind of family can exist “in the good old American way” on that amount of money, even with more than one job, and paying today’s prices, local sales taxes and federal taxes too?

In addition, today’s homeless are all too frequently families. Has C. Penard ever seen a child dropped off at school from a camper on the back of a pick-up truck where his brothers, sister and parents live? If you are not earning a living wage, why should you be expected to pay taxes to the federal government instead of buying food or shelter?

President Kennedy’s quote is totally out of place in today’s world. Before we ask what we can do for our country, we have to see that all are treated fairly.

I am retired and living on the “dole” because I had Social Security and/or retirement taken from my monthly check for my entire working life. I do not see the sin in having it paid back to me. And, of course, I am one of “those” public servants. I taught public school, mostly junior high level, for 33 years and had several other jobs before that.

We ALL have to work together to solve the problems of our country and quit treating the poor and the “unlucky” as if they deserve punishment.

Elizabeth Russell
Hansville