To be fair, be fair to all

I do not agree with the Occupy Wall Street protesters, but for the sake of argument let’s say that their message of corporate greed, taxing millionaires and spreading the wealth is worth considering. After all, not all millionaires are created equally and therefore cannot be taxed equally.

There is the self-made millionaire who started their own small business working 16 hour days for 20 years or more. They have dealt with hiring/firing, government regulations, audits, bad debts and other numerous problems while trying to keep their business afloat.

They haven’t taken a week’s vacation for 20 years or more and have put their blood, sweat and tears into their business.

Should they be taxed the same as the Hollywood actors, producers and directors who collect $10 million to $30 million for three to five months work for play acting? How about professional athletes who have multimillion-dollar contracts before graduation?

I find it ironic that unions are organizing and feeding protesters into the Occupy Wall Street protests when union bosses are the biggest offenders of greed. They retire with two and three pensions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars paid for by the sweat of union employees trying to support families. Workers’ hard earned dollars are forcibly taken from their checks and given to unions to back these totally obnoxious retirement plans for labor leaders and organizers.

The main question is how to be fair when spreading the wealth. Does every family get the same fair share? It should make no difference if there is a family of one or four — just like it would make no difference if the taxed millionaire has a family of one or four. To be fair, which is the mantra of the protesters, you must be fair to everyone.

Gail Rose

Huntley