Treat people like corporations

A recent study found that many corporations do not pay income taxes. The study of 280 corporations found more than 10 percent paid no taxes, one of those companies was Pepco Holdings. They responded to the study by saying they always operate within the law and that the IRS audits every income tax return filed by the company. Their point was they follow the rules and they are not obligated to pay any taxes.

Our political system is beholden to corporations. In fact, our society views corporations as the leaders, the innovators, and the key contributors to our well being. If they pay or don’t pay taxes based on the tax code then they shouldn’t pay any more. The message is lawmakers should leave corporations alone and if more tax revenue is needed then they should find it somewhere else.

Let’s apply this logic to the Illinois pension debate. State employees accepted a compensation package that included a pension from their employer. The employees have 8 percent or more of their salary deducted automatically to supplement the pension fund. Just like Pepco, the state employees followed the rules. If we follow Pepco’s logic, then the employees are not obligated to pay any more. Lawmakers should leave them alone. If more tax revenue is needed then lawmakers should find it somewhere else.

If state employee pension plans are reduced or employee contributions are required to increase, then will corporate taxes go up, too? I don’t hear the Civic Committee advocating for higher corporate taxes. No wonder the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have spread across the nation. It’s obvious lawmakers value corporations more than they value people.

Let’s follow the old slogan: if you can’t beat them, join them. Let’s all incorporate. That way people and corporations will be treated equally.

Kevin O’Neill

North Aurora