Think about what 'free stuff' really is

At least once a week there is some comment in the letters to the editor about all the "free stuff" people are getting. This, as all of us know, is code for poor people ripping off the government and not doing any work for what they get.

I wonder sometimes if those writers even know any poor people.

They are probably hearkening back to President Ronald Reagan's telling us about the imaginary "welfare queen" in the '80s. That is the same Ronald Reagan that reduced taxes for the "uber rich" to 28 percent from 70 percent.

The government spends about $17 billion a year on assistance to needy families and more than $70 billion on food stamps. Now compare that $87 billion to the $900 billion that the same government gives out in mortgage interest deductions, earned income credits and child tax credits.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush has vowed not to promise more "free stuff." Interesting, since a recent analysis shows that since 1981, he himself has saved at least $281,000 through the mortgage interest deduction alone.

Before you write in about "stop the free stuff," think about losing those credits that we are all getting and whether or not you are talking about that or do you just want to "stop the free stuff" that applies to the poor?

Jack Halpin

Arlington Height