Ads don't tell Rauner's whole tax story

As the campaign for Illinois governor heats up, those paying attention are already being bombarded by radio and TV spot ads. A principal thesis of the Quinn campaign is that Bruce Rauner is obviously unqualified because he is a smart, successful businessman who has money. No sir, we don't want a skilled business professional messing up state government; and, obviously, he must be a conniving cheater because he's amassed wealth.

A current Quinn ad supports the Quinn camp's assertions by noting that Rauner pays no Social Security taxes and, my goodness, pays a lower rate of his income taxes than do legions of the state's ordinary taxpayers. What isn't said is that Mr. Rauner doesn't pay Social Security taxes because they are only levied against wages and salaries, and he earns neither wages nor salary. What also isn't said is that he pays lower income tax rates because his income mainly derives from dividends and capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income.

Mr. Rauner is wealthy enough to have smart accountants who make sure that he pays every penny of tax that he is legally obliged to pay. But, none of this is explained in the ads. The "take-away" from these clever ads is that voters should put untalented, unsuccessful, poor mopes in office. You know the type, because they are the ones who too often hold elective office in Illinois and derive their income from corruption, influence peddling, nepotism and pay-for-play.

Charles F. Falk

Schaumburg