The writer of the letter “We don’t deserve the wealthy’s money” (April 11, TribLIVE) asked, “Why do we deserve their money?” and stated that “we do not.” Excuse me — do these wealthy leeches not profit from the roads, railroads, schools and other forms of infrastructure which they use to help run their businesses, either by access to trained employees or the means to distribute their products, or using public utilities to run their plants?

Corporations have exploited American workers since the founding of the country. They have pushed legislators to pass legislation to depress wages. A brief hiatus from this trend occurred after World War II when unions got some traction and wages started to rise in the 1950s and ’60s. These gains began eroding in the 1970s and plummeted after Reaganomics in the 1980s, leading to the inequity levels we see today.

The pandemic has shown “essential” workers that they are worth far more than their current wages. Seems to me if Jeff Bezos pays no taxes that the system is broken, and yes, the majority of Americans have the right to demand the government make big business pay at least the same percent in taxes as the rest of us do.

Elizabeth Veronica Weaver

Hempfield

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