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The Drawn-Out Crisis -- It's the Obama Way

Dear Ms Noonan,

My husband and I live in Bergen County - one of the wealthiest in the country. We make nowhere near $250,000 - in fact we make less than $100,000. We pay federal payroll and income taxes, state income and sales taxes and local property taxes - which are very high. We have commuting expenses and food costs and we still have a bit left over for savings. I don't know what your couple in Westfield are doing wrong.

We're definitely not rich, but we do okay. We buy things. We eat out. We have a lawn service. We have one old car and one that's a year old. So let me tell you from experience. Those people living in Westfield and making $250,000 - they're rich. Maybe not like the ultra wealthy - but definitely rich.

I look at what I have, and not what I don't have. I look at people who are supporting families with 3 and 4 children on $8, $9, $10 dollars an hour. Maybe they are working 2 jobs just to pay the rent and put a bit of food on the table. They don't go to the movies, or out to eat. They don't have a lawn service or a savings account.

There are more Americans living those situations than in situations like your family in Westfield. The people making $250,000 can afford to pay a bit more. Those making $500,000 and $1,000,000 or more can afford to pay a lot more.

My husband and I voted for President Obama to help the people at the bottom (and we didn't get any "gifts"). And to help those who have paid into SSI and Medicare all their working lives - like us - to get what they paid for. By the way, our Westfield couple are only paying into SSI on the first $106,000. I say they should kick in a bit more there as well.

Tell your Republican friends and Mr Boehner to get with the President's program. It's what the majority of American voters want. And the last time I heard - Majority Rules