Dear Editor,
In his recent commentary for VTDigger, Matt Swenson laments a governing class distant from the working class in Vermont. Really? It seems to me that many Vermont legislators are themselves working class. All were elected by Vermont residents, not second-home owners. And, of course, all legislators live under the laws they pass.
Swenson presents his argument as a defense of the working class, but his claim that “The productive class pays. The credentialed ideological class decides” suggests to me that his real objection is to taxes for programs that support people he deems not to be members of the productive class. This is a form of the favorite conservative mantra that social programs use other people’s money to help the poor. That’s an effective propaganda tool to stir up opposition, but it isn’t true.
Taxes come from and belong to all the people; they aren’t other people’s money. I have paid taxes for 60 years. Even the poorest pay taxes in several forms, especially sales tax. Social programs are funded by everyone’s money.
It’s a different story when you look at the misery that social programs intend to alleviate. People complaining about social support programs aren’t going to be affected by the cuts. They won’t suddenly find themselves unable to pay rent, visit a doctor, live independently or feed themselves and their family. They are, in a very real sense, voting for other people’s misery.
Other people’s money is simply a propaganda slogan. Other people’s misery is as real as it gets.
Lee Russ,
Bennington, Vt.
