Modest Proposal
For a War Tax

Most of us when making decisions carefully weigh both costs and benefits. Lacking for the discussion on how to proceed in Iraq is the question of cost.

This is because the close to trillion dollar cost of the war has been for the most part hidden off budget and has been added to the deficit to be paid primarily by our children and grandchildren.  At a time when we are struggling over decisions on school spending and improving our roads and bridges, the resources of our nation are being sent to a country rife with corruption and waste.    

It is time we start paying for the war and making the costs more real. A modest proposal would be for any future costs in Iraq to be paid with a war tax imposed on the richest 1% of Americans. This group of citizens has seen its wealth skyrocket since Bush was elected and as a group have sacrificed less than other Americans.

They are also the group with the largest interest in the oil reserves of that nation, a primary reason of why we are still involved there. Of course, any of the richest Americans whose sons or daughters are serving in combat missions in Iraq should be exempt from the tax.

Costs for other military actions like Afghanistan, which are a legitimate part of the war on terror, should be part of the regular budget package and paid for by all Americans. It is only by making the price of these conflicts tangible that we will be able to make rational decisions on whether or not they are worth it.

John Freitag

South Strafford