As would be expected, The Augusta Chronicle supports the Fair Tax proposal that does nothing but give massive tax breaks to the wealthy.

Most reputable economists have written off this regressive tax as being unsound. In this proposal a family of four with an income of $100,000 who spend 70 percent of their salary on consumables and presently pay approximately 13 percent in federal taxes would pay 16 percent if the Fair Tax were enacted. A family of four with an income of $1 million who spends $500,000 a year and now pays 33 percent of their income in taxes would only pay 11.5 percent.

The majority of Fortune 500 companies now pay no federal income tax, so why would this be beneficial to them? Did the Chronicle consider what would happen to nonprofit organizations such as hospitals and colleges? Would the consumer have to pay 23 percent extra for health care and education?

Finally we, being Americans, would develop an underground economy where most services would be paid for under the counter. It has been estimated that the IRS would have to expand greatly in order to police this activity.

The owners of the Chronicle would obviously benefit. Yes, we do need tax reform, but this should be aimed at closing loopholes that decrease the taxes of the rich.

Anyone who is lucky enough to have million-dollar incomes likely has benefited from being an American and owes it to this country to pay more taxes.

Harold Szerlip, Martinez