John Balentine said he will vote for the candidate who will keep his taxes the lowest. Then he buys the Republican line that Democrats (i. e. Obama) will raise his taxes.

If Mr. Balentine earns more than $250,000 that is true; the Bush tax cuts for such individuals will be taken back. Sorry, Mr. Balentine, for your loss! Oh, maybe, you don’t make that much?

Well, then your capital gains and dividends may get taxed more. Have many of those? Of course, I don’t know how many capital gains and dividends you are getting these days. Bush’s debt has pretty well sent our economy on a huge tailspin so not sure there’s anything left to tax.

Instead, Obama plans to give tax credits (that is a reduction in taxes) to lower income folks so they can better afford health care. Need any help with that? Sounds like a winner to me.

You, Mr. Balentine, right now, have a share of the national debt that is equal to $30,400. That is what your Republican president has done to our economy.

Under Carter it was $4,000 (up from $3,000 under Ford), under Reagan $11,000, under Bush Sr. $17,000, under Clinton $20,000. Do the math.

The Republicans think they can spend and spend and spend and leave us to pay the bill! Personally I’d rather take my chances with a Democratic president. Especially if my only criterion is my pocketbook, which is what Mr. Balentine claims is his.

Delene Perley

Windham