For those in Maine who continuously rail against the Bush administration, by claiming Republicans “gave tax breaks to the rich,” I present the following:

In 2007, the top 1 percent of earners, paid 40 percent of total income tax revenue, according to CNN.

If the definition of “rich” is expanded to the top 10 percent of earners, this group accounted for 70 percent of the total. If the definition of “rich” means the top half of all wage earners, and I know there are many out there who do believe this, that group accounted for 97 percent of all revenue.

How much is enough?

These very same people who are so willing to “defend” the less-wealthy continue to vote for the party in Maine who over-taxes this group. It is beyond debate that the Democrats have controlled this state for the past 30 years.

In that time we have become perhaps the most heavily-taxed state in the nation. Just last week this Legislature jacked up taxes on beer and soda. So, according to the Maine Heritage Policy Center, the average working-class person will now pay 22 cents in taxes, on top of the 5 percent sales tax, for a 99-cent bottle of soda!

I askis a 27 percent tax fair, whether a person is rich or poor?

If you are not better off than 8 years ago – don’t blame Washington, blame yourself for the lunacy of sending the same Democrats back to Augusta.

Matt Madden, Lewiston