by Donald Castellucci, Jr.

Reading a recent letter to the editor from Maurice Hinchey, on July 19, caused me to ask myself a lot of questions. I want to address the more important ones.

When is the Republican leadership at any level of government going to respond to the more than two years of demagoguery and blatant lying by the Democrats? There has been an equal opportunity, well-organized attempt by the Democrats, Unions and the media to discredit the Republicans. I haven't met a Republican who wanted dirty water, starving children or to throw grandma and grandpa out of their home. How many Americans have that impression of Republicans? Do senior citizens realize the reforms about to pass are not much different from the reforms Republicans pushed in 1995? It is OK now because Democrats are touting them.

The fact is, few in the media call the Democrats on these campaign tactics. If anything, the tactics propelled further. I remember Senator Tom Daschale and Representative Dick Gephardt telling America from some Midwestern schoolhouse how the Republican cuts were going to knock children off the school lunch program in that very school. The next day the principal denied that was the case. No one called Gephardt or Daschale on it. They were allowed to lie to the American people.

Having stated the above, I want to address three current issues: school reform, campaign finance reform, and the tax cut debate. School reform is being hijacked from parents using the above scenario. Many articles reported in the Press and elsewhere always include phrases like "conservative critics" or "right wing" parents when presenting a point of view. I long for the day when I read a story with the phrase "Liberals say" and then quote them. This tactic is effective because the media has been able to create the image of "extremist" with the conservative label.

For more than a year I have been sounding the horn about education reform. The elitists in charge want one thing: as much control of your children as possible. I stated mandatory preschool was being put into place. That means you as parents have no choice. Betsy McCoy was in town bragging how more funding was in place for pre-Kindergarten classes. The first step?

I have stated school to work is not about co-op for 11th and 12th graders but will start in kindergarten. Last month in the Press, Pennsylvania schools were profiled for starting "career awareness" in kindergarten. Remember when it was fun to be a kid? Now you have to find a job.

Commissioner Mills is telling the truth, finally. He wants career-based studies. This is no surprise to me. This has been the plan all along. Piecemeal everything into place and you get the whole pie. He believes every student should have rock solid fundamentals and a career major. First thing you should know is his definition of fundamentals and yours are different. Second, wait until you get the bill for his plans. Third, wait to see what your child won't be taught in the process. Most importantly, note it was stated none of the above was going to take place, "we are not in East Germany." Not yet!

Campaign finance reform is the latest attempt to save the Democrats. You need to understand this is the media's pet peeve. Campaign finance reform is nothing more than limiting "soft money." The reasons for that are simple. The Republicans raise more soft money than Democrats do. If you eliminate the soft money then there is less money for unlimited advertising.

The only message that gets out is a filtered one through the press. I believe we are all aware of that problem.

How do you push the campaign reform agenda? You get caught with your hands in the cookie jar. Next, every Democrat back to FDR says "campaign finance reform" every time they are in front of a camera. Then just keep telling the American people they are not interested in the senate hearings until they are dumb enough to believe it.

The tax debate can also demonstrate the demagoguery. It is hard for me to believe but maybe Maurice Hinchey doesn't understand the tax code. It is a blatant lie to even state "Rhonda" will possibly have her taxes raised with a sole source of income of $17,500. She doesn't pay income taxes. She pays payroll taxes but receives a "redistribution of wealth payment" called an earned income credit. The tax cut plan certainly seems "fair" to me because the upper income taxpayers paying their share of the tax burden are funding the earned credit. To me, getting money you didn't earn is tax relief. As for Maurice Hinchey, I guess when the money isn't yours it is easier to spend.

As a taxpayer, you should be aware whom the Treasury Department considers rich and how they calculate it. The "rich" are getting the bulk of the tax breaks because of items added to taxpayer income. Medium household income today is about $40,000. Seventy-one percent of the tax breaks go to people making between $20,000 and $75,000. The White House is adding items to income such as IRA's, the value of pensions, and potential rental income from your home! I wonder where we live when we rent out our homes? The effect of this tactic inflates taxpayer income by as much as 73%. We are in effect all "rich!"

Whatever the number is, 135 billion one day and 85 billion the next, it really does not matter. Over five years this is 17 to 27 billion dollars a year for everyone. In a budget of a trillion dollars does it really mean anything? Worse yet, some want a tax credit for the first two years of college. There are two things wrong with this. First the government is telling you how to spend your money. Second if so many students weren't taking remedial classes their first two years it might be worth something. Unfortunately you pay your school taxes and then pay for remedial classes.

I find it interesting that the bottom 50% of all taxpayers pay 4.7% of all taxes. The top 1% pay 29% of all income taxes. The top 5% pay 47% of all taxes. How much longer will the argument the wealthy do not pay their fair share be allowed to be demagogued? Contrary to popular belief most people earn their money.

We do not need campaign reform. We need politician reform. We need more elected officials standing up for their principles. This country was founded based on great debates not bipartisanship. All this demagoguery will continue until the Republicans effectively answer the criticisms. When some politician asks "How are we going to pay for that tax cut?" you should reply "How do you expect us to pay for your spending?"