Clinton on Higher Taxes

Kevin Phillips quotes Clinton (“Is Clinton Forgetting the Middle Class?” Opinion, Jan. 24) as saying “ ‘The truth is that middle-class Americans are basically the only group of Americans who’ve been taxed more in the 1980s and during the last 12 years, even though their incomes have gone down. The wealthiest Americans have been taxed much less, even though their incomes have gone up,’ ” adding his own comment, “His words were true.”

No, his words were not true. According to Census Bureau data, if households are divided into five equal groups according to income, all five groups had significant income gains from 1980 to 1989. As for the wealthiest group being taxed less, not only did the taxes paid by the top group increase during these years, but the share of total taxes paid by this group went up, not down. The tide of prosperity created by President Reagan’s tax cuts lifted all boats (it helps if you row a little) and shifted the tax burden to those with higher incomes. Raising taxes will have the opposite effect.

GEORGE L. CLARK

Manhattan Beach