Tough choice
Re “Aquarium” (Your Views, July 21): We can all agree that the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is a gem and a huge asset to Virginia Beach — but how much should Virginia Beach expect to pay to maintain this attraction?
The Virginia Aquarium Foundation wants the city of Virginia Beach to pay up to $200 million. The city already subsidizes the aquarium with more than $9 million each year for operations and capital improvements. According to “Virginia Beach leaders push pause on private operation of aquarium — for now” (July 17), it will cost millions to repair the deteriorating aquarium tanks and to cover other major repair and maintenance expenses. Covering this cost would require either sending a big bill to Virginia Beach taxpayers or displacing other worthwhile projects such as school construction, storm water projects, and parks and recreation updates. This is a tough choice.
City Council needs to ask tough questions and explore all options while working with the aquarium foundation to map out a financially viable future.
Gay Goldsmith, Virginia Beach
Fair share?
Re “Taxes” (Your Views, July 18): It’s interesting that whenever the subject of income taxes comes up in the letters to the editor section, the argument is always that the rich don’t pay their “fair share.” Let’s look at some facts about who pays taxes in this nation. The average income tax rate in 2021 was 14.9%. According to the Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org), “The top 1% of taxpayers paid a 25.9% average rate, nearly eight times higher than the 3.3% average rate paid by the bottom half of taxpayers.”
“The top 50% of all taxpayers paid 97.7% of all federal individual income taxes, while the bottom 50% paid the remaining 2.3%,” the Tax Foundation reported. What’s the “fair share” for the bottom half of taxpayers?
Most writers blame Republicans for the rich not paying their “fair share.” In fact, the rich, like everyone else who pays taxes, take advantage of tax laws passed by Congress. If you don’t like the tax laws, blame Congress, which has Republicans and Democrats.
Those who constantly complain about who does or does not pay their “fair share” never ask why we spend so much money in the first place. In fact, those doing the complaining are the very ones who benefit most from those paying 97.7% of federal individual income taxes collected.
My final thought is that those who complain about the rich probably define “rich” as anyone who makes more money than they do.
Bill Wallace, Gloucester
Vote
Re “Accept Trump” (Your Views, July 16): The writer is obviously drinking the MAGA Kool-Aid when he says former President Donald Trump will be our next president. “The liberals” are definitely not liking it at all that Trump has been handed an immunity provision (that will be challenged) or that he is running at all.
And as far as “get ready,” there is no getting ready for all the chaos promised by the Republican candidate, his zombie followers and his team of loyalists ready to make the country theirs.
This election is winnable by the Democratic Party. Wake up and vote, people.
Kathleen Damon, Virginia Beach
Chance
Re “God intervenes” (Your Views, July 17): No, “God” didn’t intervene as the letter writer says he did to use former President Donald Trump for a plan. It was pure chance. Life is random. There are more than 4,000 recognized religions on this planet, many with their own “god.”
We humans have evolved past the point of believing the nonsense that the Earth is the center of the universe and that it’s flat. We are now smart enough to separate fact from mythological superstitions.
Lee Matthews, Hampton
