I am writing regarding the published letter from Cape and Islands state representative Dylan Fernandes (July 21: “For Representative, Community Engagement is a Cornerstone”).

Mr. Fernandes states that he voted for the millionaires’ tax, under which a person earning over $1 million a year in taxable income will pay four per cent more, or 9.1 per cent, in state income taxes instead of the usual 5.1 per cent, on income above $1 million, in order to fund education initiatives. He states that it is “only fair” that someone making over $1 million a year pay a “slightly higher” income tax rate than someone making $50,000 a year.

In this case, “slightly higher” is actually 78 per cent higher. (9.1 per cent divided by 5.1 per cent equals 178 per cent). A person making $1 million a year is already contributing 20 times more in state income taxes than the person making $50,000 a year, although receiving the same level, or less, of educational or other government services.

I called Mr. Fernandes to discuss the proposed new tax. He was very cordial and we each shared our thoughts in a respectful manner. I appreciated his willingness to hear my point of view.

The fundamental question is, what, or who, has led us to rationalize that it is the responsibility of one group of citizens to pay for someone else’s education, health care or subsidized wind and solar power, just to name a few areas of ever-expanding government overreach? As an example, people with investment income in excess of $250,000 a year now pay an additional 3.8 per cent in federal income taxes to subsidize health insurance coverage for others, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Outside of the poorest among us who certainly deserve protection, shouldn’t everyone else be responsible for his/her own health care, just as we are for our car and homeowners insurance, so that we are vested in and sensitive to the cost of that care?

Personally, I think it is “only fair” that Stephen Curry be blindfolded when he shoots three pointers, in order to level the playing field (or court). And Bobby Orr should have been required to wear 20-pound weights on each leg so he couldn’t skate circles around everyone else. Totally unfair.

Bob Landreth
Midland, Tex., and Vineyard Haven