Several have written to disparage President Obama's handling of the economy, claiming that Ronald Reagan was able to turn things around in four years when he became president. But President Reagan walked into only a bad economy, not a bad economy and two unfunded wars! President Obama, immediately upon taking office, put the wars on budget, which immediately caused the debt to soar -- because this information had not been previously reported. And, as we know, Congress has had a lot of difficulty getting together to pass any bills these past two years.

Now it's being claimed that 47 percent of us don't pay federal taxes, are too lazy to work but feel entitled and victimized at the same time. Please! Many of us out here are working poor who have worked all our lives and are still working because the economy trashed our retirement savings and our savings in general.

What we should focus on is the unmentioned fact that quite a few corporate entities pay zero federal taxes: GE, for one, and many others also. The über-rich with their offshore accounts and shelters also often pay an effective tax rate approaching zero. Ann Romney's dressage horse gets her a $77,000 deduction every year -- and $77,000 buys a lot of food. And then there are the massive subsidies given to big oil and others.

We need to vote wisely and well in November -- our future depends on it!

Joyce Dillenberger

Bellingham