On their op-ed, “Tax cut creates losers,” (BDN, March 23), Christopher St. John and Lynn Davey state that one of three Maine families would get no relief from the Bush tax proposal because they pay no taxes.

What they fail to mention is that most, if not all, of these families are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Taxpayers eligible for the EITC receive tax funds far greater than the amount of taxes actually withheld from their checks. Put another way, those of us who actually pay taxes are giving a portion of our income to those who don’t. One would expect that to benefit from a tax cut you would at least have to pay taxes.

The authors also mention the so-called payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare). It is inaccurate to describe these deductions as taxes. They are contributions toward retirement.

The other taxes mentioned in the column, gasoline taxes, excise and sales taxes, and property taxes, are too high because governments at all levels spend too much of our money.

The poor are not being left behind. There are many programs, public and private, that assist low-income families. What is lacking from the authors is any attempt at restraining spending. They see more wealth to redistribute. I see perhaps a glimmer of some relief. Support a tax cut.

Alfred Greenlaw

Orrington