To constantly call the estate tax the death tax has been a very effective way of dishonestly implying that all our heirs will have to part with tax money that they may not have at the time of our demise. It’s a fear tactic, true or not, and who cares? It works.

Republicans will get their way as well as mislead the public into thinking they are working in their best interest. In fact, the estate tax applies to less than 1 percent (0.3) of this country’s wealthiest people.

For us, it means losing $800 billion in tax revenue over the first 10 years, more than twice what we’ve spent on the Iraq war. Why tell the truth when you can mislead so lucratively for so few? Republicans are wasting valuable congressional time unfairly undermining our tax revenues when we are so incredibly in debt and have so many serious quality-of-life issues for millions of people.

This dishonesty is the foundation of corruption and is destroying what is left of Republican Party integrity. We may not have the power to stop the majority but we should be brave enough to give it all we’ve got in November.

Jan Kubiac

Albany Township