Second look: 'Fiscal cliff,' Obama's second term

Some letters to the editor and comments from Facebook on the week's top talkers:

PAYROLL TAXES?

Yet again I see a chart showing that the bottom 50% pay only 2% of the federal income taxes ("Your Say: A fair way to share burden?").

We need to stop excluding federal payroll taxes from this equation.

Unless, of course, you also assume Medicare and Social Security aren't part of the problem. The wealthy pay a relatively small part of our biggest budget busters; that is entitlements.

Nick Benton; Corvallis, Ore.

ALL MUST PAY

Thanks so much for making the not too obvious point that if everyone — not just the wealthy — does not pay higher taxes, we can't cover the debt.

House Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" was a washout, and after Jan.1, everything changes when tax rates return to the Clinton-era ones.

The debate then will become one of protection of the middle class, which the Republicans cannot fail to join on the side of the Democrats, or risk being forced out of the Washington power structure for the next generation.

Frank L. Bracy Jr.; Three Rivers, Mich.

NEXT FOUR YEARS

I think President Obama will play it relatively safe and will run out the clock on his second term, having seen his greatest success in being re-elected ("What will next term bring?", Your Say, Wednesday).

Gun policy reform now is a safe issue to put his stamp on so that will be top priority.

Immigration will be next to reward supporters.

David Hale

NO SYMPATHY FOR WEALTHY

I read the article about Edwina Rogers, the woman who had to downsize from a 15,000-square-foot home to a 6,000-square-foot one for three people ("Wealthy find reasons to tighten holiday budgets").

I wonder how many truly needy people could live in a place like that. She reportedly spent several thousand dollars on Christmas gifts for her children.

The whole thing just made me feel so bad that I wished the article had included an address so I could have sent a check to help her out. Seriously, what purpose does it serve to publish an article like that?

Jim Grover; Bronxville, N.Y.