Editorials / Opinion

Seattle Times letters to the editor

Central America needs new taxation system

In his immigration-reform article, Mauricio Vivero neglects to mention why Central Americans “lack access to education and health care.” They lack this because they pay practically no income tax [“Immigration reform opens new opportunity in Central America,” Opinion, May 8].

It’s primarily cash and carry down there and the politicians are notorious for stealing what few taxes do get paid. Hence there is no money to pay for schools or health care, nor is there money to pay for police to provide them with “smarter law-enforcement strategies.”

So the Central Americans come up here illegally, work under the table for cash and send the cash home. They don’t pay taxes up here, they don’t pay taxes there, and they wonder why there is no development down there and why they are resented up here.

Perhaps Vivero would do more good by going down there and helping them initiate a functional system of taxation and development. Then, and only then, will we see any progress.

Richard Askren, Seattle