Letter: Problem with spending, not with federal taxes

I keep hearing the president say the rich need to pay their fair share. My wage does not put me into the category of the rich, but we don't have a tax problem. We have a spending problem.

This is a problem with both parties. We cannot tax our way out of a spending problem.

I did a little research. The president and the vice president should do what they believe each American should do. President Barack Obama's average charitable contributions from 2000 to 2004 was 0.9 percent. From 2005 to 2010, it was 5.8 percent. Vice President Joe Biden's average from 2000 to 2010 was 0.34 percent. My family's average was more than 11 percent from 2000 to 2010. The average American gives 2 percent of his annual income to charity.

An interesting way to look at the American spending problem.

• U.S. tax revenue: $2.17 trillion.

• Federal budget: $3.82 trillion.

• New debt: $ 1.65 trillion.

• National debt: $14.27 trillion.

• Recent budget cuts: $ 38.5 billion.

Now remove eight zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

• Annual family income: $21,700.

• Money the family spent: $38,200.

• New debt on the credit card: $16,500.

• Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710.

• Total budget cuts: $385.

• E. Thomas McClanahan: An absurd charade on corporate taxes
• Chicago Tribune: Capital ideas and Romney's taxes
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In Romney’s returns, an argument for tax reform
• Brian Dickerson: Romney shines bright light on secrets of rich