What will create full-time jobs?

I am concerned about what is happening and not happening in the other Washington. Many of us are extremely frustrated with both political parties, who can’t manage to work together for the good of our nation. Cuts to Social Security and Medicare affecting the most vulnerable in our society are being considered by Congress as a necessary step in dealing with the budget crisis. Now a government shutdown looms.

Legislators reiterate that a proposed tax increase on the rich and big business would slow down job growth; however, I view that comment as a threat to a practical partial solution to our budget crisis. They have also proposed to change the full-time job definition from a 30-hour to a 40-hour week, and remarked that the majority of new jobs have only been part-time. Hey! Does this mean our improved job growth isn’t as healthy as currently portrayed? Would increasing taxation on the rich and big business, at least for a defined period of time, be the impetus for them to more quickly develop additional “full-time” jobs to rejuvenate our financial recovery?

I strongly encourage support for increasing taxation on those who can most afford it, not taking away resources from our senior citizens, the innocent children of deceased parents, and the disabled.

Karen DeShon Coffman

Bothell