To the Editor:

I for one, and completely thankful for an income gap in society. Hard work, innovation and that all important "Stick-to-itivness" allows people to come from a challenged background and succeed. It is the communist ... er ... democrat buzz phrase that the income gap is a concept that is to be loathed and even feared. I cannot begin to mention the myriad people that have come to this great and prosperous nation with the clothes on their back and a dream in their God-given souls, only to rise above the endless challenges placed before them. My grandparents came here with nothing and instilled into their children concepts that are wholly unknown to some entire segments of today's leech society. These concepts are education, hard work, patience and empathy for others. By staying in school, my parents were able to build a successful business through the decades by maintaining a hands-on approach that usually entailed working 7 days a week and 12-hour days. Success did not come overnight and not even for many years but with patience, they were able to learn what works, what does not, and gained the ultimate ability to discern the difference in the future. When someone was short or could not pay from time to time, it was an honor to help others that faced similar challenges. The recipients of such help would not have broken pride but would take pride in the fact that maybe someday, they could help others in their own future.

Unfortunately, society has changed to those of takers instead of builders and makers; to a society of "I want it all and I want it now", where work is a four-letter word as long as there is WIC, SNAP, Welfare and seemingly endless unemployment benefits and the taking becomes generational. Why work and have self respect when the government will take care of you. In addition to this, once I get mine, I'm not sharing. Society as a whole must adjust to a more stable and sustainable income gap in that those who refuse to participate in actually earning a living are not a taxing burden to those who actually produce, educate and provide opportunities for others in society.

This brings me to my final point: Those who scream income gap have no earthly idea what it’s like to live and survive in a soulless society where everyone is to earn the same, live the same, get housed the same and dream the same nightmares. I have seen these countries, physically lived in these countries, and there are too many of these countries. When someone finally escapes, guess what ... they come here to the U.S. of A. I've looked in the eyes of children in foreign lands where this total income equality occurs (and it's not a very high income if any) and there is no hope whatsoever for these little ones. Those that promulgate the phrase income inequality, all they know is that it;s a buzz phrase and part of a political campaign of complete misdirection from the total lack of skill and leadership in today's democrat party and fellow travelers. I for one, revel in an income gap where the fruits of one's labors may be enjoyed, increased and passed on to those who are less fortunate and to be passed on to those in the future. No self-respecting individual could possible want everyone to earn the same, live the same way, and barely survive the same way. This is the gospel of income equality and most of the time, some people become more equal than others over time and your life is not your own. I actually pity the poor misguided souls that spout the negatives of income equality.

Jim Marotta

Centreville