An Open Letter to Mitt Romney & His Rich Friends

Dear Mitt and his fellow Republicans,

I don’t make some of my money off investments; I make ALL of my money off investments, and yet I still pay nearly 30% in taxes while you pay 13.9%. Can you explain this to me?

Maybe I make the wrong kind of investments. I don’t invest in stocks and bonds or derivitives.

I invest my time in being a motivational speaker, a comedienne, a cheerleader, an editor, a second mom, a confidante, a psychologist, a drill sergeant, a financial consultant, a wardrobe consultant, an employment agency, a nurse, an actress, an interpreter (in Spanish, a language I speak very little), a best friend, and a professional organizer (at which I am a rather pointed failure).

I invest my money in office supplies, candy and other “prizes”, fundraising candy bars I don’t eat, fundraiser tickets to events I won’t end up going to, “borrowed” dollars for bus fair or lunches (most of which I’ll never be repaid), and notebooks and pencils for kids who can’t afford them.

I invest in my own education, all at my own expense, to keep up with the latest developments in brain research and the latest ideas for doing a better job. I invest a small fortune in books and magazines, plus time to read them, for the same purpose.

I invest, Mitt and friends, in other people’s children. I invest in their future, which is the future of our country. Your country. How much have you invested in these children, other than to try to tell me, despite a complete lack of professional training for it on your part, how to do my job?

So, listen, let’s make a deal. If you’re going to invest in financial activities that make you a very, very rich man, could you and your wealthy friends at least give me the same tax break you get? Or better still, since the people of this country really need it, since you and your fellow “job creators” have wholeheartedly failed at that task and voted down the President’s real job creation bill, how about if you cough it up at the same tax rate I pay?

                                                                        With all due respect,

                                                                        The respect I ought to be due,

                                                                        A public high school teacher