Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

I learned just recently that our winning Olympic athletes have to pay taxes on their gold, silver, and bronze medals. Does that strike anyone else as insane?

In our own community, tweakers, and the metal recyclers that profit from their drug-crazed activities, are pocketing substantial returns and paying no taxes on our communally owned man-hole covers, copper wiring, and bronze historical markers, as well as statues, grave site brass flower holders, and only God knows what else.

Mitt and Ann Romney and their dancing horse Rafalca, in the Olympic competition, got a $77,000 tax deduction.

I propose that we let our winning Olympic athletes bring their medals home tax free.  And while we’re at it, let’s let our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, who daily risk their lives for us in war zones around the planet, collect their paychecks tax free.

Isn’t that the least that they deserve?

Stephen Breacain
Manteca
Aug. 5, 2012