Peggy Noonan clearly points out what most people in the Northeast, and I am sure in other large metropolitan areas, feel about being classified as the 1%—we are mad as hell ("The Drawn-Out Crisis: It's the Obama Way," Declarations, Dec. 1). Perhaps the president, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid would like to forgo their own health-care plans to pay for the one my family buys. Perhaps they want to pay to maintain my house, and pay my federal, state and local taxes. Perhaps they want to help their parents financially and save for their children's college. Then there is their own retirement. Oh, of course, they are guaranteed pensions and health care for life, I forgot.

My children come first, but after barely making the president's "wealthy" threshold and taking care of those we love, and putting away for our children's education and for our retirement so we aren't a burden to other taxpayers, we cannot take a vacation by airplane unless we have frequent-flier miles. I am not complaining but explaining reality. We are proud of the way we have conducted ourselves and of the fiscal responsibility we display. We don't want what we don't earn. But we did earn what we have through hard work and long hours, and we would spend it more wisely than the government, thereby fueling this anemic economy.

The Republicans would never drop the safety net for those in need. The Democrats want to shove more people into it.

Gwen Sullivan

Ridgewood, N.J.

Peggy Noonan writes that we really need to look at the numbers. More than 46 million Americans live below the poverty level. The poverty level is defined as $18,000 for a family of three. These 46 million people live the entire year on less than what Ms. Noonan's sample family earns in one month. Poverty living is what it means to have "not much to spare." These are the Americans who need a strong safety net and an American people willing to create a tax system to keep it in place. It's not because the poor are lazy or lack discipline or are weak in character. It is so in large part because we have become a nation of low-wage jobs.

These are the families who should be the focus of our tax discussions. We should be more concerned about how those of us who have much can help change the landscape for those who have little. Asking people who earn $250,000 to forgo a dinner out or a new dress is exactly the call to duty that this nation needs.

Betsey Martens

Boulder, Colo.

I'm not sure if many of the tutors, piano teachers, landscapers and small-shop owners who voted for President Obama fully considered the impact on their own lives when they voted to make the "rich" pay their fair share. There will be no winners next year or in the next four years.

Greg Gaughan

Coronado, Calif.