Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Spreading the Wealth Around

John McCain and Sarah Palin have spent the last few days slamming Barack Obama for his comment to Joe the plumber. Needless to say they have completely left out the context of the entire conversation. McCain has used this as a talking point to press his idea that it means higher taxes on small business and middle class people. This is false. If your net income is $250,000, yes, your taxes would be higher but that is NOT middle class. He's throwing the word "socialism" around a great deal and so are his supporters. I highly doubt many of them know what that word even means but it's a good buzz word. Alas, here's a what socialism really is:

Social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.


Barack Obama, raising taxes on those making $250,000 or more is not socialism. No one has proposed nationalizing anything. In fact, it will only be a 3% raise to 39%---back to where it was during Clinton's Presidency when we ended up with a surplus.

For some reason McCain , this election season, doesn't think the rich should pay higher taxes. But that's NOT what he thought in the year 2000. Watch this video and question from a Doctor's daughter.



Here's a partial transcipt from McCain's remarks to that young lady:

But I believe that when you really look at the tax code today, the very wealthy, because they can afford tax lawyers and all kinds of loopholes, really don't pay nearly as much as you think they do when you just look at the percentages. And I think middle-income Americans, working Americans, when the account and payroll taxes, sales taxes, mortgage pay -- all of the taxes that working Americans pay, I think they -- you would think that they also deserve significant relief, in my view...


I did notice that young lady shaking her head. Guess she doesn't think wealthy Daddy should pay more. Maybe Daddy needs to manage his money better. Our progressive tax code does make those making lots of money pay more as they should. I'll never understand how someone making lots of money has the temerity to whine. My husband and I certainly don't whine about what we pay. We expect to pay more because of the money my husband makes. It is patriotic to pay your taxes.

Interestingly, in 2000, McCain thought wealthy people should pay more. Ah, but now he sings a different tune. I guess John doesn't understand yet that you tube exists and what he says is actually recorded! Just another one of McCain's flip flops, er, changes of mind. Yeah, right.

Even The Daily Show showed a portion of this video from 2000 to call out McCain.




Amazing how eight years have changed his tune. What's also amazing is how utterly ignorant so many of his supporters are of the tax codes and the deductions allowed.

1 comment:

Beth said...

I think they need to drop this "socialist" crap right now, because it's such obvious BS.

Jon Stewart has been hilarious lately. He is really on it this year!

Beth