The recent talk of "spread the wealth" is very unsettling and reminds me of the communist takeover in Russia in the early 1900s.
We defeated Russia in the Cold War without firing a shot because the free enterprise system is, by far, better than socialism. America is a world leader because we reward individual effort. America is the land of opportunity, and millions of people come here from other countries to have the opportunities we take for granted. In our great land anybody, regardless of race, sex or national origin, can succeed if they do what it takes.
The old saying "You reap what you sow" is very true. Spreading the wealth rewards non-achievers and punishes achievers. Why should I work hard every day to give my money to somebody else? There is nothing wrong with helping people who cannot help themselves, and we should do that. However, why should workers be forced to give their hard-earned wages to people who can help themselves but choose not to?
Both parties talk about taxing somebody else and not you. They say "tax corporations and give to the poor," "cut taxes on middle class," "you don't have to pay or work for it, I'll give it to you free," "if I'm elected I'll tax the rich to buy you health insurance," so vote for me. All they are trying to do is buy your vote. No matter what they say, taxes are really paid by the workers in the end.
We need to get politics out of taxes and pass the "Fair Tax." Then politicians can concentrate on the real issues and not changing the tax codes to buy votes. The problem is, politicians realize the "Fair Tax" would greatly reduce the control they have over voters by false promises of "spreading the wealth."
Jeff Clark, Martinez
Comments
The Republicans have had almost 2,920 days (8 years) to try the opposite of "spreading the wealth" and make it work. They tried. It failed. Stop whining. Time for something new. And advice from you and your fellow GOPers is not needed. The GOP has owned the white house and congress and failed to execute their own plan Time for new approaches.
Punishing a situation reduces the inclination to try it and rewarding a situation increases the inclination to try it. Punishing the achievers and rewarding the non-achievers doesn't make sense, except to the non-achievers.
pt, it's NOT non-achievers who will benefit! It's hard working, honest people who DO pay MORE than their fair share of the tax burden who will get a little relief. You just haven't got a clue. I'll bet even YOU will benefit from the intelligence of those of us who will vote OBAMA IN AS PRESIDENT!
Lowering exoectations and wiggling those big old ears ain't going to make the money for all of his promises magically appear. Either he is lying about all of his promised give aways or he's lying about who he will increase taxes on.
I know HORDES of at least six figure income people that via the riddled tax code, pay either no taxes or less taxes than people at McD's. The Fair tax, for a variety of reasons will not pass or work...the main reason is that it removes the progressivity from our code. A progressive tax code lives up to the inherent American promise that for whom much is given, much is required.
HORDES of 6 figure income people? seriously, gunby, you don't need to exaggerate to make your point. i know HORDES of 6 figure income people who pay nearly 50% (or more) or their income in taxes. and where in the constitution did you find the inherent American promise of higher requirements? seems if that is written somewhere, the TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN PART (aka the needy) would be more willing to accept that they have a larger obligation to repay / workoff their debt.
Great letter Jeff Clark...The envy of the masses holding out their hands for more is just what this country needs to push it into the class of a major socialist regime...That is what is wrong with this country to begin with...Now what is obviously a little known fact...The ones who have like Obama, Hollywood types, Kennedy types, rap and other entertainers are not going to relinquish their money coffers for you people...If you believe that I have some wonderful property on the the Amazon I will sell you...People your being used and you don't even feel the enema... Amazing...
Bone, I have always thought the statement " for whom much is given, much is required." referred not to the needy but to the one who has everything (ie. luck, talent, patience, intelligence, wealth of any kind and that could include money). Those individuals are held to a higher standard. They are expected to do more with what they have been given. Maybe I have been wrong, but that is how I have interpreted it and chosen to apply its meaning in my life.
The IRS will always be in business, even if there was a flat tax, someone has to give the non productive vouchers not to pay the tax.....Ask anyone in the UK how they feel about all of the taxes they pay versus the services they receive. When a pair of Levis cost $120 or a pack of cigs cost $11...........
The fair tax is a joke, and that's why it cannot gain steam. The wealth of this country is already being unfairly spread upward. The top 5% income earners in this country are also it's greatest welfare recipients with tax breaks and loopholes the rest of us do not get.
gumby, Your right, everyone that works hard to support their family should pitch in a bit more for the people too sorry to support themselves.
The right always bashes Europe for universal health care or something or another, then they use them as examples of how we should do things (UK taxes, nuclear power in France). Remember freedom fries? I thought ya'll didn't like thos countries?
No matter who says what, the working middle class will get screwed again and again..
OK get your Obama Waffles while they're hot. His staff is now saying they may not be able to implement most of his promises due to the economy!
I really can't believe they let that cat out of the bag before elections....
They are doing it now to try to prevent a big backlash after!
Weird some still try to say "spread the wealth" is out of context, then others accept it as the best way. Both ignorant opinions. What is true is that Obama will inherent a govt that already functions on deficit spending and with a national debt that is just ridiculous. The question should be "Why doesn't govt act responsibly and quit spending money it doesn't have?", because "we the people" are the ones stuck with the bill. Our govt has got us in this mess and now the masses expect them to solve the problem-THEY are the problem-both parties. Both candidates have made promises they won't be able to keep, especially Obama. He duped the ignorant masses with promises of rainbow-what a bunch of rubes.
"pt, it's NOT non-achievers who will benefit! It's hard working, honest people who DO pay MORE than their fair share of the tax (what a whopper!!!) burden who will get a little relief. You just haven't got a clue." Please tell me YOU ARE NOT THAT IGNORANT OF THE FACTS are you GACopperhead. Good Golly that has to be most fallacious ignorant statement I've ever seen you write-I hope you are just kidding. Please don't tell me you are just another sleazy, lazy, lying loser looking for a free ride and rationalizing your unethical behavior as some kind of justice. Pathetic!!!!!!!!
If the government would tax everyone 10% of their income across the board, do away with the deductions and other perks, the government would have more money than they would know what to do with. Obama's "plan" just plain stinks, just as his so-called "health plan" does. No vote for Obama from this household. And by the way, Obama is planning to bankrupt the coal industry, which includes the swing states. That news flash came out on the news last night on video. He also said that this will cause our electric bills to "skyrocket." It did not bother him that thousands will lose their jobs or the fact that none of us are going to be able to pay our monthly utility bill. How's that for "progress?"
When I read the twisted truths used to justify the socialist approach to taxes proposed by Obama I feel, once again, the effects of the "dumbing down of America" scholastic efforts initiated by the left. I hate that program has been so successful.
Bizarro for president. He is the only one who at least understands the problem.
bizarro, I take your statement as a personal insult. Those who make over 250k have more loopholes and deductions than are fair. They, after all those deductions, pay less percentage of taxes on their actual income than those who don't make enough to afford them. I work HARD for my wages, and resent the implication that I am a loser, sleazy or lazy. And I reiterate that we who work and make less than 40k pay MORE than our fair share of taxes. I paid 7,500 last year. How much did YOU pay? And how much did you earn? OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT! TAX THE RICH! I'm tired of the greedy right wing. You all rot.
Reality: If you are worried about the middle-class getting screwed, don't stay in the middle-class. Your physical state will always be where your mental state keeps you. Change your attitude and you can change you place in life. You can be eating Mac-n Cheese, and feel like your working your way to crumpets and caviar. Sacrifice immediate gratification now, for a happy prosperous life later. It takes time and hard work and sacrifice, and smart shoices, but really, it all starts with a "I can do it" attitude.
The clueless, blind and gullible dims continue to be clueless, blind and gullible. How can you tell when NObama is lying - his mouth opens.
TR..The remark was NOT taken out of context. The remark was in answer to a question asked by "joe the Plumber" and obama answered very clearly. Perhaps you should listen to the original tape and appear more enlightened.
The top 10% of income earners pay 68% (top 5% pay 54% of all taxes) and the bottom 50% contribute 3%. The top 50% of wage earners essentially pay all the taxes. The Middle Class pays their fair share as far as a progressive tax system goes, which is obviously way less than the top 10%. Neither does said taxes of the middle class somehow magically go to the rich, which would be wealth redistribution. Middle class (which has a number of definitions sociological and economic) has a range of income between 40K and 100K (25-75K is the mean of distribution table). There is an inequality between the upper and middle class but it is because of a differential growth of income with inflation favoring the top wage earners, and a shrinking middle class.
GAc, Get off your class hate high horse. No poverty level peeps EVER gave a job to anyone, except maybe selling drugs. The upper income people create jobs, donate large amounts of money to charities, and to local education schoarships to help people that make up they community. They also provide jobs for people which drive our capitalist economy. It is successful, it works, and it could be even better if everyone who could work, would work. If we as a nation, penalize the wealthy, it will discourage investors and growth in our country. Why don't you understand, you cannot force anyone to continue to work hard, only to be punished by way of extra taxes. Do you and Obama need to see the Big corporations leave our country for you to understand?
If you truly believe Obama is a socialist, you should have listened to the conservative talk show "The Wilkow Majority" about a week ago. Brian Moore, the socialist party of the U.S.'s candidate for president was a guest, and he blasted Obama for not being a true socialist. He said Obama talks a good game but he is no real Socialist. All of the far left wingers hate Obama because he is too conservative for their liking. I really enjoyed hearing Wilkow tear this Moore apart.
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