I don't like what I'm hearing....

So, I just wanted to share a few thoughts about what I've heard lately.


In a recent interview on Good Morning America, Joe Biden is on the record saying:


"We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people,”... “It’s time to be patriotic … time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."


Again, let me just say for the record, this election has been a difficult one for me to stomach. I have had a really hard time not just sticking my head in the sand and praying the whole thing will be over with. I usually like to get behind someone - to believe in someone or something. I am glad to see our country getting past the race issue, and closing the gender gap. I think its' all wonderful stuff. That being said, what I am hearing lately is just the same old dirty tricks, mass manipulation and labeling that has gotten us where we are today.



As I mentioned a few days ago - it looks like the candidate for "change" is doing the same old stuff. I think that Obama is a likeable guy, I just can't support him. Aside from the Pro-choice issue - which for me is HUGE, he also seems to be playing the class-envy game. Their campaign doesnt' seem to be about change for the better so much as a call for "fairness" and a pandering to the "middle-class" in the form of wealth re-distribution. This would be a very bold step in the wrong direction in my opinion - a huge move toward overt socialism. Just listen to Biden's words - He said they will TAKE MONEY (from some) and GIVE IT to others.



I have a few questions. Could somebody please tell me, honestly -


1. Who pays most of the income tax now?


2. How will "giving" a tax cut that will amount to about $1000 per household boost our economy any more than the "stimulus" checks our government is so fond of handing out these days?

3. Won't raising taxes on corporations just encourage inflation - which affects the bottom line for the precious "middle-class" they soo long to champion? Will that effect jobs?

(BTW - I am definitely "middle-class" - our household income doesn't even come close to approaching 6 figures - and I have gotten full Tax refunds for the past 11 years and counting. They can't cut my taxes any more! I don't pay and I get money "back" I didn't pay in through the child tax credit - what more can they do??!!!!)

4. If this plan is such a great way to "fix" our economy, why is the Obama campaign now talking about holding off on their plan to raise taxes until things stabilize? Isn't that just admitting that it could actually have a negative effect instead?

5. If I happen to earn more than $250k per year - is it automatically assumed that I obtained this status by luck or at the expense of someone less fortunate? Would I not deserve it somehow? Is it ever justified to be successful? What if I put in 70 hrs. a week for 10 years to build my business and now it is just taking off and I am earning that kind of money after years of sacrifice? Is it now my patriotic duty to give more of it to the government so somebody who doesn't pay taxes now will get a bigger "refund" check? What if paying my new "patriotic" tax burden means laying somebody off? Will that somehow magically "fix" our economy?

6. Are corporate profits bad? Is it wrong for a company who is in business producing a tangible item that people want to buy, or providing a valuable service that people are willing to pay for - to actually make a profit by doing so?

7. Since there is a lot of talk about greedy corporate profits, who are the major shareholders in american corporations? Aren't most outstanding shares owned by mutual funds? (hint: Yes) Who owns most mutual fund shares? (hint: the middle class - through IRA's, in 401(k) plans, state teacher's retirement plans, union pensions, etc...).

8. Will raising taxes on evil corporations make the share prices go up or down? Won't this hurt the "wealthy" shareholders? The next time we hear some politician grandstanding about the greed on wall street, we should all keep in mind that he's talking about all of us too! One does not need to be "rich" to be an investor. On the contrary, most of us are in fact "invested" in stocks to one degree or another.

So, it would seem that TAKING money from some and giving it to others, may not be the best policy for change - in fact it just may make things worse.