The Whoppers of 2008

Dear minutetominute
The Obama and Biden votes against scrapping the bridge occurred on Oct 20, 2005 votes 262 and 263. There were some excellent floor speeches that day, for scrapping the bridge and keeping it. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r109:./temp/~r10919kLnx you have dig through it to find comments by Coburn, Stevens, and Murkowski)

I get why Biden and Obama did not vote against the bridge. However, I believe a yes vote on either of those bills would have shown excellent fiscal leadership. If the same type of vote comes up in 2009 I hope to think most senators would be more prudent.

Anyway, the Bridge issue is much more complex than any of the media or candidates suggest. I found it very interesting reading and encourage everyone to do so. Coburn really took on Stevens and you could Steven's was not pleased

minutetominute, you continued to focus on the non issue. Answer my questions on what Obama and Biden have planned for the economy and why it will work.
As far as paying my fair share, please explain to me how that is defined. Under an Obama administration I estimate that I will pay roughly 60% of my gross income in taxes, including income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, vehicle registration, gas taxes, etc. I have no problem paying my "fair share". Indeed, I have no problem paying more than the average American, recognizing I am in a much better financial position. What I am opposed to is further increasing the spread in the brackets, increasing taxes on some Americans in order to give others a tax break (particularly at a time when we have a huge deficit), and increasing taxes in order for the government to spend the money how they want. 60%. Think about how ridiculous that is.

FactCheck.Org can't distinguish facts from opinion or restrain themselves from dealing in yellow journalism. For example, Sarah Palin cancelled the "bridge to nowhere" project. That is a fact. Their rationalizing of the significance of the action does not change the factuality and the significance remains a matter of opinion. This is yellow journalism pure and simple.

I do not see the Obama statement that the "Bush tax reductions only benefitted the rich". A quick check of the before and after tax tables reveals that this is wrong. The Bush tax cuts reduced tax rates at all levels of income with the percentage of reduction increasing as income levels decrease. For example, a new bracket was added at the lowest level with zero taxes compared to 15% previously. Indirectly, all levels of imcome benefitted when the economy recovered from the recession that was inherited from the previous administration.

You have to identify what tax plan version you are referring to when evaluating his proposals. He origionally stated he was going to roll back the Bush tax reductions without exception. He then revised his proposal to only apply the roll back to that portion over $250,000.. Whoops, he just contradicted his origional statement that the Bush tax reductions only benefitted the rich. Similarly, His origional proposal was to tax capital gains as ordinary income without exception. This was not favorably recieved either thus a revision was added restricting the levels of income and retirement accounts. Thus he retreats into the standard position that he is going to increase taxes on someone other than you knowing full well that everyone will bear the burden as taxes are passed along to the consumer and investments moved off shore.

I'll finish with a couple of questions. Has either candidate provided qualification of whether the total tax burden would go up or down and quantification of how much? Isn't that basic information that the voters need and deserve to make a informed decision based on facts?

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it'll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed
by one of our candidates for President.
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .
And remember, The plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.