Secondly, Obama is talking about a tax cut for 95% of Americans. How is this even possible when 40% of Americans don’t pay taxes??? Ok, so they pay payroll taxes now, but then get it all back (and then some) at the end of the year.

As for redistribution of wealth… I grew up in a 800 sq. ft. home. My dad worked in a GM factory for 30 years. We had a roof over our head and food in our belly. We didnt’ have much, but were thankful for what we had. Upon graduation from High School, I went into the service and served my country proudly for 4 years before being injured in the 91 Gulf War. Rather than sitting around waiting for a hand out from society, I earned a college education and went on to get an MBA degree. I am now fairly successful. My wife and I make a combined income of 120k. We are by no means rich, but I have earned every penny I have by the sweat of my brow. I feel absolutely no obligation to give up what I have to someone who doesn’t want to put forth the same effort I did to get ahead.

The majority of the wealthy in this country have earned thier way to the top. If half of the lazy asses in this country would put forth the effort, they could get ahead too! There is nothing stopping them. Democrats of today thrive on the needy. With more dependency of big government, the more power they have to control society. Like it or not, we live in a Capitolist society that works if you let it. But the way it works is from the top down. Economics 101!!! If you dont like it at the bottom, then work your way to the top!

Here is an interesting thought to leave you with. WHAT IF:
The United States were to split in half. The Conservatives on one side and the Liberals on the other side. Split all assets of the country evenly. Then have a HUGE WALL down the middle so that each side could not influence the other, or trade with the other. Then wait 20 years. I bet that the liberal side would be in such moral and economical decay that it would resemble a third world nation. While the Conservative side would prosper and flourish.
Different scenerio, same concept: Economic Stimulous to the EXTREME!
Wipe the slate clean and say that no one has any money or possessions, then give every person in the country 1,000,000 (1 million) dollars. With some exceptions, how long do you think it will be before the poor are poor again, and the rich are rich again?

Those who are “financially successful” don’t have an “obligation” to me. See, that’s what freedom is.

Remember that? Freedom? Sure, the wealthier shoulder a larger burden of the shared cost of government. But I’d like the financially successful to become more financially successful and create business and jobs so that many others can do the same.

I’m not interested in pummeling the wealthy with taxes while the rest of the economy wonders where its job-creating investment capital went.

as an american citizen, my lot is common with yours. when you need help i am there; when i need help hopefully you are there. to suggest that people who are financially successful have no obligation to the country that made their success possible is extraordinarily selfish and mean spirited. do republicans really want a reputation of “i’ve got mine, screw you”?

thanks for having “open” comments. i appreciate an opportunity to join the conversation.

Look here http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama

Under Obama taxes would go up for a lot more people

The “a lot” is questionable (~5% of the population), but since with a simple read of McCain’s plan income taxes would not go up for anyone, this is true. With Obama’s plan, taxes would go down for roughly the bottom 95% of income earners, and significantly more than McCain as you got into the middle quintile of income earners. The crossover point looks to be about 100K. Those making less than 100K would get bigger tax breaks under Obama, those over 100K would get bigger breaks under McCain.

and a lot more than 5%.

The avg for those making over $1 million a year would be 9.9%.

He would increase taxes on energy

Haven’t seen this anywhere.

on payroll

He has proposed reinstating FICA taxes for income above $250K. So anyone making > $250K a year would see a tax increase under this plan. McCain has stated he has not ruled out raising FICA taxes to address social security.

estates

His plan is to retain the estate tax for estates above $3.5 million ($7 million for a married couple), about 0.03% of all households. Thats also where its already schedule to jump to next year.

and income

Already covered above.

In fact, the effective tax rate would probably approach 70% again.

Effective? you mean marginal i assume. Just curious, where did you get this figure?

Much of the above can be found on the Tax Policy Center website.

The WaPo did a breakdown of the tax increases under Obama and McCain. The fact is that most Americans – middle class Americans – will pay substantially more under McCain than they will under Obama.

If you want to deal in facts, deal in facts and real news sources, not the GOP fantasy world where Democrats are Socialists. Which, if I can get on a soapbox, is truly offensive.

There are millions of us who are proud members of the Democratic Party who have served this nation in the Armed Forces in war and peace, who have fought Communism and Fascism – and to now have some uneducated members of our society equate our reasonable (and in the context of our planet, generally center/right-leaning) political beliefs with Socialism, Fascism or Communism is offensive.

Just as much as I don’t want to hear some left-wing nut call Bush or the GOP fascists or NAZIs I similar don’t want to hear some right-wing nuts calling the Democrats communists or socialists. It isn’t true, it isn’t factual, and it is offensive.

Besides, the “rich” are not some slacker scions. They are often people with small businesses who create jobs. Tax them more and see how many jobs you (don’t) create.

Apparently, Democrats/Socialists like Ragnar aren’t paying attention.

You forgot the other important aspect of communism (and fascism, which is about the same): Taking away the right of the citizens to defend themselves.

What I really want to know is, when did the GOP base become mindless robots of the super-rich and the oil companies?

As one of my former Republican friends told me recently, if you are still a Republican you aren’t paying attention.

BTW, at what point to taxes become “confiscatory”?