The only thing we have in common...

Bobby- the only thing we have in common is that we are both stubborn and absolutely certain we are right- so if you are waiting for me to be convinced you are right, i am quite certain Brice will be graduating college before we move onto other topics!  But here's the beauty of why i started with the economy- and yes taxes, it leads into all other topics... It is the most important topic of today, and I have to laugh to even see 'greatest battle between liberalism and common sense' because those of us who consider ourselves liberals are wondering where in the world the common sense is in the conservative/tea party movement!!  There is definitely a greater political divide now than we've ever seen.  But that's part of why we're writing this blog, or at least part of why i'm participating in it... We have two completely opposed sides, who talk a lot about each other, and sometimes even at each other- but very rarely to each other.  The problem being that our society is made up of both sides- so both sides have a vested interest in working together to find the solutions that best fit society as whole (not as a political group).  That's how democracy works.

Before I get started- let me be clear, NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES.  The question is whether or not existing tax cuts will remain in existence. If the answer is yes, most of us will never know it- in terms of our paychecks.  Because we never benefited from it in the first place.  Not all Americans benefited from these tax cuts in the same way.  Why are those of us making less than $200,000 a year being penalized by baring a larger brunt of the tax responsibility?  We have a tax system that is based on percentages, so that if i make $50,000 a year, i pay the same percentage as someone who makes $100,000 a year.  So going back to your 10% theoretical, this is already how it works- $5 of your $50,000 or $10 of someone else's $100,000. That assumes the same burden for all.  The tax cuts went into effect during the last Presidency, you are correct.  GW Bush was the only President in history to increase spending and decrease taxes!  Which is how this deficit was created in the first place.  The increased spending went to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Which is where most of our tax dollars go to- The Dept of Defense not other Government programs.

The argument I'm making is referring specifically to individuals- not businesses, the person making $200,000 does not have many employees- their company might, but their personal income should not impact their company's profits.  The income from their companies should still allow them to employ others.

Lets talk about the bailouts- they didn't go to people, they went to banks.  Banks who backed bad loans to people.  And I too question that model, however the model was started by G W Bush, not the liberals.  I believe that if the stimulus package had been given to individuals in the form a portion of their individual debt receiving some relief ($$ towards student loans or mortgages) banks still would have received financial help and individuals would have too.  

If we look back on the great depression, the biggest lesson we learn is that government should be putting money into safety nets (such as health care) to ensure long-term economic growth.  But considering the health care bill has not gone into effect yet, that would not be the gov program you see as not working.  I'd be interested in knowing what you think doesn't work, and how you believe that not having gov funding for the program would better address the problem.  The Great Depression would not have lasted as long if unemployment benefits and other such safety nets had been widely available.

As far as the death tax is concerned- that has always been in existence, until this year, so don't over inflate it.  It was a mistake, due to a clerical error in the law- a one year loop-hole.  It was discovered after the tax cuts went into effect, and congress intended to go in and fix it prior to this year....  Didn't happen- hence this one year loop hole.

So what I'm saying is that the economy is exactly what everyone should be talking about right now- because at the end of the day, that's the most important issue we have.  And it absolutely effects everything else.  So, my question to you is: which programs do you see as not working- that you want to see ended? And what is your alternative solution to that program?

Give Brice a big hug from me!  And Allen Stortz is correct (he's our only comment thus far) our parents are pretty amazing.  They have put up with this argument and others like it our entire lives!