I've come to the conclusion that that those conservatives and libertarians who support the Tea Party's message of fiscal restraint will remain bonded as long as conservatives do not start emphasizing their social agenda. Libertarians, who hold diametrically opposing social views, would subsequently break off from the movement. The following article seems to agree with my views, albeit from a more "karmic" approach.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703673604575550243700895762.html
Showing posts with label Tea Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea Party. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
Playing The Percentages
I read an article recently which, in defense of extending the Bush-era tax cuts to the wealthy, claimed that those in the upper-incomes pay seventy-something percent of all taxes. For the sake of argument, let's say that they pay 75%.
I'm reminded of my college sociology class where the professor said that despite stereotypes, people would be "shocked" to hear that white people actually make up the majority of prisoners in the penal system. My first thought was, "That's because there's more white people in the country. Duh!"
By the same token, it would make sense to me that the wealthy pay 75% of the country's taxes as they bring in (at least) 75% of the country's revenue. "Duh!" We're not even accounting for international tax shelters and other options to which the lower and middle classes don't have access.
At best, fiscal conservatives may say that the lack of upper-income tax cuts on financial and employment recovery was due to concern about fighting two wars during the first six years and insecurity about presumably "anti-business" Democratic goals during the last four years.
At worst, I believe that the wealthy, just like most everyone else in these economic times, simply held onto their money to preserve their standard of living.
In the end, it would appear that Democratic Congress members from moderate-to-conservative states who, fearing a later Tea Party-fueled backlash, will not cap an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts during the upcoming lame duck session. Given that the Bush/Obama stimulus packages have had all of two years to work, it will be interesting to see how rapidly the extended tax cuts "trickle down" for the greater good over the next two years.
I'm reminded of my college sociology class where the professor said that despite stereotypes, people would be "shocked" to hear that white people actually make up the majority of prisoners in the penal system. My first thought was, "That's because there's more white people in the country. Duh!"
By the same token, it would make sense to me that the wealthy pay 75% of the country's taxes as they bring in (at least) 75% of the country's revenue. "Duh!" We're not even accounting for international tax shelters and other options to which the lower and middle classes don't have access.
At best, fiscal conservatives may say that the lack of upper-income tax cuts on financial and employment recovery was due to concern about fighting two wars during the first six years and insecurity about presumably "anti-business" Democratic goals during the last four years.
At worst, I believe that the wealthy, just like most everyone else in these economic times, simply held onto their money to preserve their standard of living.
In the end, it would appear that Democratic Congress members from moderate-to-conservative states who, fearing a later Tea Party-fueled backlash, will not cap an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts during the upcoming lame duck session. Given that the Bush/Obama stimulus packages have had all of two years to work, it will be interesting to see how rapidly the extended tax cuts "trickle down" for the greater good over the next two years.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Obama and Bush: Peering Into The Reflecting Glass
It’s been quite a while since I shared. My obligations to work and school took up most of my time and my brain. That’s all changed but I’ll get into that in another post.
I continue to feel that when the Democrats and Republicans in Washington look at each other these days, they should see a reflection of themselves in the previous administration. In many ways, it’s as if they ignored recent history and are therefore doomed to repeat it. There are probably numerous examples but here are some of the most obvious ones.
GW Bush took office shortly before the tragedy of September 11th, an emotional and financial disaster that will take decades to recover from.
Obama took office and shortly afterward expanded upon Bush’s bailouts of the mortgage, banking and auto sectors, an emotional and financial disaster that will take decades to recover from.
The questions surrounding the 2000 Florida vote recount was an ongoing controversy during the Bush Administration. To this day, there are some that say he should not have been elected while others say he simply played by the rules.
The questions surrounding the legitimacy of a Hawaii birth certificate is an ongoing controversy in the Obama Administration. To this day, there are some that say he should not have been elected while others say he (or rather, his family) simply played by the rules.
Bush’s signature goal was to privatize a portion of Social Security, an effort that was met with stiff opposition from Democrats, other progressives, many independents and even a few Republicans.
Obama’s signature goal is to socialize a portion of health care, an effort that, while passed, was met with stiff opposition from Republicans, other conservatives, many independents and even a few Democrats.
Those who opposed Bush’s war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan were painted as “unpatriotic” by his most strident supporters.
Those who opposed Obama’s universal health care plan were painted as “uncaring” by his most strident supporters.
Bush attempted to fill a Supreme Court vacancy by nominating Harriet Miers, a woman who had no judiciary experience.
Obama is attempting to fill a Supreme Court vacancy by nominating Elena Kagan, a woman who has no judiciary experience.
In response to an expletive that Bush declared about a reporter, Vice-President Dick Cheney agreed “big time”.
In response to the signing of the healthcare bill, Vice-President Joe Biden blurted out that it was a “big f****n’ deal”.
The reality of a Republican-controlled Administration and Congress (not to mention Court) spurred the mobilization of such political organizations as Move On as well as news sources such as the Huffington Post.
The reality of a Democratic-controlled Administration and Congress (and aging Court Justices) spurred the mobilization of such political organizations as the Tea Party movement and Freedom Works and news sources such as World Net Daily.
Despite losing the Presidential nomination, the loyal support that Howard Dean received was recognized as he was rewarded by being named the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Despite losing the Vice-Presidential election, the loyal support that Sarah Palin received was recognized as she has been rewarded by becoming the de facto “face” of the Tea Party movement.
Of course, we’ve previously covered the audacious declarations of both Kanye West and Glenn Beck, respectively.
And finally:
Bush was criticized, particularly by Democrats, for his slow response to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in the Gulf Coast. His response was that he trusted the states to do the right thing.
Obama was criticized, particularly by Republicans, for his slow response to the oil rig devastation in the Gulf Coast. His response was that he was trusting British Petroleum to do the right thing.
Now if we can just keep any potentially dangerous objects out of Joe Biden’s hands, it might tip the scales in Obama’s favor!
I continue to feel that when the Democrats and Republicans in Washington look at each other these days, they should see a reflection of themselves in the previous administration. In many ways, it’s as if they ignored recent history and are therefore doomed to repeat it. There are probably numerous examples but here are some of the most obvious ones.
GW Bush took office shortly before the tragedy of September 11th, an emotional and financial disaster that will take decades to recover from.
Obama took office and shortly afterward expanded upon Bush’s bailouts of the mortgage, banking and auto sectors, an emotional and financial disaster that will take decades to recover from.
The questions surrounding the 2000 Florida vote recount was an ongoing controversy during the Bush Administration. To this day, there are some that say he should not have been elected while others say he simply played by the rules.
The questions surrounding the legitimacy of a Hawaii birth certificate is an ongoing controversy in the Obama Administration. To this day, there are some that say he should not have been elected while others say he (or rather, his family) simply played by the rules.
Bush’s signature goal was to privatize a portion of Social Security, an effort that was met with stiff opposition from Democrats, other progressives, many independents and even a few Republicans.
Obama’s signature goal is to socialize a portion of health care, an effort that, while passed, was met with stiff opposition from Republicans, other conservatives, many independents and even a few Democrats.
Those who opposed Bush’s war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan were painted as “unpatriotic” by his most strident supporters.
Those who opposed Obama’s universal health care plan were painted as “uncaring” by his most strident supporters.
Bush attempted to fill a Supreme Court vacancy by nominating Harriet Miers, a woman who had no judiciary experience.
Obama is attempting to fill a Supreme Court vacancy by nominating Elena Kagan, a woman who has no judiciary experience.
In response to an expletive that Bush declared about a reporter, Vice-President Dick Cheney agreed “big time”.
In response to the signing of the healthcare bill, Vice-President Joe Biden blurted out that it was a “big f****n’ deal”.
The reality of a Republican-controlled Administration and Congress (not to mention Court) spurred the mobilization of such political organizations as Move On as well as news sources such as the Huffington Post.
The reality of a Democratic-controlled Administration and Congress (and aging Court Justices) spurred the mobilization of such political organizations as the Tea Party movement and Freedom Works and news sources such as World Net Daily.
Despite losing the Presidential nomination, the loyal support that Howard Dean received was recognized as he was rewarded by being named the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Despite losing the Vice-Presidential election, the loyal support that Sarah Palin received was recognized as she has been rewarded by becoming the de facto “face” of the Tea Party movement.
Of course, we’ve previously covered the audacious declarations of both Kanye West and Glenn Beck, respectively.
And finally:
Bush was criticized, particularly by Democrats, for his slow response to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in the Gulf Coast. His response was that he trusted the states to do the right thing.
Obama was criticized, particularly by Republicans, for his slow response to the oil rig devastation in the Gulf Coast. His response was that he was trusting British Petroleum to do the right thing.
Now if we can just keep any potentially dangerous objects out of Joe Biden’s hands, it might tip the scales in Obama’s favor!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Imagine...
Now the vast audience that reads this blog knows that I love people of all shades and creeds. They also know that I respect if not always agree with those who hold primarily conservative views including those in the Tea Party Movement. And not only do I know that there is a small but significant number of black conservatives out there but I also believe many black Democrats are DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) because of their perception of Republican policies. With that long disclaimer, I'd like to present the following blog that I stumbled upon courtesy of Facebook. Going beyond the "mirror image" experience I predicted when Democrats and Republicans switched positions of power, this piece explains why there is more than a little concern about potential backlash from fringe conservatives about Obama's ascendancy to the White House.
http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html
(Note at the end of the post that the author is a white gentleman.)
http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html
(Note at the end of the post that the author is a white gentleman.)
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