Why I disagree with Republicans on the debt ceiling issue
There's much I'd like to say regarding the deal congressional leaders and the president signed off on last night. The deal calls for a debt limit increase between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion dollars, and cuts in spending of about $2.4 trillion dollars. Both limits on the debt ceiling increase and the spending cuts come with strings attached, but I'll let you do the homework on that, if interested.
The problem I have with the deal is simple: Republicans got what they wanted; Democrats got almost nothing of what they wanted. I was hopeful we could see the best of what both parties had to offer--spending cuts and tax increases--but that didn't happen.
I think it's important to look at how we got here during the past 10 years. And at the risk of shooting an easy target, I'll start off by saying that this debt crisis really exploded during the Bush Administration. They're the ones who started two wars, extremely deregulated the markets which lead to the financial bailouts, extended tax cuts for the rich, and gave out stimulus money to people as if it were candy.
Some people say that we must cut spending now--which I agree with--before we raise taxes. And the latter part is the one I disagree with. I think we need to do both, now.
The Obama Administration has raised the issue for some time about the importance of closing these tax loopholes for the rich. In fact, his stance on that issue goes back to his election run. But House Republicans continue to give in to that notion. They much rather go against the will of the people they represent by cutting funding to education programs, healthcare, and Social Security first, than to increase taxes on the rich. That's the problem I have with Republicans. They do a lot of talking of how we must share sacrifices, but the irony in that is that what they believe in compared to what they say is completely at odds with each other. If you and I have to sacrifice so much, then why can't the rich sacrifice, too? Funny thing is, most rich people won't need these programs when they retire, but most of us will.
Having said that, I'm very disappointed that the Obama Administration has continued giving in to the Republicans in the issue of tax increases. Obama campaigned on this issue, which many Americans supported, but he's too weak now as president to stand by that. On many issues he doesn't govern from the center, he governs from the right. No wonder there's no strong Republican candidate for 2012; they don't need one when they have Obama continuing to give in when they put pressure on him. And no wonder why so many congressional Democrats are also very unhappy with his performance so far. We have a Democratic president that continues to push forward Republican ideas. The American people might as well have voted for McCain/Palin in 2008. Maybe Democrats wouldn't feel cheated when it comes to his economic policy.
But on the subject of taxes, again... it's important to note that the increases proposed by the White House wouldn't include 95% of the American people; it only affects the top 5% who received tax breaks via loopholes in the tax code during the Bush Administration. I don't know about you, but I don't know anybody personally that falls in that 5% category. But Obama continues giving in to the Republicans when it comes to that issue. It happened earlier this year when they couldn't agree on the 2011 budget, they couldn't agree now with the debt ceiling issue either, and I think they won't agree to any significant tax increases come November later this year. He was warned by fellow democrats not to give in to pressure from the Republicans; he'd never win against Republicans, they said. But he did, and they were right. Republicans got some cuts, with no increase in taxes back then, and they got the same (but in greater proportions) yesterday. I blame his political loss this week to the concessions given late last year, and earlier this year.
Republicans argue that the top 5% of the people are the job creators, and that raising the taxes on those people would only hurt further the weak economy. That theory sounds good on paper but has been debunked already. Just look at the current job market out there. If those people wanted to create more jobs with the money they have, they would be doing so already and unemployment would be low. Instead we have a middle and low class that's suffering. 43 million Americans are on food stamps right now, but the rich keep getting richer, while the middle class and the poor continue to suffer. It's not only wealthy Americans raking in millions in tax cuts, but also corporations who get by with the same system too.
So why do people keep voting for politicians who much rather cut Medicare, Social Security, research, labor and educational programs, before they raise taxes on those people and corporations? I even know people who never in their lifetime make what the rich make a year, and yet they passionately defend those policies. It boggles my mind, really. I guess they not only want to help the rich get richer now, but also contribute to taking away their Medicare and Medicaid, and Social Security from their future. That sounds like a grand deal, if you're a House Republican.
Please stop voting these people into office. Follow the news and educate yourself on what these politicians really stand for. A lot of them don't have your interest at heart. They're not "for the people"; they're for helping corporations and the rich only.
Watch the embedded video in its entirety, or skip over to about the 3:42 mark:
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Image credit: http://washingtonpost.com & www.capitolreportnewmexico.com
The problem I have with the deal is simple: Republicans got what they wanted; Democrats got almost nothing of what they wanted. I was hopeful we could see the best of what both parties had to offer--spending cuts and tax increases--but that didn't happen.
I think it's important to look at how we got here during the past 10 years. And at the risk of shooting an easy target, I'll start off by saying that this debt crisis really exploded during the Bush Administration. They're the ones who started two wars, extremely deregulated the markets which lead to the financial bailouts, extended tax cuts for the rich, and gave out stimulus money to people as if it were candy.
Some people say that we must cut spending now--which I agree with--before we raise taxes. And the latter part is the one I disagree with. I think we need to do both, now.
The Obama Administration has raised the issue for some time about the importance of closing these tax loopholes for the rich. In fact, his stance on that issue goes back to his election run. But House Republicans continue to give in to that notion. They much rather go against the will of the people they represent by cutting funding to education programs, healthcare, and Social Security first, than to increase taxes on the rich. That's the problem I have with Republicans. They do a lot of talking of how we must share sacrifices, but the irony in that is that what they believe in compared to what they say is completely at odds with each other. If you and I have to sacrifice so much, then why can't the rich sacrifice, too? Funny thing is, most rich people won't need these programs when they retire, but most of us will.
Having said that, I'm very disappointed that the Obama Administration has continued giving in to the Republicans in the issue of tax increases. Obama campaigned on this issue, which many Americans supported, but he's too weak now as president to stand by that. On many issues he doesn't govern from the center, he governs from the right. No wonder there's no strong Republican candidate for 2012; they don't need one when they have Obama continuing to give in when they put pressure on him. And no wonder why so many congressional Democrats are also very unhappy with his performance so far. We have a Democratic president that continues to push forward Republican ideas. The American people might as well have voted for McCain/Palin in 2008. Maybe Democrats wouldn't feel cheated when it comes to his economic policy.
But on the subject of taxes, again... it's important to note that the increases proposed by the White House wouldn't include 95% of the American people; it only affects the top 5% who received tax breaks via loopholes in the tax code during the Bush Administration. I don't know about you, but I don't know anybody personally that falls in that 5% category. But Obama continues giving in to the Republicans when it comes to that issue. It happened earlier this year when they couldn't agree on the 2011 budget, they couldn't agree now with the debt ceiling issue either, and I think they won't agree to any significant tax increases come November later this year. He was warned by fellow democrats not to give in to pressure from the Republicans; he'd never win against Republicans, they said. But he did, and they were right. Republicans got some cuts, with no increase in taxes back then, and they got the same (but in greater proportions) yesterday. I blame his political loss this week to the concessions given late last year, and earlier this year.
Republicans argue that the top 5% of the people are the job creators, and that raising the taxes on those people would only hurt further the weak economy. That theory sounds good on paper but has been debunked already. Just look at the current job market out there. If those people wanted to create more jobs with the money they have, they would be doing so already and unemployment would be low. Instead we have a middle and low class that's suffering. 43 million Americans are on food stamps right now, but the rich keep getting richer, while the middle class and the poor continue to suffer. It's not only wealthy Americans raking in millions in tax cuts, but also corporations who get by with the same system too.
So why do people keep voting for politicians who much rather cut Medicare, Social Security, research, labor and educational programs, before they raise taxes on those people and corporations? I even know people who never in their lifetime make what the rich make a year, and yet they passionately defend those policies. It boggles my mind, really. I guess they not only want to help the rich get richer now, but also contribute to taking away their Medicare and Medicaid, and Social Security from their future. That sounds like a grand deal, if you're a House Republican.
Please stop voting these people into office. Follow the news and educate yourself on what these politicians really stand for. A lot of them don't have your interest at heart. They're not "for the people"; they're for helping corporations and the rich only.
Watch the embedded video in its entirety, or skip over to about the 3:42 mark:
Share this: Tweet
Image credit: http://washingtonpost.com & www.capitolreportnewmexico.com
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