June 2009 Archives

I take issue with the following from Watch for Hidden Taxes (The Boston Globe):

Under the circumstances, actions that impose sizable hidden taxes on American citizens should be put on hold, or at least exposed to much more careful evaluation to be sure their merits outweigh their costs and burdens on our struggling economy.

It doesn't surprise me that Dudley and Rosen were former members of White House budgetary staff. My comment is simple: Americans are already under far too much regulatory and tax burden. We should be subject to no more. Ever.

We revolted against King George III over a 3% tax in the 1700s (yes, it was far more complicated, but many argue that that was the straw that broke the camel's back). Serfs to the monarchy and feudal ruling class were subject to what we view to be abhorrent taxes up to 25% of their income. Those paying income taxes in the US (remember, there is a whole class of citizenry who doesn't pay income taxes - and I am not speaking of the IRS defined poor) can pay upwards of 52% of their income in taxes (that does not include sales, property and any local taxes).

Those who pay, pay too much and we need to stop making excuses as to why more is not necessarily bad. It is bad and it ought to stop.

I'm working hard on understanding what is going on around us, but I can't. A majority of us voted for change. What we got was a lot of the same. We were told there would be limits on pork barrel spending and that the public would be given an opportunity to read proposed laws (and comment) before they were passed.

Mr. Obama, you promised a lot of things. Many of these things I wanted nothing to do with. These two things, though, are ideals that I not only support you on, but strongly believe are the cornerstone to a good democracy and a strong republican government (small 'r' not big). (Surprisingly, there were many other things that I support you on, but these two took front and center of attention because they seemed to be a common cause between friend and foe in the political arena.)

Neither of these things have happened. We have seen some of the largest pork-barrel laden bills passed in your first 100 days. These were called stimulus packages meant to help the economy. I don't see how earmarks and a public fountain for a park in some city in Missouri is supposed to help the economy. The mess we are in is because of reckless spending on the back of reckless borrowing. Borrowing more to spend more recklessly doesn't seem to me to be the solution.
And the transparency - in the form of waiting periods so that public input could be given before bills were passed by you and Congress - doesn't seem to be gaining any traction. I thought an informed public was the most equitable way to govern.

Maybe I misunderstood what change meant. I thought it meant different than things are or were. It doesn't seem to me that much has changed. Maybe someone can tell me where I went wrong.