Why I am supporting Obama

[wuapinmon]

What would be an appropriate level of tax?

1. Forego my Social Security benefits. I do not plan on having anything from them when I retire. I don't mind paying the taxes so that little old widows without children wind up in group homes because they can't afford to live. Folks with money should forego theirs too. Social Security needs a means test anyway you look at it. Austerity should hit everyone. I would be willing to do this until age 60, so 23 years from now.

2. Increase medicaid taxes by 5% so that children under 18 can have basic medical care. No able-bodied adult should get free medical care from the government, myself included. I will pay my medicaid taxes, happily, if it means that children are looked after. Families need to plan to care for their elderly on their own, and not depend on the federal government to do it. It sucks, I know, but something's got to give.

3. Raise income taxes by 5%. I can give a little more, provided the increased revenue goes into repurchasing 30 year T-bills to reduce the National Debt.

4. Raise the federal gasoline tax by $.25 a gallon for the express purpose of eliminating the national debt. We gripe and complain about it, but for what it does, gasoline is CHEAP. The need for efficiency is the mother of efficiency inventions.

5. Pay a $25 tax with each new television purchase to support the Public Broadcasting system. I'll also gladly pay 25 cents a month on my cable bill to support the Ad-Council. I have lived in other countries, and we've got it so good, but we don't pay enough in taxes to cover all the good we've got. Social Security needs to die for all but the most poor. Medicare, especially Plan B, needs the axe too. If your mom gets sick, then you pay for it out of pocket. Just because there are $60k hip replacements doesn't mean that you get one just because Medicare will cover it. That's borrowed money that young people will have to pay back for you someday.

So, I ask you all, what are you willing to give up? What sacred cows in the federal budget need trimming. And don't give me the "I'm not paying anything else until spending is under control" bullshit. Between servicing the debt, defense, Social Security, and Medicare, the money's spent yall. So, which cow gets made into sacred ground beef?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Horse shit.

What would be an appropriate level of tax?

[wuapinmon]

None of YOU pay enough in taxes. I pay enough already.

Enough to cover our excessive spending? True.

The more accurate statement would be:

Horse shit.

[Indy Coug]

None of us pay enough in taxes.

Enough to cover our excessive spending? True.

The more accurate statement would be:

None of us can pay enough in taxes to cover the government's expenses.

[mUUser]

None of us pay enough in taxes.

None of YOU pay enough in taxes. I pay enough already.

[Omaha 680]

Did I miss something? Where is Obama keeping Osama?

Davy Jones' Locker.

[Portland Ute]

Michelle is wearing a pushup

Whatever it is, she should be in a position to be able to have custom bra fittings instead of wearing that poorly fitting brasier that looks to have been fitted an purchased at a local walmart.

Good lord, Michelle. Go get a bra fitting.

[myboynoah]

I'm voting for Obama for the following reasons:

• Capturing bin Laden
• Pulling us out of Iraq
• Timetable set for departure from Afghanistan
• Ending DODT
• Sponsorship of successful legislation geared toward minimizing decision-making capabilities of profit-driven health insurance companies.
• Increase in domestic oil production while working to minimize risks of offshore drilling.
• From a personal perspective, I've seen tremendous growth in own economic situation during his presidency.
• Lastly, I find him to be a decent, moral, intelligent man of the people.

Could those things continue under Romney? Perhaps. But I'd be happy if the trajectory we're on continued, so I see no reason to vote out the current president.

Did I miss something? Where is Obama keeping Osama?

[frank ryan]

Sorry, the rationale "both parties will be equally successful or unsuccessful in dealing with the economic issues" practically screams "I don't really care about the economy." No need to lash out at me; I'm just helping you understand what you're saying.

I don't agree.

[mUUser]

Fair is a flat tax. Nobody wants fair.

Fiscally, we're screwed till 90% of us have significant skin in the game. Until then, the feds will continue to be horrible fiscal stewards.

[wuapinmon]

And some get far more social benefit than they need.

However, I agree with you and President Obama had a chance to raise everyone's taxes back to the Clinton rates and he failed. I can live with returning back to the Clinton rates and then cutting government spending, including the deep Pentagon cuts, $700 billion. The reality is it is going to take a pragmatist to fix our deficit issues and my opinion is there is nothing in President Obama's record to date that indicates that is how he is wired or inclined. Romney, on the other hand was a governor in Massachuesetts and dealt with a liberal legislature, has experience as a problem solving business executive and is likely a more moderate than Obama. These indicate to me that he will have the requisite abilities to build bi-partisan teams that can tackle that issue.

I'm fairly certain that this is the second time we've fully agreed on something. The other being that Dumb and Dumber is an awesome flick.

I would be OK with paying more in taxes if there was some kind of guarantee on the spending side. I was OK with Bowles/Simpson.

I absolutely don't want what the Dems pulled on both Reagan and Bush. A promise of spending cuts along with the tax increases. The buts never came and poor George Bush got nailed on "read my lips".

I would be willing to have me required to work 2 more years before I get social security and have my taxes raised. The reason is selfish. It is for my kids and grandkids. However, no spending cuts then it really doesn't matter and raising my taxes is bull shit.

Spending has to be cut. Taxes have to be raised. Obama is looking less and less like the man for that awful job. If Romney tries, I foresee him being a one-term president. But, he might be the Great Healer.

Among the biggest disappointments to me is President Obama's unwillingness to even pretend to tackle debt/deficit/entitlement issues. While I applaud the creation of the Simpson/Bowles deficit commission, in retrospect it seems a waste of time as their recommendations have been thoroughly ignored. I would support the President in the implementation of a tax increase if it were utilized to address those problems.

Agreed, especially the first sentence.

[Omaha 680]

But...but...but...the bracket says 20% Lets not confuse the masses.

Robin is probably adding on payroll taxes. Lumping together payroll and income tax and calling it "federal taxes" is a tactic from the left I've noticed in recent years to argue that the poor pay more than the rich.

[doctorcoug]

I appears that Ann has a slight lead on Michelle in this very important category

Michelle is wearing a pushup

[old_gregg]

There was a real good article in real clear politics that basically called Obama's "buffet rule" campaign nothing but political bull crap. I don't think they are a right wing publication either.

my buffet rule is that bread and other filler starches are for rookies.

[YOhio]

Among the biggest disappointments to me is President Obama's unwillingness to even pretend to tackle debt/deficit/entitlement issues. While I applaud the creation of the Simpson/Bowles deficit commission, in retrospect it seems a waste of time as their recommendations have been thoroughly ignored. I would support the President in the implementation of a tax increase if it were utilized to address those problems.