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One Week Out
Oct. 28th, 2008 08:53 amWe're one week out from the election. For some of my readers, early voting is available, so you could vote now. Because of that, here's my (hopefully) last pitch to the undecided voters of America.
Obama, Taxes and "Socialism"
Obama's tax plan proposes a top rate of 39.5% on income in excess of $250,000, while giving a tax cut to 95% of Americans. (See Obama's Tax Calculator to figure out how you'd fare under both Obama and McCain's plan.) This is not socialism, unless you think Ronald Reagan was a socialist - 39.5% was Reagan's top rate. Also, don't be confused by the claim that "40% of Americans don't pay taxes." All Americans pay taxes - social security and Medicare start at dollar one. So, somebody may be getting a full refund of income tax, but they have other tax liabilities.
If you want to worry about "socialism," ask who suspended his campaign to get a bill passed to nationalize the US banking system. Ask who wants to spend another $300 billion of your money to buy mortgages, nationalizing the US housing sector. While you're at it, ask how he's going to do this while freezing spending. (If you're confused, these are all McCain ideas.)
Obama and Health Care
Obama's health care plan is the least radical of the options proposed. You can go here for details, but under it you can keep your current health care plan if it works for you. If not, you can join the same Government insurance pool that millions of Federal workers have. You still get to choose hospitals and doctors. His plan doesn't nationalize hospitals or doctors, and by explicitly allowing private insurance, it should avoid some of the capacity issues that hit Canadian health care.
Obama and Foreign Policy
Obama has been ridiculed for a willingness to talk to our enemies. My problem with that is we've always talked to our enemies. We held peace talks with Britain (twice), Korea and Vietnam. We talked with the Soviets. Hell, Lincoln met with the Confederates! On Pakistan, Obama is at least as aggressive as Bush - the later has authorized repeated strikes into Pakistan, and McCain has criticized Obama for stating a willingness to do the same. On Iraq, the draft Status of Forces agreement negotiated by President Bush has hard withdrawal deadlines. The odd man out here is McCain.
Obama and Guns
Obama doesn't want your guns. His gun control platform is identical to McCain's. Obama's problem in this area is that he's not a gun person, so he may not understand why some "common sense" gun rule isn't. He also represented a very liberal district in the State senate.
But the nice thing about Illinois is that we've got rednecks too, and during his state-wide campaign for Senate, he met them and got educated. Bottom line - I'm not worried about Obama and guns.
Today's a Rotary day, so I may not be around much to handle comments. Be nice to each other, folks.
Obama, Taxes and "Socialism"
Obama's tax plan proposes a top rate of 39.5% on income in excess of $250,000, while giving a tax cut to 95% of Americans. (See Obama's Tax Calculator to figure out how you'd fare under both Obama and McCain's plan.) This is not socialism, unless you think Ronald Reagan was a socialist - 39.5% was Reagan's top rate. Also, don't be confused by the claim that "40% of Americans don't pay taxes." All Americans pay taxes - social security and Medicare start at dollar one. So, somebody may be getting a full refund of income tax, but they have other tax liabilities.
If you want to worry about "socialism," ask who suspended his campaign to get a bill passed to nationalize the US banking system. Ask who wants to spend another $300 billion of your money to buy mortgages, nationalizing the US housing sector. While you're at it, ask how he's going to do this while freezing spending. (If you're confused, these are all McCain ideas.)
Obama and Health Care
Obama's health care plan is the least radical of the options proposed. You can go here for details, but under it you can keep your current health care plan if it works for you. If not, you can join the same Government insurance pool that millions of Federal workers have. You still get to choose hospitals and doctors. His plan doesn't nationalize hospitals or doctors, and by explicitly allowing private insurance, it should avoid some of the capacity issues that hit Canadian health care.
Obama and Foreign Policy
Obama has been ridiculed for a willingness to talk to our enemies. My problem with that is we've always talked to our enemies. We held peace talks with Britain (twice), Korea and Vietnam. We talked with the Soviets. Hell, Lincoln met with the Confederates! On Pakistan, Obama is at least as aggressive as Bush - the later has authorized repeated strikes into Pakistan, and McCain has criticized Obama for stating a willingness to do the same. On Iraq, the draft Status of Forces agreement negotiated by President Bush has hard withdrawal deadlines. The odd man out here is McCain.
Obama and Guns
Obama doesn't want your guns. His gun control platform is identical to McCain's. Obama's problem in this area is that he's not a gun person, so he may not understand why some "common sense" gun rule isn't. He also represented a very liberal district in the State senate.
But the nice thing about Illinois is that we've got rednecks too, and during his state-wide campaign for Senate, he met them and got educated. Bottom line - I'm not worried about Obama and guns.
Today's a Rotary day, so I may not be around much to handle comments. Be nice to each other, folks.
