Obama: Budget Will Restore Fiscal Discipline

Obama’s promise of truthful, transparent budget accounting is very exciting and long overdue.
Can someone direct me to the page of the budget where the Social Security IOUs are deducted from available funds for budget accounting?

Due to recent government spending increases, the cost of electricity, gas, and oil, as well as current marketconditions and the continued decline of the U.S. economy under this administration, The Light at the End of theTunnel has been turned off.We apologize for the inconvenience. ….

How can he say with a straight face this budget won’t “sit well” with the special interests and lobbysits? That is laughable, not to mention completely dishonest. That is, unless big banks, unions, auto companies, environmental groups, the alternative energy companies, the new carbon-trading industry, and welfare recipients (to name a few) are not special interests. What a liar this man is.

Discipline? To whom?

I think that President Obama’s speech is such magnificient and truthful but most people think that the stimulus bill will not work because the senate point the president out that it will be wasteful money and it is for our own good and cause as well. I think it will be spend on education, enegy, and health care. My mom couldn’t afford health care that she needs to get better. So, President Obama please help my mom to get the benefit she needs for her health.

“giving a middle class tax cut to 95 percent of working families. ” This statement is nothing more than a play on words to gain approval points. It is impossible to give a tax break to 95% of working families and still expect to get income.

Please Mr. Obama. I voted for you. But, the sky is not chartreuse. Discipline? Bailouts keep going and going.

We are starting to learn the illusion of President Obamas words cannot be the reality

If this is his definition of “discipline” I don’t have much faith in the definition of transparency, accountability or truth.

We just adore and simply love President Obama here in Europe.I’m proud that my family lives and settled in the US,now that the president is The Most Hon.B.H.Obama.We believe in you Sir.

It almost seems like President Obama is trying to destroy the economy.
That way he can increase the number of voters who pay no taxes to above 50% (it’s currently at about 40%). With all his guaranteed handouts, this group will always vote democratic and the democratic party will always stay in power.

We have been told over again it is Republicans that are rascally—now we know differently. You sure know ALL corporations, and this includes governmental agencies because they also are incorporated, have a single source for money whether they sell Services or Products; their customers. If anyone doesn’t realize by now they are going to pay the trillion dollars in new taxes one dime at a time by increased costs at the office or retail outlet where they purchase these items they are dreaming.
The truth of the matter is President Obama just double the taxes we pay. You may recall the budgets approved by Congress to run the Government in the recent past have been running plus or minus a Trillion dollars EACH year. When we consider all of the new programs Democrats are shoving down our throats, we must also acknowledge they are also shoving the bill to pay for those programs down our throats. Corporations don’t pay taxes–Oh they fill out the paperwork but every cent of their overhead (labor, parts, materials, rent, maintenance, TAXES accounting etc.) is included in the cost of the product or service they sell (we buy). Oh you don’t own an airplane or a bull dozer, well that may be true, but the company that does passes their costs to the users of these items to include the taxes they pay, and they pass those costs on to you. In reality it can’t be otherwise, whether we are a socialist, communist or a capitalistic Country. You should visit Italy and appreciate their Government includes a 40% tax on every meal eaten in a restaurant. Moreover wage earners pay income taxes that approximate 50%. Most recently, they elected a very conservative individual because those running their Government before were doing to them the same sort of stunts happening in these United States since the 22 of January 2009.
WE the customers pay all of the costs to run each business and our Government. Is there anyone, among our electorate, that doesn’t understand this is the case? Socialism merely adds another level of management to the bills we are going to pay. Welcome to the real world.

Taxpayer monies never ought to have been put into GM, or any other corporation, and our monies need paid back immediately. GM, as with any corporation, ought to be able to enjoy any profits, and likewise suffer any losses, that’s capitalism. If GM management really believes the company has a future then management ought to go Chapter 11; if not, Chapter 7.

Running a small business during these times has been hard enough, now add to this all the uncertainity over taxes, energy costs (carbon tax) and the sorry state of banking; its too much uncertainity to process. I am scared to make any decision that produces a payback more than 12 months out. I do not wnat to be saddled with debts for new purchases or employee hires that take a long time to train.
while some of these changes are needed, adding more uncertainity to the mix is not helpful for those trying to create jobs and pay the taxes.

Just a few tried but true thoughts on this mess for all the less-than-educated:
1. “What goes around comes around.” Every penny we go in debt WILL need to be paid back by someone – you, me, our children and our children’s children. OR we could be taken over by China when they call in the trillions we owe them. Think you would like communism?
2. “You reap what you sow.” We’ve done it to ourselves. We let greed and a ridiculous concept that everyone is entitled to a home dominate. And here I’m mostly talking about homebuyers that SHOULDN’T be buying homes but were allowed loans anyway. Lots of greed there.
3. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Boy, are we seeing that with congress and the Pres. running selling off our futures for “nice” things that will do nothing to end this crisis. No ability to stop them. No balance of power. Not smart people.
Where do you all think the money is coming from??? And how is a bridge to nowhere going to build businesses and jobs for the future? It isn’t even logical.

Does that mean that Congress will have to take a pay cut and give back some of their retirement benefits?

The boat we are in is leaking and taking on water, and these people just took a shotgun to blow holes in the bottom of the boat while shouting we could sink if we do nothing.
Stop listening to the BS from Mr BO and look at reality ! We have the TOTAL dollars spent for every year by Bush and they suck , but this guy just outspent his entire 8 years in 2 months with no visible or logical means to raise the revenue to support it! This carbon tax will result in shutting down every power plant in the country.
He is becoming clear that the ture goal here is vengence to an entire country for allowing someone to be abandoned by their father and then their step father and then be raped by a drug dealing pedophile during his teenage years.
Pray for Mr BO as he needs to get past his bitterness and hatred for Euro/Americans and all business establishments. If this continues, there will be no more tax base in the USA for any international or homeland charity programs.

I love reading Obama’s latest fiscal strategy – then checking the stock market 2 hours later. Like clockwork – it goes down 100 points. Good time to be a short seller I guess.

There is no way taxing the upper earners will cover all this spending. Obama is lying again…..once he gets this spending passed, he will have to raise taxes massively on everyone.

Millions to remove tattoos from gang members?
What a fiscally responsible bunch those Democrats are. Looking out for the gangs and the terrorist.
But if BO wants it the masses will think tatoo removal is heavenly.

The real mad man went back to Texas on January 20th. ‘guess you thought he was a real genius. The GOP lost the election.
Obama won, and since Jan. 20, The people lost the country!

It very amazing to see Republicans are now crying for “fiscal discipline”. What is this? Never heard during 8 years under Bush’s administration! While Bush was burning money like crazy, where were the Republicans? Burning tax payers’ money for unneeded Wars is fine, spending money to rescue the country is bad. What are Republicans thinking?

European Carolina,
Why are you here? Did you come here because you “love” Pres. Obama so much that you wanted to pay him taxes? No, you probably came here because there were better opportunities here in the STates than in your European country. That’s because we have always rewarded innovation and enterprise with low tax rates and high rewards of income kept.
No longer.
Funny story, went to visit friends in Scotland who were there on sabatic from an American university. He had been offered a very nice job running his department in Edinburgh, but they did the math and the taxes were too high (60% – including the National Health Tax) for them to stay. So, this Scottish guy who has lived and worked in the US for decades has an opportunity to return home to the UK, but can’t afford all those taxes. Oh, and he’s a liberal democrat.

Those who make over $250,000.00 have been eating steak for the past 8 years. Now, it’s time for the middle class to eat an Angus Burger. So, give us a break! Everybody has got to have a turn.
If President Obama is going to fine tune the budget and get the support to cut out waste, the budget will balance itself out. That can’t be hard to understand. We do in our homes each month when we pay our own bills. So, don’t act like it’s not possible. As long as everyone is willing to give up a pet peeve, we’ll be OK! What happened to “IN GOD WE TRUST”? Do we only use it when your are trying to control the Republican base?
How long do we have to suffer with electric grids that fizzle out every time we have a rain or snow storm? How long do we have to suffer with bridges that fall or roads with big pot holes? How many people will die the next time the levy breaks in Louisiana? I realize that some people don’t know or understand the concept of multitasking, but this is ridiculous. Listen, you shouldn’t need to be a rocket scientist. We can do two things at once! If we can pump up the economy and make long needed repairs / improvements to our infrastructure, improve technology, our dependence on foreign energy and health care, I believe we will be leaving our kinds a stronger and more competitive country.
NOW, IS THE TIME TO REPAIR & IMPROVE…… NOW!

If you taxed everyone who makes 500k and over – 100% of their income – it would not cover 1/2 this debt. Hold on to your wallets! Fear and loathing in Washington is coming to your check book.

One can see the new strategy at play here. These numbers are so far beyond the grasp of most normal people.
Most people think that ARod getting 27.5 Million/Year is quite high! If you spent ARod’s yearly salary a day, EVERY DAY, it would take you nearly 100 YEARS to spend just one Trillion dollars! Obama unleashed 3.9 Trillion in proposed spending today!
This thing is so enormous that most people are just going to surrender to it! That is what Obama & Dems. are hoping for!

It very amazing to see Republicans are now crying for “fiscal discipline”. What is this? Never heard during 8 years under Bush’s administration! While Bush was burning money like crazy, where were the Republicans? Burning tax payers’ money for unneeded Wars is fine, spending money to rescue the country is bad. What are Republicans thinking?
Posted by: oh | Feb 26, 2009 3:10:39 PM
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What, never heard of RINOs before? Never knew there was a huge difference between a Republican and a conservative? Please.

This is sort of like a really bad hangover after a party that rocked too hard and went on too long. As a country, as long as things were good IN THE MOMENT, we looked the other way. Call it human nature or Scarlett O’hara nature (“I’ll worry about it tomorrow”), we don’t want to talk about doing anything until things implode. As long as we’re still working and making lots of money, nobody wants to talk about turning off the funnel. We’re a hypocritical bunch of people. We want to enjoy the party and run laughing all the way to the bank, but when it comes to pay the piper, we cry fowl and blame anybody but ourselves. This crisis didn’t just come because of homeowners taking loans they couldn’t afford and brokers/banks giving loans they shouldn’t have. We ALL need to take responsibility for how we got here. If you have bought anything on credit for which you had to make payments, that means you bought something you couldn’t necessarily afford. Yeah I know, you have a job and you’ve got great credit and have always made your payments on time. That’s great and yes, that’s what the system is all about. But, what happens when that great job goes away and you can’t find another one to replace it? Or the only job you can get is at 1/4 to 1/3 the pay, or is part-time without benefits? And what if this remains your situation for 6-, 12-, 18-months or longer, which is the case of MANY people unemployed today? Talk about a wake-up call. I’m sick of hearing people complain that this is all the fault of “deadbeat and irresponsible” people. I’m not saying those folks don’t exist, but you can’t lay this whole thing on their shoulders. We have a former President who started a war based on bogus information, and that war has cost us over a trillion dollars just in combat costs, not counting the costs associated with medical needs etc of returning soldiers. We’ve allowed insurance companies to grab us by the balls and charge us whatever they want, all the while continuing to look for any reason to reject any claims we try to file. And we have lawyers for every conceivable kind of lawsuit marketing themselves all over the airwaves to anyone who wants to get rich by suing someone. There are exceptions to be sure, but let’s face it, we are one greedy nation. Given a way, a chance, an oppty, to make a ton of money, we take it, consequences be damned.
Well, enjoy the hangover. It was a great party, but it’s over. I wish there was an easy fix that would make everyone happy because it didn’t require any sacrifice from anyone, but that’s not reality and we all know it. As someone once said “there is no free lunch”. Well, we’ve enjoyed a smorgasbord for too many years, and the bill has come due. It will not be fun, it will call for some form of sacrifice from everyone, and it will be really hard and really painful. And thank goodness for that because if it’s not hard and not painful, we will forget and will be doomed to see it happen again.

I think the governemnt should fund the tripling of everyone’s credit line on their credit cards. That would stimulate the economy! Who cares about the increased debt when we could enjoy 5 minutes of a “stimulated” economy?

Obama does’nt know what he’s about to unleash in the USA!!!!
Posted by: for sure | Feb 26, 2009 3:23:00 PM
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Respectfully, I disagree. He knows.
No one with Obama’s superior education could be making these moves which are destroying the most successful economy the world has ever seen.
He’s doing it deliberately. It’s all about that redistribute the wealth philosophy he told us he had.
Socialism on steroids. Leapfrom right to Marxism.

Marlene,
Term limts most certainly are the answer for the problems our country faces. We have gone from a great nation of statesmen to a society of career politicians.

Why didn’t he get on a plane and travel anywhere this time to make his proclamation? He has the right to fly AirForce One as much as he wants. HE WON after all!
What a joke Obama is. How can anyone support this three trillion today, three trillion tomorrow, tra la la…
If you voted for Obama, like Geo, I hope you are embarrased and ashamed of yourself.
You handed the country over to a naked Marxist Socialist bent on robbing EVERYONE blind for the ACCUMULATION OF OBAMA POWER.
ACORN must be so proud. (AND WELL FUNDED FROM THE STIMULUS!!!)
Obama, the Salt Marsh Mice want to know what was that you said about “not one single earmark”
When does America figure out OBAMA IS A LIAR ON A POWER TRIP???

Taxes are a cost of doing business which is ultimately passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Cap-and-trade almost doubles the cost.

oh : So what you’re saying is you are for burning more money? I don’t understand your logic. It was dumb before but since democrats are doing it now it’s not dumb? Are you for burning through more money simply because democrats are doing it – but against it when the republicans were doing it. It is your money you know.

Mr. Obama,
Please stop this reckless and wasteful spending. I voted for you. Please do not leave me disappointed. I am beginning to feel that way, young man.
I should have voted for HILLLARY!

You go Obama!!!

Term limits are of questionable effectiveness. There are just as many ineffective junior statesmen as career politicians. Do some of these elected officials need to be out of office? Unquestionably, although many would likely differ on who. At the same time as a democratic supporter I am personally very happy with my Republican Senator who has been there a long time. I think a better alternative is devoting time and energy to getting an enthusiastic and well educated electorate, government transparency, and standards of accountability that allow voters to truly know how they are being represented. Of course term limits would be much much easier.

do they need republicans to pass this in senate? or can this just be pushed through…dont know the answer. mr obama we will beat you at your game of socialism. let the fun begin

Greetings Komrades!
In the name of the common good, The Party has decided to take ownership of all private property and institutions, such as banking, mortgages, energy, automobile manufacturers, etc.
You will continue at working at your current jobs. You will not be paid in currency, but government benefits.
If you do not have a job, The Party will create a job for you through public works projects and energy programs. You therefore will owe your soul to The Party.
Because all people are equal, all people will be bestowed with the same benefits. Anyone caught having more than his least-wealthiest neighbor will be forced to return such wealth to The Party for redistribution.
The Party will take control of the public airwaves. All news will be approved by The Party. Anyone caught listening to infidel news, such as Fox News or Rush Limbaugh, will be prosecuted.
The party has declared that all things wrong with the Union are thee responsbility of the infidels. Anyone disagreeing with The Party in any manner shall be labeled a Republican infidel and shall be prosecuted.
All persons are strongly suggested to register affiliation with The Party even if they are not citizens.
There will be open public elections. Anyone wishing to vote for The Party will be granted the right, even if you are not a documented citizen.
Your Party-assigned doctor, for families with last names A-E, will be seeing patients every third Thursday of the month. Be early, lines start forming at 7:00 a.m.
All children will have the right to a college education. Becasue The Party is providing that education, you will only be taught what the Party has approved for public consumption. Also, grades will be abolished to avoid the formation of a class-system.
Please stay tuned for more direction from The Party.

Hmmmm increase taxes by $1 trillion dollars. That is EXACTLY what we need to boost the economy.

HOLDER WAS RIGHT!!
Americans are cowards
Time to talk about slave repairations. Get your wallets out. I have been waiting for a LONG time.
You go OBAMA!!!

our turn…really…its your turn to……..work for the government because real business still have to hire and pay you. why would any real business play this game….you have just pushed more jobs offshore.

Repub Hater – you have been brain washed into hating 150 million people you don’t know. You should reconsider your thought process.

Obama’s tax rate is going be very very high for everyone…he has all sorts of hidden taxes that are going to hit us. He wants higher taxes on gasoline—this will raise the price of everything for everyone. He wants taxes higher on cigaretts. He wants taxes on Business for Cap and Trade which will raise price for all energy. He tax tax tax and we all going to suffer.

“He wants taxes higher on cigaretts.”
NO…Actually he has ALREADY RAISED TAXES on cigarettes… $0.61 per pack to pay for the SCHIP program!
He is already a LIAR by defintion!!!
He has already raised taxes on people who make under his magical 250K line.
But give him credit, he was “fair”! He taxed EVERY smoker, no matter what their financial standing!

there goes the dow again… i am beginning to think he is doing this on purpose. i think there is more to reverend wright tha were led to believe. i am seeing chickens roosting.

We should all be ashamed for criticizing Obama.
He’s gone to all of this trouble, lied for us, embarrassed himself (no earmarks, fiscal responsibilty),put our grandchildren in debt
and we aren’t thankful for the $13 a week that he is giving us to stimulate the economy.
We should be grateful even when it goes down to $8 a week next year. Think of all we can buy for $8.00
And it only cost us and the next generation a few trillion.

I would also argue that is it possible for higher tax rates on businesses and the wealthy would be good for long term stable growth. In order to avoid paying as much in taxes businesses will invest more in their staff and infrastructure to reduce their total net profit that they get taxed on. They will tie that money into the business to keep it producing. Now this is obviously only true as long as you do not tax them *too* high. Alternatively a tax rate that is too low encourages profit taking, businesses taking their money and putting into savings and the stock market. In one case you get investment in the Industrial market, in low tax environment you get investment in the Financial market. The financial markets are prone to bubbles, especially if many businesses who just got a tax cut invest at the same time. All this money is no longer tied directly to infrastructure and loses its value and when the bubble bursts all that money is lost.

The tax cut argument is built on the assumption that the wealthy and business owners will pass on that money into the infrastructure, investing in the business product and employees. It is also reliant that they will not simply invest in financial markets and give bigger payouts to themselves…like executive bonuses. You will have to excuse me if I would rather not trust this model.

Greetings Komrades!
In the name of the common good, The Party has decided to take ownership of all private property and institutions, such as banking, mortgages, energy, automobile manufacturers, etc.
You will continue at working at your current jobs. You will not be paid in currency, but government benefits.
If you do not have a job, The Party will create a job for you through public works projects and energy programs. You therefore will owe your soul to The Party.
Because all people are equal, all people will be bestowed with the same benefits. Anyone caught having more than his least-wealthiest neighbor will be forced to return such wealth to The Party for redistribution.
The Party will take control of the public airwaves. All news will be approved by The Party. Anyone caught listening to infidel news, such as Fox News or Rush Limbaugh, will be prosecuted.
The party has declared that all things wrong with the Union are thee responsbility of the infidels. Anyone disagreeing with The Party in any manner shall be labeled a Republican infidel and shall be prosecuted.
All persons are strongly suggested to register affiliation with The Party even if they are not citizens.
There will be open public elections. Anyone wishing to vote for The Party will be granted the right, even if you are not a documented citizen.
Your Party-assigned doctor, for families with last names A-E, will be seeing patients every third Thursday of the month. Be early, lines start forming at 7:00 a.m.
All children will have the right to a college education. Because The Party is providing that education, you will only be taught what the Party has approved for public consumption. Also, grades will be abolished to avoid the formation of a class-system.
Please stay tuned for more direction from The Party.

As a smsll business person I can promise you that this will kill what is left of our economy. This is an attempt of re-distrubition of wealth, just as Joe said. This is a sad day for this country and make no mistake about it, unemployment will go well over 10%.

“I would also argue that is it possible for higher tax rates on businesses and the wealthy would be good for long term stable growth. In order to avoid paying as much in taxes businesses will invest more in their staff and infrastructure to reduce their total net profit that they get taxed on. They will tie that money into the business to keep it producing. Now this is obviously only true as long as you do not tax them *too* high.”
WOW…talk about VOODOO….do you have any experience in a business at all?
Right now TODAY… We have the 2nd highest corp tax rate in the WORLD!
Just exactly how much higher do you want to go?
Go tell a business owner today that you are going to raise his taxes! The next thing that happens is a meeting to determine how many jobs get cut!
That is the real World…you need proof…just open your eyes and look at the unemployment lines!!!!! You mess with a company’s bottom line in this economic environment, and yuo are costing more people their jobs!!!!
Yep, That a Damn Good Solution!!!!

“Starting today, the recently unemployed will benefit from a COBRA subsidy that will make health care affordable,”
Absolutely THE MOST EXPENSIVE way to purchase health insurance is through COBRA. We’re talking upwards of a thousand dollars A MONTH for families, maybe more. The federal government is taxing everybody, including many uninsured, for the privilege of subsidising the purchase of gold-plated insurance for the recently unemployed. This is insane.
The recently unemployed should be made eligible for Medicaid, and their premiums should be means tested. This would be cheaper, fairer, and a really good preview of what Obamacare has in store for all of us.

I read a comment about hidden taxes..if you get $13 back per paycheck..you will wonder where it went..but, if you have a high household income..you will know where your money went.

the 53% out there elected an absolute psycho who is becoming more dilusional by the day.

Do you remember the three stooges when they were in the construction business, and the skyscraper they were working on had steel going everywhere with no ryme or reason to it. This is how obama and his cabinet along with congress are setting policy. There is no rhyme or reason, just stuff going everywhere.
———————————–
billy bob,
Obama’s plan is a simple one, throw a trillion metric tons of manure at the problem, hope some sticks, and when the 1 or 2 roses bloom in it, He will say “SEE, I TOLD YOU!!!!”

BHO is less intelligent than most have thought. He’s a loose cannon with little indication that he knows what he is doing or even making his own decisions.

ALL THE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF HAD BETTER BE MAKING OUT THEIR WILLS AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. IF MEDICARE IS GOING TO HAVE VERY MANY MORE CUTS, THE DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS WILL NOT TAKE OF US. RIGHT NOW THE FIRST THING THEY ASK IS WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE DO YOU HAVE? WHY DID I WORK 45 YEARS AND PAY TAXES FOR? eliabethsassy

“Right now TODAY… We have the 2nd highest corp tax rate in the WORLD!”
What you fail to mention between the name-calling and histrionics is that the 35 % corporate rate is so full of loopholes and tax shelters that the US collects far less in corporate taxes as a percentage of GDP than most other industrialized countries.
IRS data shows most American companies pay an average of 25.3%.

PEACH, Oh-Dear, Mike-C etc. etc. etc. Do you think we can’t read? What proganada sheet are you all typing from – almost word for word. “Haven’t heard ONE time when tax cuts work?” AND, “three times when it didn’t work?” Get your facts straight or just post the dumb e-mail that you got the stuff from instead of plagorizing it as though they are your thoughts.
BUSH – short but sweet and not enough to start the roll. We all knew that.
REAGAN – Reagan pulled us OUT of a very serious recession that Carter got us in to. I remember it WELL. Where I lived in 1978 – 81, we had a true DEPRESSION thanks to Carter. Reagon brought prosperity and dignity to the office again.
FDR DID NOT PULL US OUT OF THE DEPRESSION! NO reputable historian or economist buys that bull. In fact, it was probably his policies that made a recession into a depression WWII got us out kids. Everyone knows that.
Stop buying the verbage that the Obama propanda machine is selling and trying thinking for yourself. It’s time YOU got smart!

From the right-wingers at CNNMoney:
“New York – Stocks tumbled Thursday, giving up early gains as investors sorted through President Obama’s federal budget and remained wary about the outlook for the economy and the banking sector.”
2.4 million Americans have lost their jobs since this man was elected. Employers and investors do not like what they see…

Canary Island redepositing of funds is about to hit record levels. You can’t tax what you can’t find. Ask Pelosi about her funds distributed around the world. Just how much does it cost to get an audience with De Pope?

Frankly, I’ve had all the “stimulation” I can bear. The American people have given all we have. Higher taxes? Did you vote for that?

Like Canada, when socialized medicine kicks in watch the flight of medical professionals take place. I should know. The Mrs. and I were both part of the “Brain Drain” of the 80′s. We make far less than we did in Canada but take home much much more…like 3 times more. You liberals can go ahead and wave your Universal Health Care all you wish. We’ll just move on. We can go anywhere in the “world” we wish. “Free housing, travel expenses are paid and a car or allowance (Our Choice)” are but a few of the perks the world is, right this second, offering American medical professionals for their talents. The south of France is nice this time of year, I think?

Tax the wealthy. Did it occur to anyone that it is the wealthy who pay taxes anyway? They are the ones that can create jobs. Go ahead and tax the wealthy. They’ll just move. Then where is the money for Welfare and social programs going to come from ?

Please small business owners lay off the Obama supporters first.
Besides they believe he will save them anyway.

Please small business owners lay off the Obama supporters first.
Besides they believe he will save them anyway.
That will happen, guaranteed.

Karl Marx and Bill Ayers must be so proud. Finally someone with influence to spread their ideas.

Tax the wealthy. Did it occur to anyone that it is the wealthy who pay taxes anyway? They are the ones that can create jobs. Go ahead and tax the wealthy. They’ll just move. Then where is the money for Welfare and social programs going to come from ?
Posted by: CW | Feb 26, 2009 4:56:41 PM
Did you know that 25 of Americans pay 40% of all income taxes in this country?

Tax the wealthy. Did it occur to anyone that it is the wealthy who pay taxes anyway? They are the ones that can create jobs. Go ahead and tax the wealthy. They’ll just move. Then where is the money for Welfare and social programs going to come from ?
Posted by: CW | Feb 26, 2009 4:56:41 PM
Did you know that 2% of Americans pay 40% of all income taxes in this country?

Kodiak8881 posted “FDR DID NOT PULL US OUT OF THE DEPRESSION! NO reputable historian or economist buys that bull. In fact, it was probably his policies that made a recession into a depression.” Check out the study by economist Robert Whaples. More than half of the economists and historians DISAGREED that “government policies of the New Deal served to lengthen and deepen the Great Depression.”
Yes, WWII spending ended the Depression. Government spending and new jobs. The government had to spend money to pay the GI’s and purchase weapons + military goods from the private sector. GIs created new jobs – they left vacancies filled by the Rosie the Riveter.
For the first time women went to work in the factories in part built as infrastructure spending during the New Deal. Some believe without New Deal programs and building, we wouldn’t have had the infrastructure to fight the same fight a decade later.
Now our government is trying to do the same thing by putting the money into other areas other than the military since we don’t have the need for massive fighting force like we did in WWII. So, because there aren’t the vacancies in the job force that there was in WWII, the US has to create new jobs. Keep in mind outsourcing has seriously depleted family wage jobs – only 5 Million new jobs were created over the past 8 years and we now have over 11.6 Million unemployed.

A more recent example of successes and failures of government spending is Japan. After years of heavy spending, Japan’s leaders grew concerned about growing budget deficits and cut back too soon, snuffing out the recovery, similar to what Roosevelt did to the American economy in 1936.
Japan’s experience also seems to argue for spending heavily to promote social development. A 1998 report by the nonprofit “Japan Institute for Local Government” found that every 1 trillion yen (that’s ~$11.2 billion US) spent on social services (like food stamps and unemployment) added 1.64 trillion yen in growth. Financing for schools and education delivered even more return: 1.74 trillion yen growth.

Good. We tried the exact opposite of this for 8 years, and how many jobs did it create?????? plenty..in CHINA! Handing out trillions to the most wealthy to invest in china and india just didn’t help grow american jobs, in fact, it went AGAINST American companies. Go figure. So take back the handouts. You want to grow a business, offer a grant for whomever will do it, offer a tax credit IF you employ americans. Want to grow jobs, do it DIRECTLY. Dont just handout trillions and HOPE it grows jobs. WE been there, done that, didn’t work. NIce to see a change!

Where’s the tea party. Do you realize that when we seceeded from England and won our independence from British rule was partly because we didn’t want to be taxed any more on goods coming in or going out. Now this!!! This would make our founding fathers cry. Why would you take away from a small business owner employing 4 people only to tax the crap out of the business forcing them to lay off workers. Oh, I’m sorry, we’re spreading the wealth so some Oprah watching bum can get the money that the hard working laid off person lost because the small business owner couldn’t afford to keep he or she anymore. Do you really think giving hard working money to those who don’t work is going to rebuild this country? What are we walking idoits to let this crap happen? People, we have to make a stand, this is a free country based on free principles. What is happening now, we’re letting this wolf take from those who work hard and give it to his lazy sheep to bring this country down. If we really want change, we need to look up and stop this nonsense.

Mags- as long as you have income anywhere in the world, you will have to pay your US taxes.

Furthermore,
We need to keep the Hollywood elite out of government, U2, George Clooney, etc. They’re always worried about helping africa, what about our homeless people? When we send mony to Africa, most of it goes to their croney politicians and they in turn attcack the citizens. How many athletes donate to the poor, I can’t think of any, they earn so much money and sepnd it on nonsense. So the next time this country wants to donate $50 billion to an african nation, think about helping our own people starving in this country and keep the idiot actors and musicians out, I used to be an agent for these guys and I know how they think.

So now we read headlines that Obama wants to raise money by putting in some form of caps on pollution and give the $$ to the poor.
You know, the people who didn’t get an education or stay in school, who don’t pay taxes and already get all forms of governmental assistance through our tax dollars.
More redistributing the wealth.

The US Chamber of Commerce said this about Obama’s redistributing the wealth programs and spending:
“More taxes, heavy-handed regulations, and command-and-control government will not hasten recovery. Instead, it will delay it and do so at a terrible cost to taxpayers, businesses, and working families.”

Obama wants to reduce the value of the deduction for charitable contributions to the group that donates the most to charity on a per capita basis, thereby reducing the amount of such contributions and making charitable organizations more dependent on other sources of cash.
Obama wants to reduce the value of the deduction for mortgage interest to that same group thereby further reducing the demand for, and the value of, higher end homes. And this in the middle of a recession that was precipitated by the bursting of a residential real estate bubble.
Obama wants to give bankruptcy judges the ability to rewrite mortgages, thereby reducing the value of mortgage portfolios held by the very banks we are bailing out, increasing the cost of mortgages to consumers over the long term, and thereby reducing the value of residential real estate even further.
Obama wants to impose a carbon tax that will increase the utility costs of every American household and drive offshore whatever remains of American manufacturing and heavy industry.
Obama wants to remove oil leases that were available from consideration and increase taxes on oil companies, thereby increasing energy prices even further and increasing our dependence on foreign oil.
And the next shoe to drop will be significant increases in the payroll tax via an uncapping of same and possibly an increase in the employer’s share.
To do these things in the midst of a recession is so bizarre it has to be deliberate.

Today’s Wall Street Journal had an article everyone should read:
The 2% Solution
It will put in perspective for you the damage Obama has already done and will continue to do to the economy.

We’re looking at a DELIBERATE attempt by the Democrat controlled Congress and Obama to wreck the economy even further.
A commission established by Congress to study options for funding the nation’s roads and bridges on Thursday recommended raising the federal gas tax by 10 cents a gallon.

Obama’s cap-and-trade system means that every business that emits “greenhouse gases” (and that’s all of them unless some industry lobbyists are able to bribe Obama’s people into exceptions) has to purchase permission from the government to keep producing and stay in business. That additional expense is going to be passed on to the customers of those businesses (all of us), so it’s basically a tax. That all of us are going to pay.
Even those people who make under $250,000/year. Maybe especially those people, because they’re the ones not likely to be able to afford fancy boutique products from “green companies” that charge a premium for them.

Deaanbob
Oh sorry, they donate some time. You should read your sports, just last week there was an article that said $175,000 were givern to the ex football players fusnd from the 60′s, 70, and early 80′s. Boy that is going to help out more than a 1000 players with medical and financial problems, so don’t tell me the athletes are generous when they can’t even take care of their own who paved their ways.

Writing too fast, missed the errors on my previous comments.
The tea Party has begun, we as americans don’t have to put up with this tax and spend attitude. We as small business owners will move our businesses out of he country if this communist government continues to tax us to pay for people are lazy. The bottom line is more tax, less jobs.

Underdog: The Atlantic has an interesting article on the need (or not) of the F-22, titled The Last Ace. The article points out that technological supreriority is the REASON countries can’t challenge our air power. But Americans got a chilling wake-up call during recent air combat maneuvers in India. 4th-gen fighters with inexpensive upgrades gave the F15 a hard time. And several nations have their own 5th-gen fighters coming online. And of course, radar and missile advances are making SAMS more dangerous to F15s.
But beyond need – I thought we just got a lesson in the need to put Americans to work? Defense jobs pay well, lead to spin-off technologies, and are AMERICAN jobs. Better that than money for projects that will buy lots of Chinese products (though China needs money too, if they’re to continue subsidizing our welfare).

If you folks haven’t yet realized that middle class people are the ones that will be paying for BHO spending spree you’re fools!

“many US high earners and business people may end up paying close to 70% when you add up all of the taxes.”
of course there is no cite for that “fact”.
You people crack me up. Poor people pay more of a percentage of their income in taxes than rich people do, because of the regressive nature of property taxes, sales taxes, and “fees”.
Two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to the General Accountability Office.

If you folks haven’t yet realized that middle class people are the ones that will be paying for BHO spending spree you’re fools!
Posted by: bo | Feb 26, 2009 5:52:37 PM
Exactly, what BO calls rich is really middle class in many parts of this country

Underdog | Feb 26, 2009 5:42:32 PM….The budget SHOULD be cut, and no area should not be cut if we really want to do something about the deficit. Speech from Dallas Fed last yr: “For the existing unfunded liabilities (just SS & Medicare) to be covered…someone must pay $99.2 trillion more (68% tax rise) or receive $99.2 trillion less than currently promised.”

There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. After a brief reprieve gas is inching back up.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV’s instead had plug-in electric drive trainsthe amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now.

Flash Overdrive: Here are some facts: Read The WSJ opinions today “Obama’s Budget Illusion.” 1% of the population pays 40% of the taxes. They will pay upwards of 45% in taxes, plus the normal other taxes including state 8% in california, 7% in New York, City tax, and school taxes. And that’s before 2010 when congress raises taxes again – because even if you taxed the top 1% – 100% of their income it would cover only 1/2 of next years deficit.

Flash Override | Feb 26, 2009 5:53:12 PM
…my post was incomplete. Is should have included “after the new Obama tax increases take effect 2010-2011″.

“Here are some facts: Read The WSJ opinions today”
Those two statements are at odds with each other.

The wealthy don’t pay taxes. They are going to reveal 17,000 of them who collaberated with UBS to avoid paying any taxes on billions. Funny you never hear about 17,000 middle class folks collaberating with banks to commit fraud

Just shut this guy up! He brings out his budget and my retirement portfolio goes down again. Every time he opens his mouth my portfolio goes down, enough he’s done enough damage to me.

Sherry | Feb 26, 2009 6:08:05 PM….ANWR is 72 miles from Prudhoe pipeline; the oil reserve estimates are notoriously low. We’d put people to work, bring $18/barrel in tax (and more in royalties), and insure oil while we bridge the gap to alt energies. We’ll still need oil for many other products (plastic may be the largest).

By the way people, today we found out that the Tax Bracket is $208,000.00, not $250,000.00 like President B O told us 2 nights ago. The White House said, “it is in the ballpark.” since when is $42,000.00 in the ballpark?

“By the way, where is my freakin’ unicorn? It is not raining skittles and there my garage is sans horse with horn.
Barry, you got some ‘splaining to do!”
-that is, by far, the funniest thing I have read all week! Although, personally, I’m still waiting on my sparkly red shoes, cause you can’t travel the yellow brick road without ‘em!

Ryan C | Feb 26, 2009 6:13:38 PM….Very observant & accurate.

jl…you will on march 4 when the leass than brilliant one lays out his mortgage mess plan.

The AP writes tonight that Obama’s budget projects a budget deficit at 4 times last year’s budget deficit.
As a lot of us have been saying for some time, this was Obama plan:
We’re broke and the deficit is huge. To fix it, we’re going to spend more money.

“But I’m pretty comfortable with the WSJ which you call a rag,”
I called the opinion page a rag and its no surprise you would feel comfortable with it.
Hopefully the news section will be able to resist Murdoch’s efforts to “sensationalize” them.

We’re screwed plain and simple. This guy is a socialist. We’re going to add 1.75 TRILLION to the debt this year. How exactly does he expect to cut the deficit in half when he adds trillions to it immediately?

I thought we were going to see details THIS WEEK!!! Now we have to wait until April. This guy is a pathological liar. He won’t release the details because HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. You cowards elected the wrong guy.

With sufficient demand, the US would produce more than $30 Trillion worth of goods and services over the next 2 years.
The US currently does not have that demand. Consumer spending and business investment have severely fallen, so a massive gap has opened up between what the American economy produces and what it’s actually able to sell.
This is one reason why the economy needs stimulus beyond continuing Bush era tax cuts.
BTW, standard estimates point out that a dollar of public spending raises our GDP by around $1.50.

msnbc…online poll…61.4% say no to obamas new budget.60% say deficit wont be cut…thats from the chris matthews msnbc fell a chill up my leg group. if there readers dont like it really stinks.

“I thought we were going to see details THIS WEEK!!! Now we have to wait until April.”
The stupid, it burns.
Details are coming out this week for the current budget.
This article is referencing the the plan for the coming budgets, specifically 2011.

why do you call it a ‘tax increase’ when all it is really doing is CLOSING a tax loophole for the most wealthy when those folks NEVER were given so much back before Bush’s time??? Why is that now the new standard to which we judge their taxes They NEVER paid so little in Reagan’s time and certainly nobody complained the rich paid too many taxesunder Reagan. I think the title of this article is misleading. It should say “tax rate for wealthy goes BACK to Reagan levels in 10 years, SAVES us trillions in our deficit”

In 2005 bush tried to reform freddie and fannie – and congress (barney frank) – and obama blocked it. bush was surely not a great president – but congress is on the hook for the housing mess we’re in. which led to the banking nonsense – which led to the economy being in the crapper. if anyone really thinks this is all one parties doings they are not very well-informed or simply blind-biased.

I BELIEVE THAT THE LAST SEVERAL PRESIDENTS USED THE SAME SPEECH WRITERS AND MUST USE THE SAME PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET ONLY REAL DEFERENCE IS 1 PAYS FOR BUTTER THE OTHER PAYS FOR GUNS EITHER WAY MY 9 YEAR OLD SON LOSES BUT BOTH PARTIES REALLY SHOW THE LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE TAKE OUR MONEY TO PROTECT US FROM OURSELVES OR OTHERS THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR LEADERS THANK YOU MR BUSH MR OBAMA

What the wealthy will pay in tax yearly, is what I was charged monthly in payroll tax withholding. That is when I had a skilled trades job in America.
What the rich will not receive in tax credits for donations ($600.00) Is more than what I earned weekly in the previous job I had two years ago. I have not worked since.
You have nothing to complaining about when you have nothing to live on at all.

So this is how Obama will change America’s image around the world?
We go from cowboy bullies to wimps that won’t even use the words “war on terror”.
Arrogant with an air of entitlement.
Irresponsible shopaholics.
Oh how our enemies (maybe some of our allies)must relish our new image.

I should also add that my state does not have an income tax.
It also worries me a little bit that government is funding so MANY new areas. Where there is govt money being spent, there is govt rules miles long.

Skip–FYI——Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Act of 2005 S190— John Mccain and several Republicans sponsored this. Dems shot down saying they were just fear mongering.
2003– Bush wanted to create entity to oversee Fannie and Freddie –Barney Frank and Melvin Watt said they were exaggerating the problem and that there wasn’t any financial problems at the GSE’s.

The rich are the one’s who make the jobs….
Now is the time to give incentives to the rich….

Right on Michele. 100 years ago, income in America skewed steeply toward the top. However, by the mid 20th century the US became significantly more equal (according to economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty).
Back in 1928 just before the Great Depression, the wealthy top 1% of Americans grabbed 23.94% of our nation’s income. By 1976, that top 1% share had fallen to 8.86%. Since then Middle Class income has eroded, almost half of the country can’t afford medical coverage, poverty levels grew to 12.5% of our population, and the distance between rich and poor again widened.
As of 2005 the wealthy 1% share of our nation’s income had risen to 21.93%. I can only imagine how much more it has grown in the last 3 years.

“I often wonder why the ‘Income Tax’ is used. I believe in a national sales tax. The rich buy more than the poor. And people on welfare also buy goods and services but create no income tax. Am I wrong?”
I think you are right. A national sales tax would be the better way to go. Every time Paris Hilton buys (or is given) a new designer dress or designer purse it would be taxed. If she buys a Bentley it would be taxed at a certain percentage, but she would pay more than me because I would buy a small Ford (and I buy my clothes at Target). If I eat at McDonald’s I will pay less in taxes than someone who eats at a Sushi restaurant.
Basing what the government takes form us on “Income Taxes” protects tne very wealthy who do not make their money through income, like Warren Buffett.

“Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Act of 2005 S190— John Mccain and several Republicans sponsored this.”
John mcCain cosponsored it.
It was orig intro’d in
“Dems shot down saying they were just fear mongering.”
It passed committee in a party line vote but the GOP never brought it to the floor.
“2003– Bush wanted to create entity to oversee Fannie and Freddie”
ROFLMAO!
Bush proposed creating an agency for oversight because Congress (run by Republicans) had abdicated that duty.

What a breath of fresh air. My beloved President is putting his money where his mouth is. I approve of the the budget. Even business owners tell us, “that if you want to make money, you have to spend money.” Every president has spent money, the question is, on what? We have spent trillions on war, why not spend that much on health, education and energy to now help our soldiers, children, and America as a whole. Guess what people, we have to spend money, we will spend money, even if it were republicans in office. Get over it. I don’t see the “Republic of NO’s”, with any new ideas.

wrong kathy, he’s not putting HIS money where his mouth is, he’s putting MY money where his mouth is. Big difference!!

morris….you got something there. how do you want to split it.

This is ridiculous, I love the idiots that say “what do you think Bush did, he ran up the budget.” First off, he just signs the bills (which he shouldn’t have done), congress writes them, which was democrats and republicans. Also, just because I shoot someone, does that give you the right to go shoot 3 people? In other words, if Bush signs a bunch of trash into law totally for example 100 billion, that automatically gives democrats the right to sign 10 times that must trash into law? That has to be the dumbest, most childish argument I’ve ever heard. And I’m tired of Obama saying he “inherited” the mess. GUESS WHAT, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE OVER AS THE PRESIDENT. World wars don’t stop, budgets don’t zero themselves out, plagues don’t disappear, unemployment doesn’t drop to 0%. He sounds like a little kid saying, “I didn’t break it, Johnny did it.” Unbelievable.

idahogirl…follow your logic…what benefits are there for snall business? capital gains are being eliminated and your soc security taxes are going to tax wages that are now capeed at 106,000 all the way up to250k. may seem like big money but in california it is not by any strech…means no new employess for me.

“First off, he just signs the bills (which he shouldn’t have done), congress writes them, which was democrats and republicans.”
The President submits their budget to Congress who then thru both chambers do their own thing before it goes back to the President to sign.
I know Bush was pretty useless but he did more than just sign stuff.

I said in jan. of 2008 obama do just
this if elected now watch at the loss
of jobs who wants to invest if there
is no profit

Morris, I like your idea of splitting the country in 2, but it wouldn’t work because the liberal side would need the tax money of the producers on the conservative side to stay afloat for more than a few months. It would be fun watch them self-destruct, but we all know they would blame Bush and then the media would cover for them, and everyone on their side would believe the media because they are too busy watching american idol and heros.

Ryan C—The Republicans on the Senate Banking committee all voted for it the Dem’s all voted against it. The Dem’s took control in 2006 and the item was shelved. Now who was it that benefitted the most from Fannie and Freddie contributions… oh yes Obama and Dodd.
ROFLMAO

Skip, if I can call you that, California is a prime example of your theory. Louisiana was the only state in the union to add jobs in December…they seem to be consistently blue…oh no, let’s see, they aren’t.

Obama lied about the cost of the war, lied about his 2T ” savings”, lied about the cost of his socialized medicine program and lied about the rate he expects the economy to recover. Basically, he is not qualified to be a dog catcher.

I think that it would be worthwhile to follow the example of the founders of the United States. They sent representatives from each state to a continental congress where they aired their viewpoints and eventually created a blueprint for a lose confederation of states to protect the rights of freedom for all.
It’s very apparent that the regional variations are no longer the issue. It’s now a divide of belief. So I believe we need two continental congresses who would outline their systems of living. A conservative congress and a liberal congress. After creating their viewpoints, and they would have no need to moderate their desires, the resulting plans would then be voted upon by citizens in each county in the United States.
The counties would be reformed into contiguous segments. Counties completely surrounded by opposing viewpoints would be given to the opposing camp.
I think this process would take about a year.

Skip–No they didn’t support Hagel’s bill they preferred a watered down version. We are in a housing recession here so let’s get the facts straight here.

“Ryan C—The Republicans on the Senate Banking committee all voted for it the Dem’s all voted against it.”
Which is what I said. It passed committee in a party line vote.
The GOP never brought it to the floor even though they had clear majorities.
“The Dem’s took control in 2006 and the item was shelved.”
Dems took over in 2007, 2006 was the election year.
Look up HR 1427 from the 110th Congress.

“The Democrats passed regulations on Freddie and Frannie within months of taking control in 2006.”
Not to be a pain by 2007. 2006 was the election year.

Ryan C–No problem. I understand the confusion you must be feeling in light of everything that has unfolded since Obama became POTUS. That would explain why you still feel the need to make excuses for him by saying Bush did it first!! It may work for awhile,but eventually you will have to face the facts. Good luck

Since Democrats took over Congress in January 2006, it’s all been downhill. darned shamed

Please explain to me why the American taxpayers are paying the Gov’t billions in tax dollars – that they are LOANING to the Wall Street folks. If its a loan – then Wall Street is paying it back with interest (and then we’re paying for it???) sooooo the Gov’t loans money and gets paid back TWICE? I mean we’re not going to get tax money back after Wall Street pays its debts right??? Great work if you can get it.

“Ryan C–No problem. I understand the confusion you must be feeling in light of everything that has unfolded since Obama became POTUS.”
I’ll take this ramble as a concession.

kiss the american dream good bye
no matter how bad our economy gets its still the best in the world but yet you never see any foreigners complain, they just suck it up and keep living as best they can!

It’s not a myth that the Democrats blocked regulation of Fannie and Freddy.
Republicans did not have enough votes in the Senate to block a filibuster. The Senate doesn’t vote on bills that are subject to a filibuster. That is the whole point behind a filibuster; its keeps bills that would otherwise pass from being voted on.
Republicans could have blocked a vote on the so-called “stimulus” bill if the three RINOS hadn’t caved. Therefore, there was no vote taken until enough changes in the bill had occurred so that the RINOS could stomach it.
Interestingly enough, the chief Democrat in the Senate who opposed regulation of Fannie and Freddy, Chris Dodd, received more money from Fannie and Freddy than anyone else.

BUSH and the GOP spent money without adding in the Budget = LIES and dishonest.
It is very refreshing to see that President OBAMA’s budget is honest, transparent and bold

I don’t care what party is to blame for the Fannie/Freddie mess. Investigate and let the chips fall where they may.

Ryan C. -
Preventing a filibuster requires 60 votes. Therefore, the 55 votes the Republicans had were not enough to keep the Democrats from filibustering. The Democrats do not even have enough votes to prevent a filibuster now unless they get 2 Repubicans to join them.

DOES ANYBODY FEEL THAT WE ARE BEING RUN BY A BUNCH OF POLITICAL DONS AND MAFIA BOSSES THAT ONLY WANT TO INSURE THEIR OWN SURVIVAL.
I THINK THE SOVIET POLITBORO WAS LIKE THAT…

$1,750,000,000,000.00 debt in Obama’s 1st year. A $8,000,000,000.00 Gamblers train in the stimulous bill to take gamblers from L.A. to the casinos in Vegas, and Obama is going to restore fiscal discipline? Obama is plunging us into debt faster and deeper than any country has plunged in the history of the world. If China double its population and savings rate it won’t have enough money to lend to us for this. The U.S. doesn’t have enough rich people taxed at 100% to pay for this. Oh….My…..God!!!!!

LINCOLN’S WAR & OBAMA’S
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
In 1860 life was good
Till its simpleness ceased one day.
The North wished to save the Union
While the South chose to break away.
America was torn apart
As six hundred thousand died.
Throughout four years of total war
Women without husbands cried.
The sad fact of the Civil War
Is what was left at its end.
Too many times, men’s evil acts
Destroyed both foe and friend.
The problem was, once it began
There was no peace or compromise.
Total victory must be proclaimed
Before rage would leave men’s eyes.
Destroy all that helps the enemy
Was the cry of either side.
Anything to obtain victory
As death on horseback did ride.
Black men dressed in old uniforms
Became the Union’s reserve.
They fought and died for their freedom
And their rights they earned and deserve.
Lifestyles would forever change
For all who survived the war.
It had ended as it began
With sadness, misery and more.
Both sides prayed to the same God
And spoke words from the Bible.
The prayers of both were not answered
For all involved were liable.
BLACK POWDER BRIDGE
A courier rider hands his papers to me
They are instructions from Robert E. Lee.
I am advised now is the time
To stop the troop movement on the Rock Island line.
I muster my men and they load up the boats
We powder our pistols and darken our coats.
Traveling the currents, the sun slips from sight
As brave men with a purpose have gathered to fight.
We capture a bridge before the moonrise
The Yankees who are here shall soon feed the flies.
The evil of war feeds on my brain
As I light the fuse to destroy a train.
Above us a trestle of timber and tar
As we pull our oars for a willowed sandbar.
From the banks of the river; we watch it approach
There’s shadows of soldiers, in the windows of a coach.
With a burst of bright yellow and a roar in my ear
I hear them scream as they ‘re falling in fear.
The river is boiling in steam, steel and stems
Back home their families shall soon sing funeral hymns.
The one lone survivor was a red stallion stud
I lassoed his neck, and freed him from the mud.
As I ride in his saddle beneath the stars that shine
I pray for forgiveness and some peace of mind.
War is a lesson we re eager to learn
When man has that fever to murder and burn.
Lord, please forgive me for what I have done
For all those I’ve silenced were some mother’s son.
THE FEVER OF FEAR
Cannons are bursting hot metal from the ground.
Soldiers are looting and burning our town.
The fever of fear rushes through my veins
As too many Bluecoats jump from troop trains.
Smoke from hot barrels is swirling around
As four thousand muskets volley their sound.
All of my comrades have stopped a lead ball
Most cry out, then stumble and fall.
Even the young lad who carried our flag
Now he lies dead as he clings to that rag.
Wagons with the wounded trail blood on the ground
Death and destruction are easily found.
The Generals are crying ’cause they can’t stand defeat
But it’s always the soldier who dies on his feet.
Horse hooves are pounding on a bridge made of boards
As the sunlight reflects from the blades of their swords.
Quickly I hide out in the roots of a tree
Where the dirt has eroded and there’s just room for me.
After dark I sneak out with the cover of fog
Then float down the river, as I cling to a log.
Songs of their victory, ring out through the night
While from the cold, muddy water, I see their firelight.
It makes me remember my old country church
Where the preacher spoke God’s word from his holy perch.
That the seed of all conflict began in a cave
When man, like the wild wolf had to prove he was brave.
THUNDER IN THE GROUND
Cannons are bellowing from a ridge far away
The battle lines are forming and there’s little time to pray.
Musket balls are pelting like hailstones from the sky
I’m so full of fear cause I don ‘t want to die.
From beyond yonder hill comes a terrifying sound
It’s the music of the buglers and there’s thunder in the ground.
The fast-riding troopers have all drawn out their swords.
They ‘re shouting and screaming as they charge up the gorge.
It’s hard to believe how many make it through
As they’re hacking and shooting at the boys dressed in blue.
Then come the soldier men who run upon their feet
Every time I drop one, my heart skips a beat.
There’s a storm on the ground made of death, dust and smoke
My throat is so dry, I can ‘t help but choke.
The fury of the battle is bound to settle down
When most of the fighters lie dead on the ground.
After dark, the stretcher-bearers are afraid to search around
The wild hogs eat the wounded and I can ‘t stand the sound.
Come dawn, we dig ditches for all the brave, lifeless men
Then quote words from our Bible praying heaven lets them in.
SLAVERY
When you chain the neck of a slave
The other end fastens to you.
Your heart and soul become corrupt
And all which is evil you’ll do.
No government shall exist for long
Who’s people are not really free.
Though around the world there are those
Who stay blind to how life should be.
Any who must enslave others
Will dwell in their own living hell
After death, they’ll join their master
In that place from heaven he fell.
But till then we’ll fight and resist
Making them put their chains away.
And those of us who may die first
From heaven shall watch and pray
BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER
In the course of becoming officers
The young men of West Point bonded like brothers.
Till roomers of Civil War transformed friend to foe
As many cadets chose to serve others.
Fifty-five of sixty major battles fought
Were lead by graduates of the long gray line.
Yankees and Rebels ravaged one another
For to kill and plunder were virtues of the time.
Over six hundred thousand soldiers were consumed
Not counting multitudes of population.
Cities, farms and the countryside were laid to waste
Before our Union was restored to a nation.
THE LITTLEST SOLDIER
Nine year old Johnny Clem who stood just four feet tall
Ran away from Ohio to answer his country’s call.
He joined up with the Union and became a drummer boy
Soon to prove the gun he wore was far more than a toy.
Armed with a sawed-off musket, cut down to just fit him
He shot a Rebel horseman who tried to do him in.
Awarded his sergeant’s stripes and the silver medal
His comrades offered him hot coffee from their kettle.
The newspapers of the North, gladly published his story
Telling of the nine year old who earned his country’s glory.
THE BATTLE
The moon is sky high
And perfectly round
As it highlights the beauty
Of disputed ground.
Life is a journey
Where the passage is free.
After, there’s judgment
By the living and Thee.
Tomorrow’s carnage
We’ll survive if we can.
Death and dismemberment
By the hand of man.
Some will stumble
With absence of breath.
While others charge
Into the face of death.
We’ll race toward the battle
And pray for the best
Hoping somehow
We pass God’s test.
BUGLES
Their red and blue, ragtag flag stood out
Against their dust covered uniforms of gray.
Savagely we fought to kill our enemy
As the battle raged on in the heat of the day
Volley after volley we put forth our blaze
With thousands of led balls snapping flesh and bone.
Blistering sweat rolled down every face
As the tunes of war by bugles were blown.
There was a clanking sound of ramrods in barrels
As each new minieball was loaded and fired.
Some shot aimlessly into the smoke
While others took aim at the worn and tired.
Bullets were popping like the fourth of July
Yet our enemy kept surging ahead.
All at once they broke and ran off in groups
Scattering as for the forest they fled.
From behind the protection of a stacked-stone wall
The victorious cheered or just sat starring
At all the bodies of friend and foe
While for the wounded the surgeons were caring.
Soon the war was over and I survived
Despite it’s brutality on trampled ground.
From boy to man I was transformed
Though, still in the night I hear its sound.
OBAMA’S WAR
SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF WORLD WAR III
Our sons and daughters serve in harms way
To defend our way of life.
Some are students, some grandparents
Many a husband or wife.
They face great odds without complaint
Gambling life and limb for little pay.
So far away from all they love
Fight our soldiers for whom we pray.
The plotters and planners of America’s doom
Pledge to murder and maim all they can.
From early childhood they are taught
To kill is to become a man.
They exploit their young as weapons of choice
Teaching in heaven, virgins will await.
Destroying lives along with their own
To learn of their falsehoods too late.
The fearful cry we must submit
And find a way to soothe them.
Where defenders worry if we stand down
The future for America is grim.
Now’s not the time to fight one another
Or kiss our enemy’s cheek.
All through history it remains the same
The strong enslave the weak.
May God continue to bless America
Refusing evil, the upper hand.
It’s up to us to stay resolute
Defending the liberty of Man.
FREEDOM
In their new uniforms
The young march off
Not knowing who shall return.
With a proud devotion
They brandish their flag
Leaving loved ones to wonder and yearn.
May we all be buried
By all of our children
Is an ancient tribal prayer.
They’re so easy to lose
But so hard to forget
Such a burden for a parent to bear.
Oh, the taste of victory
Shall soon be forgotten
But, never that which was lost.
For those rows of white headstones
In peaceful green fields
Make it easy to tally the cost.
America has survived all attempts to destroy
Knowing the cruelty of war
And, we who remain
Must help keep her free
For those who can march no more!
By Conservative Poet
Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
TOM ZART’S RADIO POEMS
You can hear all of Tom Zart’s 330 poems
of love, war, faith and more 24-7 on web radio at
http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-TomZart.htm
Tom Zart ARCHIVES:
Global
Special
Operations
101
http://www.globalspecialoperations.com/tomzart2.html

Obama: “Budget Will Restore Fiscal Discipline”
Sure. We need a little humor and levity in these troubled times.

He’s too anti-capitalist to fail! We
owe total obeisance to a neophyte of
color. Giving him a “chance” is like
giving my savings to the first Acorn
captain I see and pray that he spends
it wisely. Best give it up to the
new man upon request. It saves one
the contusions and broken bones
down the road. I respect the Olympic
salute of the 60s…and you’d better
too.

I don’t get the dems who say because Bush drove up the deficit, Obama can drive it up 10 times as much.
I don’t know whether to scream or cry over his budget…he’s trying to destroy our economy and sell our country to the Chinese (who are more capitalists these days than Obama, so they can afford to bail us out…but we will owe them).
I’ve lost much of my IRA’s and 401k and my stock options to Obamanomics. And the govt has lost their share of eventual taxes from those as well.
I grew up on a farm, went to college and got my degree, and have been working hard in the technology industry all my life (still can’t afford to buy a decent place to live because I’m single). I believe in owning stocks because I work for a publically owned company and I know we all work hard for our clients and stock holders.
But I fear I will retire in poverty. Obama is ruining the economy, and borrowing from future generations who will have to choose between the Chinese and their old people. Obama thinks the stock market is “Wall Street”; ie: rich; so he doesn’t care.

obama talks wallstreet listens every time he opens his mouth our economy falls i wished he would lose his voice for a couple of years so the economy will get back to normal hes not hope hes a disaster

Fact is, when the rich get richer it keeps me working. Their investments are what starts companies, builds things and creates jobs. They take risk. When we talk about redistributing the wealth to people that are not willing or incapable of taking risk these opportunities will lie domat. We will never be able to measure the opportunity cost of raising taxes on the rich.

“The individual tax increases include a reduction in itemized deduction for charitable contributions. Orszag today defended that reduction, saying that the stimulus provides $100 million for charities and economic recovery will bounce contributions back.”
This is just one of the ways that the government takes takes takes from the taxpayers and then divys out as THEY see fit. I am seeing this over and over from big banks to big charity. So now instead of letting me as a individual give to a charity that I see as fit and responsible, local and otherwise, the government is going to take my money and then give it back out to charities that they recognize. Charities that will make big payouts to politicians in order to get money to run their inefficient program.

I think it’s time that we as americans began to do research on these reports and articles we read as far as judging this new administration. I beleive the best way to judge this new administration and it’s proposed budget is to line it up with the spending of the previous and administraions of the past 30 years while taking into account that we are in economic downfall where the right things have to be done to correct it.3.5 trillion is a large number that I did not hear from the bush administration. Although,my quick study and research found that from 2005-2008 the Bush administration did have a budget over 2 trillion and it was 2.9 trillion for last year.That’s not to far offfrom what the Obama dministration is proposing and let’s get real. Obama wants to expand health care availability which costs money.If Obama cut back on programs to help the needy his budget would probably look similar to what Bush’s looked like.We voted for Obama.Thank God.I said this yesterday.Obama’s transparency is what is bringing all this scrutiny and now I hear that the previous administration was not as forthcoming about the financial costs of these two wars we are engaged in? We are just now being allowed to see our dead soliders returning from war. We didnt see that in the previous administration.President Obama is pulling back the curtain so America can see. His progress and the mistakes. I respect that. Truth is Bush may have well spent more than what Obama is proposing. Obama is honest enough to tell us up front.

Accountability and transparency folks, the years of lies of the GOP are over.
————————————-
B ,
I have news for you, Obama won the election. Bush is not in the picture now! You liberals can keep running off at the mouth that somehow this is all Bush’s fault, but its not working.
Obama is in over his head, now he has managed to pull the country under as well. I dont like him or his policies, but we all better hope this works at least a little bit.
If this fails, and the odds are it will, we will end up with an economy where the barter system will be the dominant financial mechanism!
In 5 short weeks this guy has managed to set himself up to spend more money than any person in the history of the planet!
These packages as so huge and overblown that “tranparency” and accountability is going to cost more than the Iraq War!
That alone is the dunbest idea going on here, the concept that the government can manage this! The government could not even “manage” the simple conversion to digital TV!!!!!
We are already suppposed to be fully digital right now! The government now is going to spend 650 Million more dollars in 4 months to get out the news to people about the change! It is not even remotely possible that anyone with a TV has not not seen the PSA’s about the conversion and getting a converter box if you need one! In the “stimulator” we are now going to WASTE 90 million dollars of that 650 M for further “education & outreach” !
Unbelievable!!!
The numbers of his own plans dont add up! He “claims the “stimulator” will create/save 3.5 million jobs!
Yet OMB has looked things over & they calculate an unemployment rate of 8 % for this year & 7.9% for 2010.
I guess the magic will be the 3.5 million will be all “saved” jobs, especially since their is no way to actually tally “saved” jobs!

Jane, I don’t know which profession you subscribe to – it appears you won’t give the administration a chance to come up with their framework for transparency and accountability.
My observation is that it would help to keep an open mind and engage in holding the government to be accountable to the nation.
I don’t know the President personally but I remain open to the idea of transparency.
I don’t know about you but I have never been interested in politics but I repeat we are living in exciting times and the old ways of carrying out business is not working. We are living in a “global” environment which reaches out beyond this shore and as such we can not ignore the impact the USA has on the rest of the world.
On a different note, I noticed that someone mentioned about the rich creating work, yes they sure do but can you step back and make a list of businesses that have gone bust. – Enron, WorldCom, AIG, Lehman Brothers.
I implore you to research some of these companies and find out why they collapsed. Further still what happens to the workers when these businesses collapses. I think we are all being challenged here and the “core” message of Obama’s mantra on change is about on seeing the bigger picture.
This is not about an individual or party politics – it is a moral call to us all to be responsible citizens.

1- The recovery act and “normal business cycles” will cause the economy to eventually recover.
Keep your fingers crossed theory. However did any of these economists ever think that if government spending creates a 1.5 times multiplier then why not spend $10 trillion instead of only $.8 trillion?
2- Allowing “high income tax provisions to expire when they are scheduled to expire, at the end of 2010″ and closing tax loopholes.
Behavior will change. It always does. Rich people will not put as much investments at risk. Payoff here is in doubt since rich people can seek safer tax free investments.
3- “Winding down the war” in Iraq.
This will help but Afghanistan is a big “?” and could lead to another sink hole.
4- Making government more efficient.
Every administration always says this and it never happens.
In summary not much to find other then bigger debts are in our children’s future.

If you don’t support the President, you hate America and don’t respect our troops overseas. At least, that’s what the faded bumper stickers on all of the Republican cars in town say…

Will Obama have the courage to say to congress, or they to him, “We will have to disappoint our campaign contributors, and abandon our personal agendas, to respond to a higher calling, salvation of the Republic” ?

“The National Association of Manufacturing has blasted the Obama budget.”
The loved the stim money and tax breaks, hate having their taxes raised.
What else is new.

Once again this clown opened his pie hole today and I watched my retirement portfolio get smaller. He just needs to shut his trap!!!!!!!!!

Oh my God, Obama wants to go back to the tax rates for the wealthy that existed under Clinton and give the middle class a tax break for a change and you people all act like the world is coming to an end. The tax rate would go from 35% to 39% – wow a whole 4% points – yup sounds like socialism right? Morons! FDR passed Social Security during the depression, and Obama is going to pass health care for all Americans. God Bless President Obama and our Country – I am praying for both.

“Obama said that lowering the debt in the long-term would be the only approach to solving the country’s fiscal problems.”
And yet his 2009 budget will BORROW another $1.75 TRILLION to stack on top of the national debt. Then, if everything goes peachy and we get GDP growth of 3+ %, the government will only have to borrow an ADDITIONAL $500 – $600 BILLION for EACH and EVERY year after 2009, FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS!
This does nothing to lower the debt. It DOUBLES THE DEBT! Yet, somehow we are suppose to believe the new administration is being responsible.
What is going to happen when other countries decide to no longer lend us money?

This budget is a socialistic monstrosity. THis is obama’s basic plan,spend more, raise taxes, and grow government. Translation,waste money, rob companies, and create a tyrany. This will not restore fiscal responsibility. It will do nothing but tax and spend.