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Such a Dynamic Duo
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The Continuing Crisis
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The Current Crisis
Obama vs. Christie and the Future
One wants to raise taxes. The other will cut them.
WASHINGTON — Whose job would you want to have? Would it be President Barack Obama’s, whose budget woes are getting graver? Or would it be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s, whose budget is at least looking to be survivable?
Now President Obama is facing the choice in his budgetary decisions. Does he raise taxes only on families making $1 million a year, or does he, as he has heretofore promised, raise taxes on families making $250,000. Governor Christie has had an easier choice. He has promised a 10 percent cut on every New Jerseyan’s income. He has “stopped the bleeding” in New Jersey. He has cut 375 government programs. He has capped property taxes. He has confronted public employees with reasonable cuts in their bloated health care and pension benefits. It is all part of what he terms “the New Jersey comeback.” New Jersey’s state budget was a kind of Ponzi scheme when he came to office, and time was running out. Now he has the budget back on track, and it is time for a tax cut for everyone.
Interestingly, his Democratic opponents in the state legislature say the cut amounts to a pittance. It means a mere $275 for families earning $100,000. Their alternative is a tax increase, but only on millionaires. My guess is that a goodly number of New Jerseyans will see thorough this. The Democrats began their binge by raising taxes on the very rich. Yet, there was not enough money to pay for their munificence by taxing the very rich. So the Democrats worked their way down to the middle class, and the result was the economic basket case from which Governor Christie is now freeing all New Jerseyans.
President Obama has to make his decision by early next month when he decides on his budget: raise taxes on everyone making over $250,000 a year or only on millionaires? Of course, in 2010 he took a dreadful drubbing at the polls on taxes and it could happen again. Some Democrats have agreed with the Republicans. They say people making $200,000 to $250,000 are not making that much money, particularly if you live in a place like New York.
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer has seen the light. He has said of people with such incomes, “They are not rich, and in large parts of the country, that kind of income does not get you a big home or lots of vacation or anything else that’s associated with wealth in America.” And he went on, “They are firmly in the middle class. Same with small-business owners in that class.”
What will our President do? I say he will include families making $250,000 in his tax cuts. Moreover, if reelected he will increase taxes on the middle class. President Obama is a redistributionist. He believes more ardently in redistributing wealth than in creating it. Follow the course of Mr. Obama’s earlier redistributionist, Franklin Roosevelt, and you will know the direction in which Mr. Obama is going. In the current issue of The American Spectator Burton W. Folsom, Jr. and Anita Folsom write that FDR “lamented” in the late 1940s that “Too many people are earning money and not contributing to the government.” Thus he and his New Dealers got to work raising taxes. From “1940 to 1942, the number of Americans paying income taxes jumped almost ten fold, from 4 million to 39 million. Furthermore, the starting tax rate skyrocketed from 4 percent to almost 24 percent.” No wonder FDR is one of Obama’s heroes.
Yet Obama is a reactionary. He believes in the past, a past of vast government control of the economy, redistribution, and slow growth. Christie and Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin believe in growth. The future is theirs.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (94) | Leave a comment
More Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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http://spectator.org/archives/2012/01/19/obama-vs-christie-and-the-futu
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Moe Blotz| 1.19.12 @ 6:29AM
Right, Governor Christie wants to reduce income taxes after he did not interfere with toll increases on the New Jersey Turnpike or any of the toll bridges between NY/NJ and PA/NJ. We welcome visitors to our state and you can get in for free, but you have to pay to get out.
VonMisesJr| 1.19.12 @ 9:26AM
A 10% tax cut on income is not a big deal when many of the people in the tri-state area are unemployed or underemployed. Income taxes in this area are typically about 3 to 10%, so this amounts to .3 to 1% of total income.
One would not complain if property taxes in these states typically range from $10K to $15K per year. In the outskirts or Upstate NY you may only have $5K range, but upscale property owners pay $15K to $20K and more.
There is also typically 7% sales tax on most purchases. If you buy a car a $30K, the tax is over $2K. Rents are high, so dining out is easy $75 per couple without a bar bill.
So let's not get too excited.
Old Soldier| 1.19.12 @ 9:40AM
I owed far more on my NJ income taxes than federal last year. Obviously I paid more federal tax, but on April 14th, I was sending thousands to Trenton, not DC.
rhortus| 1.19.12 @ 10:47AM
Move to a lower tax state.
VonMisesJr| 1.19.12 @ 12:00PM
I am looking in Delaware. Taxes are $1200/yr for 1800-2400 sq/ft. Property tax is reduced after 65, I believe, to cull out school taxes making it about $40/mo. There is no sales tax.
You want to buy my house? DE does not have the welfare state and public union boondoggle like the tri-state.
KennesawJack| 1.19.12 @ 5:53PM
Come on down to Georgia. The county I live in reduces property taxes for homeowners over 62. Mine went from nearly $3,000 to $700 and we still have one of the highest rated school systems in the country. We do have a sales tax, but income tax on the first $35,000 of retirement income is waived. Besides, the weather is better.
rhortus| 1.19.12 @ 10:35PM
I live in AZ, if I ever move it's to Texas, Nevada or Wyoming. I love California as I have lived there twice- 36 years in total- but I'd have to purge the commies out first.
Tweaver| 1.21.12 @ 1:07AM
Move a little further south to North or Central Florida. Zero personal income tax. 7-9% sales tax. First 50K of property tax is forgiven if you homestead here. Fishing is great and it is slightly warmer here.
StanO| 1.19.12 @ 12:20PM
The only thing CA has right - Prop 13!!
Dai Alanye | 1.19.12 @ 2:53PM
Any tax cut is good, but Christie is an unredeemable RINO who has a long way to go before conservatives can like him.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 3:59PM
RINO= Successful Republican Governor.
beebop2| 1.20.12 @ 5:32AM
I have just one question? When does the same question apply? We heard how CRUCIAL it was to pass the Social Security Payment Holiday IMMEDIATELY or Americans were going to lose their pizza parties. If this is a pittance, please promote the same message insofar as the 0bama plan for "job creation."
Vern Crisler| 1.19.12 @ 11:46AM
Yes, New Jersey tolls roads are ridiculous. What happens when a visitor finds himself confronted with a toll road that requires loose change? What if you don't carry loose change around with you? You can't back up, and the unmanned toll booth won't accept dollars or debit cards, etc. So you have to drive through the booth without paying and risk getting a fine. That's how New Jersey sticks it to out-of-town visitors.
I liked New Jersey (even during Hurrican Irene and the earthquake), but its road system sucks and I was cursing Christie on my way out.
old white guy| 1.19.12 @ 2:08PM
every state in the union could balance it's budget and get complete control of their finances. then obama is going to destroy all their work by destroying the country financially. he is on track to do so. so many people are going to suffer as a result of fools electing obama that it will be more than some will be able to bear.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 4:04PM
Obama inherited a federal debt of nearly $12 Trillion, and a debt burden pushing 90% of GDP.
According to the Federal Budget History files, 2010: At the end
of WW2 the debt load was almost 122% of GDP. It went down under
every president, war and peace, recession or prosperity, liberal
or conservative, republican or democrat, until Reagan. When
Reagan took office it was around 33%.
Under Reagan it started back up, under Clinton it started back
down again. Under Bush II it went back into climb mode.
In 1981, 32.6%, in 1989, 53.1%, in 1993, 66.2%, in 2001 57.4%,
in 2009 90.4%.
So, Obama was handed an economy that was at risk of another
depression, and a debt load that is headed for crushing.
If the country went into depression the GDP could drop as much
as 50%. The debt would not drop, so the debt load would become
horrendous. 90% jumps to 180%. Higher than this country has ever
seen. If the GDP dropped 25% that still pushes up the debt load
to around 130%. That is a crushing debt. And that is why we
might well not be able to get out of another depression.
When Obama took office he was facing a national debt of about
$12 trill. That debt had built up in the 232 years before his
inauguration. Yet almost 80% of that debt had built up under 3
presidents, Reagan, Bush I and Bush II.
Of the 10% built up under Clinton almost all of it was in his
first term, when he was fighting to bring the Reagan/Bush
debacle under control. In his second term he gave this country
the first balanced budget it had seen in 29 years, and the
second longest string of balanced budgets of the 20th century.
At which time it appeared he stopped the growth of the debt.
However, the republicans had other plans.
(Note:The longest string was the 1920s)
All other presidents combined produced about 10% of the total
debt.
80% of the national debt Obama inherited produced under the last
three republican presidents. And 100% of the growth in the post
WWII debt load.
DRed| 1.19.12 @ 5:24PM
Shhhhh.
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:07AM
Bob, I'm not sure facts are welcomed in this neighborhood, but it's nice of you to supply them.
beebop2| 1.20.12 @ 5:34AM
Please. Many of those here did not support GWB but that doesn't make what 0bama has done "right," or "correct." He is the least qualified occupant of the White House ever. He has redeemed Carter and the clowns who worked for him.
JCB| 1.20.12 @ 9:25AM
Bob wrote, "At which time it appeared [Clinton] stopped the growth of the debt."
In fact, the federal debt increased in every year of the Clinton administration. See the Statistical Abstract of the United States. Too many people are fooled by the deficit. It is not what they think it is. The debt can and does increase even when we have a "surplus."
Bob also ignored the fact that the Clinton budget figures improved when the Republicans took over Congress and forced Clinton to accept welfare reform.
Tweaver| 1.21.12 @ 1:11AM
The current president has added more debt than the previous four presidents. There has not been this many unemployed people for this length of time since FDR's presidency.
Clint| 1.19.12 @ 6:47AM
Romney Straps Christie To The Roof Of His Car.
The Tea Party rebellion Is In South Carolina.
Moe Blotz| 1.19.12 @ 7:23AM
And then the roof caved in.
c. j. acworth| 1.19.12 @ 7:10AM
Mr. Tyrell, I think you may want to go back and proff-read your essay. First you say that Christie has promised a 10% cut in every New Jersyans income. Don't you mean income TAX? Later you state your belief that Obama will include families making $250K in his tax cuts. Don't you mean tax HIKES? Were you out partying last night perhaps, a bit "under the weather" when you typed this one?
Purp| 1.19.12 @ 8:49AM
You nailed him ... hahahaha
John McG| 1.19.12 @ 9:03AM
"Proff-read"? LOL!
But you're right. The essay has a missing question mark in the second paragraph, uses "thorough" for "through", and has FDR, who died in '45, lamenting in the late 1940's. Hastily written, to be sure, but his points are valid nonetheless.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 4:06PM
Hastily written, and his points are meaningless hot air.
Rick| 2.2.12 @ 2:34PM
The late 40s is a typo. In context, the reference is clearly to what FDR thought in the late 1930s, since the article goes on to say what he did in the early 1940s in light of his thoughts.
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:03AM
Excellent points, c.j. And, yes, it's always good to proff-read your work.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.19.12 @ 7:15AM
Here's why Obama needs to raise taxes on millionaires, to glorify Che and Fidel and other communists who hate America. Truly, it's unbelievable:
http://www.sodahead.com/united.....n-2402725/
Among the faded paintings of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, and right next to the bronze statue of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, a $1.6 million federal grant is being used to restore 18 murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.
Last Friday, restoration artists revealed that they are about halfway though the project.
The murals have brought people to the park since the 1970s, when locals first decided to take over “a small piece of barren land under the bridge” in order to defeat a plan to build a California Highway Patrol office there, according to U-T San Diego. “They negotiated with the city and state to create a park.”
Once the park came into being, some residents decided to paint colorful and vibrant murals to vent their frustration and “tell their story.”
However, because time has eaten away at some of the paintings, “Chicano” muralists have been brought in to help restore the murals (“Chicano” is a word commonly associated with ethnic pride). With $1.6 million in federal transportation enhancement money financing the project, artists have already touched up 9 of the 18 murals designated by the grant for restoration.
The project was first proposed in 1999 and funding was approved in 2002. However, work did not start until the funds became available in 2011, according to California Watch. The restoration project faced “many bureaucratic road blocks, including the need to publish a Chicano Park Mural Restoration Technical Manual,” according to La Presna San Diego.
Purp| 1.19.12 @ 8:50AM
So you don't want to give artists a job? Is that your point? Or is it more racist?
Old Soldier| 1.19.12 @ 9:42AM
Bought a nice print from Diana Madaras last week. No thanks to using my tax-dollars extracted by force being used for commie art.
Purp| 1.19.12 @ 10:30AM
All taxes are extracted by "force" ... that's an old, lame, irrelevant statement.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.19.12 @ 11:07AM
No, my point is that we shouldn't be using federal tax dollars to glorify American hating communists. It's probably too simply for liberals to grasp so don't waste a brain cell.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 4:07PM
Then why did the Bush administration approve it?
Joe Gause| 1.19.12 @ 11:37AM
Purp: You're the people eater, right? Devour the people with taxes!
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 4:11PM
America was one of the lowest taxed countries in the world before Bush took over, tied with Japan. Now America is at a low point in decades in taxation.
The result of Bush's insane cutting taxes in wartime? An exploding national debt and debt burden.
Whether or not you want to accept it, we have to increase taxes on the rich, they are the only ones with any money.
BTW, Joe the Plumber was incompetent, even his $250K/yr plumbing business would have gotten a tax cut, not a tax increase. You do understand why, don't you?
babydriver| 1.19.12 @ 3:13PM
So how much were the original artists paid?
rhortus| 1.19.12 @ 10:39PM
Obama is either a communist or we have to re-evaluate the meaning of the word, I guess it depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is.
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:06AM
rhortus, I recommend you check yourself into a labor camp in North Korea. Then, perhaps, you'll get a better understanding of what communism is.
POST American| 1.19.12 @ 8:32AM
Capstone cardboard facing Bar--Rockefeller
Obama.
Hardly anything there to give attention to.
Meanwhile, who'll be the first to call it out?
-----the Globalist RED China TREASON OP.
Time to gut up boys.
This is the more REAL than REAL, raw deal
we're dealing with.
NO time to be squeamish.
---------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012----------------
Tim the Enchanter| 1.19.12 @ 2:01PM
Huh?
Ted| 1.19.12 @ 8:42AM
"In the current issue of The American Spectator Burton W. Folsom, Jr. and Anita Folsom write that FDR "lamented" in the late 1940s..."
Hmmm.... It would have been pretty hard for FDR to lament much of anything in the late 1940s since he died in 1945..... Perhaps the author meant to say the late 1930s?
Purp| 1.19.12 @ 8:51AM
You nailed him .... was this written by a 9-year old? Good Grief
Purp| 1.19.12 @ 8:53AM
This article is so filled with mistakes and wrong information, it's not worth reading ... what an embarrassment for the conservative cause.
JmsA| 1.20.12 @ 10:34PM
As if you care for the conservative cause.
bill| 1.19.12 @ 9:06AM
Gov. Christie is a "Reagan protege." He crusaded against the public sector unions, implemented reforms, and balanced the budget, generating surplus and implementing efficiency and transparency in the governmental bureaucracy.
I salute Gov. Christie for his courage and accomplishments. He is a role model.
Obama is a "stupid socialist liberal economics-illiterate," who will be defeated in 2012.
Mike M| 1.19.12 @ 9:22AM
Living in Jersey, I can honestly say Christie has not even gone far enough. our property taxes havent budged an inch yet. When that happens (if and when we get rid of the Dems) we will really start to recover.
Sadly, before that happens, all the freeloaders and illeagals will have re-elected Obama, who will stubbornly drive us all off the cliff.
bill| 1.19.12 @ 9:32AM
We have to eliminate Obama, all the Dems, all the liberals, all the public sector unions, all the left wing radical groups..............then we will have the "shinning city upon the hill."
rhortus| 1.19.12 @ 11:11AM
Escape from New Jersey!!!
bill| 1.19.12 @ 11:32AM
Escape from Chicago!!! The land of Barack "LIAR" Obama.
bill| 1.19.12 @ 11:32AM
Obama's mother was a "whore," and Obama is the fruit of "adultery."
NO APOLOGY!
rhortus| 1.19.12 @ 10:40PM
Mr. President, do you have a naked picture of your mom? Want to see one?
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:17AM
bill, you're a real "class act" aren't you?
bill| 1.19.12 @ 11:38AM
Please help Gov. Scott Walker (WI).
Hello, America!
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and the big labors have been recalling Gov. Walker.
Gov. Walker implemented reforms and balanced the budget, projecting surplus and prompting efficiency and transparency in the public sector.
That infuriated the bureaucrats and big labors, and they are causing chaos in WI, disrupting Gov. Walker's reform initiatives.
We must help Gov. Walker and fend off big labors and DGA efforts to ousting Gov. Walker from the office.
Do not let those liberals win.
We must act now. Everybody should contribute and help Gov. Walker hold onto his office, and stop the big labors and DGA.
I'm urging all Americans to stand up to liberal hypocrisy and anarchy.
Sandy | 1.19.12 @ 12:50PM
"big labor" lol. I always get a kick out of that term and not in a good way. What kind of goob goes against workers in support of the true thieves on the planet who hide their wealth, earned mostly from exploiting labor, in the Caymans. The biggest change since the 60s? Wealth goes to shareholders instead of workers because workers were duped into going against unions. Wake Up People.
bill| 1.19.12 @ 2:45PM
The only purpose of those labor unions are to elect Democrats, so that those union thugs can keep looting the country into bankruptcy.
Dismantle all labor unions, especially SEIU.
bill| 1.19.12 @ 2:46PM
Hello, Sandy,
Obama is a "Son of Whore", because his mother never got married to his alleged father. Shame on !
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:16AM
Yes, bill, scraped shins for all as we climb your hill.
jack anderson| 1.19.12 @ 11:40AM
FDR was dead by the late 1940s
Tom Michaels| 1.19.12 @ 11:52AM
Whatever FDR said about taxes, he did not say it in the late 1940's. He died April 12, 1945.
The Old Coach| 1.19.12 @ 12:17PM
I'll assume it's a typo, but by the late 1940s Franklin Destroyer Roosevelt had assumed room temperature.
StanO| 1.19.12 @ 12:18PM
Say what you will about raising taxes (I'm against them), but no matter way you live $250,000 is rich, it's the top 5% of incomes, easily. If you live in Manhattan and 250k is not a lot of money to you . . . well too bad . . . move.
Insufficiently Sensitive| 1.19.12 @ 12:26PM
Burton W. Folsom, Jr. and Anita Folsom write that FDR "lamented" in the late 1940s that "Too many people are earning money and not contributing to the government."
If FDR was lamenting in the late 1940s, the only hearer of such laments would be God or the Devil, take your pick.
BOB ROYCE| 1.19.12 @ 12:30PM
I have no doubt that FDR lamented very much in the late 1940s other than not being alive to lament.
Frank Drackman | 1.19.12 @ 12:36PM
Christie's got more Chins than a Chinese Phonebook...
When he lies around the Governor's Mansion he lies AROUND the Governor's Mansion.
When he gets his shoes shined he has to take the guys word for it...
And howcome you can't own Hollowpoint Ammunition in New Jersey, Jeez-Us, what is this, Nazi Friggin Germany??
Frank
Sandy | 1.19.12 @ 12:42PM
lol, here we go again. Lowering taxes on INCOME means lowering taxes for the top 10%. Lowering PAYROLL TAXES, means lowering taxes for everybody AND not using social security surplus to subsidize the military and corporate subsidies that the 1% refuse to pay for. Did income taxes increase in 1940, or social security? The GOP has a nasty habit of confusing the two the way they did in the 80s when Reagan's social security tax increase is really where all the so-called additional revenues came from.
civisisus| 1.19.12 @ 12:46PM
Put a sock in it, Emmett. Christie hasn't even begun to deal with the unfunded postemployment health care obligations for retired NJ employees. His tax cut is a political expedient at best, and is not at all justified by his "stellar" executive performance.
Tom Calarco| 1.19.12 @ 12:59PM
How can I trust anyone who writes that FDR lamented in the late 1940s? He died in 1945!
Plus this paean to the wealthy has nothing to specific to explain why lowering taxes on the rich is better for the economy -- just a generalization comparing New Jersey's government to the federal government. How about some stats, some concrete evidence to support your position?
Joe D.| 1.19.12 @ 1:39PM
Except that Christie believes in the big lie, Global Warming. Policies put in place to fix that would be a disaster for America.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 3:55PM
Other than the fact that Global warming is true, is there anything else you can add?
Nick| 1.19.12 @ 4:28PM
Bob,
Except, it isn't true. As the East Anglia e-mails show, AGW is a HOAX.
It was in all the papers. I'm surprised that you missed it.
Terri Lynn Sullivan| 1.20.12 @ 12:55AM
Nick, part of the problem is with people who believe what is in our newspapers, THAT is where the "hoax" is. Media manipulated data, paid for by the likes of Kings of Journalism such as Rupert Murdoch. Anyone who does not see that climate change is indeed happening is blindfolded or living under a rock. Hurricanes/tornados where they had never been before, even earthquakes on east coast, droughts increased through Cal, extreme weather patterns everywhere. And YES it is very much pushed along with man-made environmental hazards. Do your homework, or at very least climb out from under that rock and observe
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:31AM
Thank you for clarifying this, Joe, because clearly you know something that 99% of our scientists don't.
Black Robe| 1.19.12 @ 2:03PM
So much liberal fraud, so little time. Article cockily and hastily written.
Tim Shevlin| 1.19.12 @ 2:08PM
Do you mean "tax increase". Or is Obama's plan to cut now, then raise after re-election?
Richard H. Davis| 1.19.12 @ 2:44PM
So do all Republicans think that the all Presidents write the laws without input from Congress, or does that just apply to Democratic Presidents or black Presidents???
Alex| 1.19.12 @ 2:52PM
this article is under the mistaken impression that Obama views the federal budget as a woe. He does not. The final proof anyone should need comes with the Keystone decision. The man is a malevolent executive. He does not seek that which improves the economy; quite the contrary, he actively pursues that which diminishes America.
From the kickback to contributors disguised as stimulus to Obamacare (whose negative effects already evident) to his slavish devotion to fanciful and non-existent green energy, the man needs chaos in order to pass his initiatives. He also needs 1) a slavish media to do his bidding and 2) a massively uninformed populace to belief in unicorns and pixie dust. The debate is not Obama vs. Christie; it is Obama vs. America.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 3:54PM
If you had the ability to discuss issues you would never have to use labels to attack those you disagree with. Obama killed the Keystone pipeline because the republican bill forced a decision without proper due diligence.
In business the republicans would be fired for that.
Terri Lynn Sullivan| 1.20.12 @ 12:48AM
Alex, only one of your comments are valid....and that is that Obama (like all U.S. Presidents before him) have a massively uniformed populace...it's always been that way. American's remain in the dark especially about our horrific aggressive foreign policy, so naive they believe we are "fighting for freedom and security", which is where Obama goes wrong, using the rhetoric. You know what our needless costly wars have always ONLY been about.....which brings me to where you go wrong. The Keystone XL peipeline would NOT have been good for our economy, and even more critical not good for people's lives. Yes, it boils down to that.....It would have wreaked horrific environmental hazards when we already have a high rate of cancer, asthma and other disease lined to dirty energy sources. The cost of cancer and other disease, not to mention the attack on our national security, would be far more costly in the long run than not status the status quo with our dependence on oil. You speak of a misinformed populace, yet you are among the most misled yourself.
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:36AM
Hey, Alex. Obama gets better odds vs. America than vs. Christie because Christie is fatter.
Maxx| 1.19.12 @ 2:59PM
To the author. You are skewing American history to fit a weak argument. The reason Americans paid more in taxes from 1940-1942 is because we were coming out of the Great Depression thanks to FDR's commitment to military spending. In those years the vast MAJORITY of Americans were happy to be working AGAIN and paying taxes AGAIN helping to rebuild the country.
Terri Lynn Sullivan| 1.20.12 @ 1:07AM
Maxxx.....your sentence does not make sense where it says "thanks to FDR's commitment to military spending". We sure do hope you are not meaning to imply that spending on military can help our economy or somehow lifted the great depression? You are surely wrong, and history is now repeating itself. One cannot learn American History Book, which is opaque reflections of the truth and mostly lies, with "war-hero" oxymorons written throughout, extolling false "virtues". Even if there was "prosperity" after WWII it did nothing for our country.....money into MIC/corrupt coffers...back then it was "Liberty War Bonds".... is not worth anyone's lives and we cannot sustain such sense of false "accomplishments" from our history. Time to evolve as a nation away from that thought process. Yes, we should be happy to pay taxes....I am.....into GOOD things for our society, such as our schools, infrastructure, POSITIVE areas. Not into war and weapons under false claim to the ignorance American populace "fighting for our country"
Maxx| 1.20.12 @ 2:56PM
Terri we are on the "same page". I would not propose more military spending today. I get tired of writers bashing FDR when he had to do what was necessary for the time.
From my readings the GI Bill after WWII had a better much return on investment for the nation.
For roughly 50 billion in 1945 dollars the nation realized an additional economic output of $350 billion.
Today, this would be a great starting point to turn our country around and that money should come from our bloated military.
Bob From District 9| 1.19.12 @ 3:52PM
When I see you condemning Fox News and other conservatives for demanding that low income people pay income taxes so they will have some "Skin in the game" I'll take your complaints about Obama increasing taxes on the over $250K seriously. Until then it's all hot air and BS.
Oh, and what are "bloated" health and pension benefits? Is that some foreign word that translates into English as "decent"?
As to the cut only being $275 for the middle class, you did not say that's not true. So, we can assume it is.
You spout the claim that $250K/yr is firmly in the middle class. That's 6 times the median single income family income, and 4 times the median two income family income. The median is directly in the middle.
$250K/yr is not the 1%, but over 200K/yr is the top 5%. That is hardly firmly in the middle class.
Now that Mitt has released that his $9mill income last year will be taxed at about 15% your entire argument falls on it's face. You, like so many of your circle, are completely out of touch with the majority of Americans. The only reason you have any hope at all of winning anything is the millions in corporate money you can spend on attack ads. If you ever had to actually discuss issues without arguing labels you would have nothing to say.
Owen K| 1.19.12 @ 3:58PM
Its a damn shame that Christie wouldn't run for President. He has the stuff to cut budgets and the size of Government and the fortitude to withstand any criticism of his actions.
POST American| 1.19.12 @ 9:08PM
----------------------FINAL WORD-------------------------
Putting the Rockefeller sock puppets
to one side----
-Immediate RETRO-active IMPEACHMENT
of our past 4 CFR front op administrations.
The principle charge being TREASON against
the American republic and economy viz a viz
the elite Globalist RED China sellout agenda
-Immediate EXIT from, and expulsion of, the
unelected, private, capstone USURY and
EUGENICS borg U.N.
-Immediate siezure of the 'benny violent'
TAX FREE, USURY feuled, EUGENICS
sourcing and mongering NGOs and foundations.
Full confiscation and thorough examination and
AUDIT of their inner agendas and archives.
-WARM prosecution of the same for a century
of systematic TREASON against the American
republic, VAST social engineering for cultural
annihilation ----and their long term agendas
of aggressive, full-spectrum EUGENICS
for mankind here and worldwide
-------------------ANY QUESTIONS?--------------------
Leveut| 1.19.12 @ 9:24PM
"Democratic Senator Charles Schumer has seen the light. "
Ha. Fat chance. Schmucky Chucky is a liar who supports taxing the heck out of everyone, regardless of income level.
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 4:40AM
Ah, no Leveut. Chucky actually supports the 15% tax on hedge fund operators. He's Wall Street's pet, so you should give him a treat, not be mean to him.
Terri Lynn Sullivan| 1.20.12 @ 12:30AM
Too often, these articles forget to mention the one and only place our country SHOULD be cutting hugely, our fat overbloated anti-American military industrial complex and spending on wars and "defense" as it is spun. Our founding fathers warned against this being so antithetical to republican liberties. Our militarism and imperialism is exactly what has caused a war-tron America, leading it toward mediocrity and bankruptcy. War is a primitive institution and we have always ONLY gone into costly wars for spurious reasons. There should not even be a thought to cutting budgets firstly in our schools, or peoples hard earned pensions or income. It is utterly disgusting what our corrupt political and economical systems have done to our country. Funny,how those of us not struggling financially today are ones that see this...while the "oppressed" are ones getting rug pulled from their eyes. The OWS movment comprised of Doctors, successful and highly educated parents fighting for their kids schools to not be cut, nurses fighting for their benefits...kids with high honors out of Harvard not getting jobs because they simply are not there, or not in right direction so they have to decline (too moral to design robotics warfare for instance). Time to stop trying to conquer the world at gunpooint, no communist or Islamic country have a military base anywhere outside their soil....we have 900. Disgusting and very unpatriotic. War does not "serve our country". Never did. It's always ONLY been Wall Street corruption and their cronies advising our Presidents and congress of what is "good for our country". Blood money, no more moral than the Mafia. Ignorant, negative people in the dark still chanting "fighting for freedom and security". Wake up call!
Dubiousraves| 1.20.12 @ 3:59AM
Except, Obama has, um, CUT taxes, not raised them.
PCP Smoker| 1.20.12 @ 12:20PM
Get the fuck out of here, you moron. I'm sure your mother needs fucking, so please take care of that. You are not convincing anyone, and you are not entertaining. Go back to trolling for children, but stay away from here.
Purp| 1.20.12 @ 4:18PM
Either you are ignorant, stupid or just evil. You're foul mouth and ill conceived innuendo is stupid. On top of that - he is right. You pay less taxes than you did before Obama became President, by a large amount also. And you call him a moron?
PCP Smoker| 1.20.12 @ 12:18PM
Can we stop DC Conservatives from pushing all these RINOs on us? A couple of months ago, the DC (read weak) Conservatives were pushing Mitch Daniels. Then, it became Christie. Enough. There is nothing Christie has done, other than posting youtube videos trashing union drones, to recommend him. Union drone bashing is entertaining but he becomes very silent on Obamacare and on Obama himself. Quit pushing this a-hole. Send him to a fat farm where they teach him conservatism.
HGH | 2.27.12 @ 6:26AM
Yet Obama is a reactionary. He believes in the past, a past of vast government control of the economy, redistribution, and slow growth.