-
What Those Who Boycott Israel Really Want
May 14, 2013 | 142 comments
-
Mitt on Marriage
May 8, 2013 | 38 comments
-
The One Constant
May 1, 2013 | 118 comments
-
Trudeaus and Terrorism
April 22, 2013 | 15 comments
-
I Was Almost There
April 16, 2013 | 171 comments
The Tax and Spend Spectator
Taxing the Wealthy Will Never Suffice
Which is why our president is wedded to the idea.
“So when you put it all together, what you need is a package
that keeps taxes where they are for middle-class families; we make
some tough spending cuts on things that we don’t need; and then we
ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate. And
that’s a principle I won’t compromise on, because I’m not going to
have a situation where the wealthiest among us, including folks
like me, get to keep all our tax breaks, and then we’re asking
students to pay higher student loans. Or suddenly, a school doesn’t
have schoolbooks because the school district couldn’t afford it. Or
some family that has a disabled kid isn’t getting the help that
they need through Medicaid.”
— President Obama
Remarks
at Daimler Detroit Diesel Plant
Redford,
Michigan
December 10, 2012
That’s right, folks. If taxes aren’t increased on the wealthy, schools will suddenly be unable to afford schoolbooks and disabled children will be denied Medicaid. Never mind that President Obama was perfectly happy to cut $110 billion from Medicaid during the fiscal cliff negotiations of 2011.
To hear Obama tell it, if taxes are increased on the wealthy then we would have no problems. It would bring about the end of war, famine and acne in adolescent boys. Of course, if taxing the wealthy is all that it takes to ensure that children aren’t deprived of their textbooks and from disabled children from receiving medical attention, then why doesn’t Obama see fit to impose a 100% tax on the wealthy?
Well, because increasing taxes on the wealthy is about politics, not economics. It is a panacea intended to pacify those who resent the rich. Naturally, it is not in Obama’s interest to pacify this resentment entirely. Hence the reason that Obama says he’s only asking “the wealthiest Americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate.” So when this round of tax increases on the wealthy proves not be enough, then next year Obama will ask the wealthy “to pay a little bit more.” And a little bit more next year and a bit more the year after that and again a bit more. In more ways than one, taxing the wealthy will never be enough.
If Obama were to see fit to tax 100% of the income of the wealthiest people in this country, then people would come to the painful realization that soaking the rich doesn’t work. It is estimated that a 100% levy on the wealthiest Americans would pay for eight days of government spending. And then Obama could no longer blame the rich for the country’s problems. The President isn’t going to deprive himself of his best political target. And what good is a political target to Obama if he can’t hit it?
As it stands, the federal debt is more than $16.3 trillion and the size of it increases on average by nearly $4 billion every single day. So long as Obama is not amenable to compromise when it comes to increasing taxes on the wealthy, these average increases on the federal debt are bound to climb with no end in sight.
Which brings me back to the school kids who Obama insists will be deprived of textbooks if taxes aren’t increased on the wealthy. As it stands, the Department of Education has a budget of $68.1 billion. If $68.1 billion isn’t enough money to pay for the books for every child in the country, then what is? If $68.1 billion isn’t enough money to pay for the books for every child in this country that tells me we don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. If we doubled the federal education budget next year, I guarantee President Obama would still be speaking of school kids without textbooks and demand the wealthy ante up more.
Given the current divisions in the GOP over the question of tax increases on the wealthy, chances are that President Obama will get his way. Yet perhaps this is what must come to pass. After a decade plus of the Bush tax cuts, it may be that increasing taxes on the wealthy might be the only way to convince Americans it is a bad idea that doesn’t actually work. Alas, it will be a painful lesson.
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (72) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Aaron Goldstein
More Articles From The Tax and Spend Spectator
http://spectator.org/archives/2012/12/11/taxing-the-wealthy-will-never
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Kwan| 12.11.12 @ 6:53AM
If we examine more closely Obama's 'War on the Rich' we discover that its real purpose is to stigmatize the rich and in turn free enterprise/capitalism. Any idiot including Obama knows that these tax increases on the rich will not fund Obama's out-of-control Social Justice spending. Obama and the left believe that in order to create an egalitarian society that there should be no such thing as private ownership of anything. Essentially the left wishes to push the country back into the middle ages where Kings, Earls, and Dukes (that would be the Leftist Elite) ruled over a hapless population of serfs.
benny havens| 12.11.12 @ 7:02AM
The Cloward–Piven strategy. Overload the entire system and it will collapse. He knows exactly what he is doing. These so-called talks with the House Republicans are a joke.
Jack in Wi| 12.11.12 @ 7:22AM
Obama is a leftist who wants to punish the rich and keep buying the votes of an increasingly poverty stricken electorate. It worked for Roosevelt for 4 elections. His top marginal rates were up to 90%. Obama has a pile made and he will make a pile more when he leaves office. Soaking the rich has always been the Democrat mantra. I guess the best solution is to let the sequestration take place and fight for lower rates by passing such a bill extending Bush's rates. Then the ball is in Obama's court. Quit letting old Mantan negotiate with Obama. He is getting fleeced like a sheep in spring. The only reason for the Republicans to exist is to lower taxes and fight high spending.
vtwin| 12.11.12 @ 11:41AM
I agree, the national debt is $16 trillion and sequestration offers a balance approach; increases taxes and cuts spending. The argument that this could prolong the Bush Recession might prove true but we will have additional revenues to pay for extended unemployment benefits, Medicare, housing assistance, food stamps, and further stimulus until the Bush Recession is ended. But not tax cuts because that’s how we got into the deficit mess. It could also lead to a much needed devaluation of the dollar making domestic manufacturing more attractive.
Anthony| 12.11.12 @ 11:50AM
Hey vtwin, with California losing 100,000 more people a year than the illegal aliens can make up for, the economic tsar for Los Angeles said they were on the" right track for job creation".
I think he was a relative of yours.
vtwin| 12.11.12 @ 12:25PM
The Bush Recession coupled with greed driven business decisions that both send jobs overseas to China and hire illegal aliens here at home have devastated the California economy as it as much of the nation.
By the way, what happened to your Romney landslide?
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 1:12PM
1.When did the Bush Recession start? When did it end?
2. "Greed driven business decisions"
The purpose of a business is to make money. If it does not make money it goes out of business. You are confusing a business with the governmnet.
3. "Overseas jobs"
Do you remember Bubba passing the NAFTA bill? Do you remember Algore debating Ross Perot on the Larry King Show on NAFTA? Your party, the Dems, passed the NAFTA laws for overseas jobs.
What has Obama done to limit "overseas jobs?"
vtwin| 12.11.12 @ 1:59PM
1) Remember when Bush sent out that tax rebate checks? Well the recession started before and has yet to end.
2) There is a different between making money and greed. The difference is unemployment, crime, illiteracy, high levels of public and private debt, environment destruction, unhealthy foods, war… Suggested viewing “It’s a wonderful life.”
3) Yes, and nothing.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 4:19PM
Since Obama did nothing about the overseas jobs and did not end the Bush recession, why did you vote for him? He had four years, got all his bills passed, except for his budget that got zero votes.
What is the difference between greed and making money? How did greed cause what you say?
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:18PM
Bush left us a Depression not a recession, which is still going on, so you don't understand it - you're still in it.
Business sets a fair market value for it's goods and services - Greedy business makes as much money as possible for as long as possible, with little regard to what the item or service costs. And they cheat where necessary. Greed is bad. But that's why you don't understand that one.
NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement ... not overseas, we are land-connected ... so another one beyond your comprehension.
The President passed tax credits for Manufacturers that moved back to the United States - and they have! Not sure why you're ignorant of that.
Any other educational requests from the peanut gallerY?
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 4:26PM
Purpie the Village Idiot
In addition to answering to ralph novy you also answer to vtwin.
You are the gift that keeps on giving. Now you believe that jobs that went to Mexico, Central America, and Canada are not "overseas jobs" because they are land connected!!! Maybe they are part of the 57 states!!!
You should have told the unions not to oppose NAFTA because all the countries are land connected.
You are truly an idiot, but keep posting, new material every day.
Occam's Tool| 12.11.12 @ 5:54PM
We underestimated the stupidity and economic ignorance of the American people, vtwin, especially in California and New York. I left LA in 1993. THE BEST lifestyle and economic decision of my life. I met a wonderful girl in Alabama within 6 days of moving there, who has been my wife since 1995. I spent 5 years looking for a decent woman in LA and found one, who still wasn't in the same league with my Alabama woman.
Occam's Tool| 12.11.12 @ 5:55PM
California can go fall into the sea for all I care. And I say this as an UCLA grad.
EmilyJennifer| 12.11.12 @ 5:57PM
Love my job, since I've been bringing in $5600… I sit at home, music playing while I work in front of my new iMac that I got now that I'm making it online(Click on menu Home)
........goo.gl/aLom0
Drunken Sailor| 12.11.12 @ 12:58PM
"increases taxes and cuts spending"
"we will have additional revenues to pay for extended unemployment benefits, Medicare, housing assistance, food stamps, and further stimulus until the Bush Recession is ended. "
Care to explain how both of these statements can be true? Where do you plan on cutting spending?
Drunken Sailor| 12.11.12 @ 12:58PM
Directed to Vtwin.
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:20PM
You forgot about the "protected" items from the sequester cuts. With the exception of further stimulus, these items are not cut by sequester cuts.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 5:03PM
Purp the Village Idiot posted the following after the elections:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials."
So purpie believes God killed over 100 persons and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win.
In Sept Purpie wrote that Amassador Stevens was at fault and caused his death.
Purpie also wrote that the unborn are biological entities not deserving of protection until God allows them to be born. (What does this mean?)
Purpie represents the Loon Left that should be mocked and ridiculed, and not engaged in conversation
Reply to this
log in or register to reply
Purp| 12.10.12 @ 10:41AM
All you're doing is spreading the true words that you don't like.
You are beyond stupid, purpie.
Anthony| 12.11.12 @ 10:24AM
Correct benny. Obozo the community agitator is a Marxist. Cloward-Piven is a key component of Alinsky's Rules. The D party is controled by '60s radical Marxists as well.
Bringing America to its knees has been the dream of the American left for decades.
They've never understood the laws of unintended consequences, they better learn fast, cuz it ain't gonna be pretty what's in store for them.
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:21PM
that's just a plain stupid comment right out of the Idiocracy that is Right Wing World.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 5:03PM
Purp the Village Idiot posted the following after the elections:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials."
So purpie believes God killed over 100 persons and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win.
In Sept Purpie wrote that Amassador Stevens was at fault and caused his death.
Purpie also wrote that the unborn are biological entities not deserving of protection until God allows them to be born. (What does this mean?)
Purpie represents the Loon Left that should be mocked and ridiculed, and not engaged in conversation
Reply to this
log in or register to reply
Purp| 12.10.12 @ 10:41AM
All you're doing is spreading the true words that you don't like.
You are beyond stupid, purpie.
Von Mises Jr| 12.11.12 @ 7:37AM
This is a Marxist strategy for the existing rich (such as Wall Street moguls Buffet and Gates) to pull up the ladder behind them creating a Noble Class and a country of serfs. Notice that there is not a wealth tax. They hide their wealth and pay them low income so they do not pay much in taxes.
Likewise, big business compensates their executives with stock options, travel and a big expense account so they avoid the taxes. Hollywood funnels the profits through lavish facilities and perks. This means the booty is used up before it hits the bottom lines of the Income Statement. These lavish expenses are paid out for the benefit of the cronies before it is taxed since it is written off as an expense.
This is simply about crushing small business and concentrating the wealth in the hands of government central planners, crony capitalists and tax evaders. It is what has been happening since the Nobles and intellectuals started trying to reverse the Industrial Revolution of 250 years ago, returning the Nobles to their privilege and the serfs to their bondage.
TLP| 12.11.12 @ 8:47AM
Your last sentence is the most important one.
"This is simply about crushing small business and concentrating the wealth in the hands of government central planners, crony capitalists and tax evaders. It is what has been happening since the Nobles and intellectuals started trying to reverse the Industrial Revolution of 250 years ago, returning the Nobles to their privilege and the serfs to their bondage."
Indeed.
And only when EVERYONE feels the weight of the Nobles and their Intellectual Allies, will this situation come to a head.
"When they finally came for me.................?
I still say: Let him have what he wants. Let the people take in the whole Obama Experience, right between their eyes. It may take a few Cities being Burned to the ground. But then, Fire has always been Nature's Way of Cleansing, and Rebirth.
Let them Burn.
Wait til the inevitable occurs, and we run out of other people's money. Wait til the Well Runs Dry.
ARBEIT MACHTE FREI.
As a Country, we are devolving. That is the Goal of the Progressive. To Progress backward in time, to a place where Only the Enlightened may share in the Wealth, while the great unwashed fight amongst themselves, for the Scraps.
The long lines at the Government Food Stores, waiting for a chance to buy the Bare Necessities. Only enough to sustain you, and maybe your family.
Then come the Riots. Then the Guns. Then the Crackdown. And then the inevitable Victory of the people, but only after Millions have been Killed.
KennesawJack| 12.11.12 @ 8:52AM
I guess I should be glad I'm old enough to not be around when this inevitably happens, but, for some, I suppose perverse, reason, I'm not.
Von Mises Jr| 12.11.12 @ 9:42AM
This is why they don't teach real history in public schools. As Santayana said, "If it happened before, it will happen again."
People often quote Tocqueville relative to what he said about America in his 1831 visit and the documenting of his experiences in "Democracy in America." But he has much more to teach about France and Continental Europe at the time.
The Bourbon's bankrupted the Treasury. The Nobles and Aristocracy lived lives of privilege while contributing nothing to the Industrial Age boom. The intellectuals, just like Slugman, Robert (the Third) Reich, to alleged conservatives like Kristol meth, George Pill, and Peggy Snoozen of today, collaborated with the elites to recapture a two-tier statist, class society with zero rights.
But something funny happened on the way to the new serfdom. French people revolted not so much against the new petty bourgeoisie, but against the Monarchy, Nobles and Aristocrats.
This is a dangerous game our elite play. The Nobles and intellectuals of the Bourbon final curtain were condescending mocking and insulting the peasants and bourgeoisie until the later had about enough of it. Then they turned their wrath on the elites. That is why they don’t teach the history of the French Revolution.
KennesawJack| 12.11.12 @ 11:15AM
Why is it I get the sense that Moochelle's last words may very well be "Let them eat cake."?
JimH| 12.11.12 @ 12:27PM
Knowing her, for the proles it would be carrot sticks.
TLP| 12.11.12 @ 1:46PM
Those very well might've been her last words, if she hadn't already Eaten It.
aware| 12.11.12 @ 6:46PM
Von! Dude! You're starting to sound like me! All "government" is nothing but a vast criminal conspiracy run by career sociopaths and psychopaths. There's not a one of them, nor their boot-licking whores in the propaganda wing, that's worthy of anything but contempt and a length of piano wire coupled with the nearest lamppost.
Speaking of real history, have you read Rothbard's "Betrayal of the American Right"? It provides vital clues as to why "conservatism" might not be what you think it is. Especially the "limited government" part.
Russel| 12.11.12 @ 11:01AM
Look how the NY socialist voters reacted in the aftermath of the hurricane . Those better -than- those- flyover- hayseeds . They looted and stole faster than a gas tank running dry . Remember how the take on Wall Street crowd treated the homeless asking for one of their gourmet lunches ? . The bastions of socialism will be the first to burn allright . Let the riots begin ; we here in fly over country can take care of ourselves .
Von Mises Jr| 12.11.12 @ 11:35AM
Looters actually dressed up like workmen and robbed those that let them in until the National Guard set up check points. People were then only allowed back in for perhaps a half-hour to gather family photos.
The irony here is that these same liberal elitist are supposed to be the one we have been waiting for and the looters the ones God failed to prefect that the elite progressives will correct. Lucky for God he has Obama to be clean up batter.
Bob K| 12.11.12 @ 10:33AM
Yes, Von Mises Jr.,
There is a Wealth Tax.
It is the Inheritance Taxes paid by by the people who inherit the wealth owned by their deceased benefactors.
Some people like to call the taxes "Death" taxes. Some people want to raise these taxes. Others want to do away with them completely.
Mostly, as these taxes are set up now, the only people who are hurt by them are families which have accumulated small amounts of wealth over the most recent generations of their families. These are small farmers, small business owners, entrepreneurs and such.
This tax destroys these who have accumulated a small amount of wealth during their life times but does not touch the accumulated wealth of generations that has been in the families of plutocrats since well back into the 19th century and which is protected by things like "Foundations" and numerous other tax shelters.
This is how these families continue to keep their political power.
This is why they approve of the government "crushing small business and concentrating the wealth in the hands of government central planners, crony capitalists and tax evaders" you are writing about here.
Von Mises Jr| 12.11.12 @ 11:29AM
You are correct in theory, Bob, but the truly wealthy do not pay the wealth tax. It is just small businesses and lottery winners.
Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi and Bush families all have their money managed by lawyers and accountants often using Trust Funds and other shelters. Buffet is to some degree as wealthy as he is since he owns half-dozen insurance companies. For most, the life insurance premiums late in life for large policies are crushing, at least with Term Policies. But since the money is tax free to the beneficiaries, thee rich may lose some wealth in inheritance taxes but will offset them with insurance payoffs paid by Buffet's crony companies and DC's crony laws.
Bob K| 12.11.12 @ 12:48PM
The fact that the wealthy pay very little in wealth taxes is not well known to the average voter. Keeping this information away from them is important to both the Democratic and Republican leadership. Were that not the case we would probably have to be concerned with real "class warfare;" the kind that caused the revolutions in France and Russia.
Instead, Aaron is concentrating on the Income Taxes of the top 1% or 2% and arguing that it is an appeal to "class warfare" to raise them. What he should be doing is arguing for lowering the income tax burden on the American middle class. The middle class pays the great majority of the taxes that make our Republic work. They pay the major portions of State, Local and Municipal taxes. They pay virtually all the public school taxes and these taxes are tied to the Real Estate they own. This is why the Republican party is going nowhere fast! It has lost the middle class.
These are the Petite Bourgeoisie who Marx hated and who Obama despises as "bitter clingers." They are the real threat to Socialism.
The middle class are also the same people who the holders of wealth in America (most of them heirs of successful Capitalists who are living off their stipends) are abandoning to cut deals with the central planners, crony capitalists and tax evaders to protect their wealth. They are buying "the rope to hang themselves with."
TLP| 12.11.12 @ 1:51PM
The Inheritence Tax, as well as a Progressive Income Tax, and the belief that Government should Own all the Land - The town of New London vs. Kelo - are all laid out for everyone to see, in The Communist Manifesto.
Go see how much Land, out West, that the Federal Government Owns.
Look it up!
Bob K| 12.11.12 @ 5:40PM
I won't argue with that but what does it have to do with my argument that the Middle Class has been forgotten by both political parties and that the Republican party can't win without their votes?
vtwin| 12.11.12 @ 1:16PM
Why don’t you include Romney in your list? Romney epitomizes what is wrong, he made/makes a fortune through vulture capitalism destroying small businesses (example Staples) and pays a smaller percentage of his income in federal taxes than the working poor.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 5:30PM
vtwin
Romney pays the capital gains tax rate on his capital gains and dividends, same as Buffet, Gates, and all the Dem contributors. Obama could have changed the capital gains rate during his first two years when he had a Dem Congress. He did not even try to change it, instead he rammed thru his Obamacare. He does not care about the "working poor." Wake up. You are cannon fodder for the Dems.
Occam's Tool| 12.11.12 @ 5:58PM
Sorry, but what does this have to do with raising taxes on small businessmen earning $300,000 a year? No matter what bills Obama passes, the super-rich will be able to send their money out of country. But the small businessman trying to keep 20 employees employed will get gutted under Obama.
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:23PM
the Rich already treat you like serfs and you don't know it.
No one has to help them, you sheep have fallen for their propaganda, even to spouting it for them.
The concentration of wealth into the top 1% has been going on since Reagan hoodwinked us all.
I woke up - you have not. Sad, very sad.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 5:04PM
Purp the Village Idiot posted the following after the elections:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials."
So purpie believes God killed over 100 persons and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win.
In Sept Purpie wrote that Amassador Stevens was at fault and caused his death.
Purpie also wrote that the unborn are biological entities not deserving of protection until God allows them to be born. (What does this mean?)
Purpie represents the Loon Left that should be mocked and ridiculed, and not engaged in conversation
Reply to this
log in or register to reply
Purp| 12.10.12 @ 10:41AM
All you're doing is spreading the true words that you don't like.
You are beyond stupid, purpie.
aware| 12.11.12 @ 7:11PM
No, you are as deluded as those you argue with, just the other side of the same coin.
Who the hell do you think the "rich" are? The GOVERNMENT! They own your congresscum just like theirs, fool. You actually believe "government" is protecting you from "rich" people? They invented "government" to be protected from YOU!
You think you're defending "government" and stupid "conservatives" are defending "rich" people, when you're both defending the SAME elite group of people! And neither of you see it!
But that, after all, is how they do it and always have, set up 2 fronts and have you at each others throat defending one or the other. The whole point of the State is a rigid class system of privilege for the few by exploitation of the many.
Income tax is EVIL! It is the purest form of abject tyranny. If your employer worked you 5 days but only paid for 3, would you say it was fair for even giving you a job?
To Hell with anyone who wants to raise or lower "tax" rates. To Hell with anybody who doesn't want them ABOLISHED!
Virtue| 12.11.12 @ 7:02AM
Class warfare. Our red-diaper baby gets it honest. We are doomed.
Appleby| 12.11.12 @ 7:33AM
I just discovered that the classic books of my childhood are available in $4 editions which are NOT sanitized for your protection, and which include the original uncensored and unmodified text with the original illustrations. Why don't you people with kids buy them books? Because you think that Leapfrog thing where they skate an electronic wand along a line of programmed text and a mechanical voice speaks the words, is reading, that's why. Let them try that on their math book in school and see what happens.
People who have children should be buying them books. And teaching them to read, by the way.
chuck| 12.11.12 @ 8:04AM
Aw, come on now! Do you really expect parents to put down their "smart phones" long enough to teach their rugrats how to read a book? Do you think they even know what a book is? Isn't that something you download on your iphone?
c. j. acworth| 12.11.12 @ 9:04AM
I never had kids myself, but when a college roommate of mine had a son he burdened the poor kid with my first name. So when he reached a certian age, I began to buy him books on his birthday. I'll never forget the year I gave him Huck Finn. I apologised for the choice because, as I said in the enclosed card, "You've probably already read it in school." He wrote back thanking me for the book and said "We didn't read it. We watched it." Probably some Disney-fied version. (Facepalm)
Appleby| 12.11.12 @ 1:57PM
I enlightened a fellow choir member (age 20 something) this past Friday that Shakespears's comedies are not "literature" but are in fact the sitcoms of the day, and are absolutely crammed with dirty jokes. He was flabbergasted.
cuban pete| 12.11.12 @ 7:41PM
"Shakespears's(sic) comedies are not "literature" but are IN FACT (emphasis added) the sitcoms of the day...."
That might surprise the hell out of Harold Bloom.
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:24PM
the "Little Golden Books" series is the best, in my opinion.
Al Adab| 12.11.12 @ 8:35AM
A tax increase on any is but the beginning. Since this administration believes that all our money and income belongs to the government, except for what they might graciously allow us to keep, high rates and other imposts plus inflation (devaluation) on everyone is the goal.
What citizens must remember is that personal wealth and income are the property of whoever possess it. That property is what the government was formed to protect.
Louis Jenkins| 12.11.12 @ 8:51AM
I must be getting old. I remember when at the beginning of each school year the students had to pay for text books. It wasn't a lot, but we still had to get the money from mom and dad. And for some reason, unbeknown to me, the cost of text books has steadily risen. A book that used to cost, and much thinner, cost at most $25.00. Now the book costs $150.00. And the publisher is never satisfied to have the same edition from year to year, rather when the new year starts there's a new edition. The children are without books!! No small wonder using this prinicple. There must be a huge garbage pile out back with last year's books in it. The kids can't read these books anyway, so what's the fuss?
Just a small tax increase on the wealth and your child can magically read! But then there's the writing part, and the math. My youngest child has yet to bring home a text book and all of her homework is pre-printed. There is a lot of homework too. I wonder how many of the children in her class actually do the work since they don't bring a textbook home with them?
Albert Constantine Jr.| 12.11.12 @ 9:07AM
The textbook scam and high college tuition costs are but some of the education establishment's way of getting their piece of the pie. If we were the Left, we would be out in the street screaming about Big Education the way they scream about Big Oil. An important distinction between the two, though, is that purchase of oil is generally a voluntary purchase (even where a necessity), but funding government education is mandatory.
PolishKnight| 12.11.12 @ 1:16PM
Keep in mind that Sonny Bono put forth a copyright protection act to extort money from people for existing materials (Disney was worried that people might be able to buy Bambi for FREE after a mere 50 years.) Then DMCA was passed and to protect us, big brother makes it illegal to even talk about ways to decode content even if we own it. Good ol' fascism.
There are ways around the textbook mafia. For example, consolidate textbooks as they age and distribute them to fewer schools so even old versions are usable similar to how you buy parts for old cars at the junkyard.
Hardcard| 12.11.12 @ 9:13AM
Your roomate named the kid "C" ?
c. j. acworth| 12.11.12 @ 9:49AM
No. "C.".
JP Jones| 12.11.12 @ 9:51AM
There is not enough so called Rich to
fund the system.
That is not a left Right issue its
basic Math.
However, why these Republican folks in key working
class church going States like Michigan and Wisconsin are continuing their assault on Big Labor
is a bit mind blowing.
The Electoral Map went to OBama in Part because of the Wisconsin Union Fight of 2010/2011 and that is the untold story.
Don't ever count Labor Out
they represent tons of folks that may vote for a Republican and while some say Reagan got their vote after busting the air traffic controllers
that was 1980 and now is now
and there are no Ronald Reagans any more.
Let's use our heads and leave Labor Unions Alone and let's actually stop the spread of Socialism by actually electing Pro American Democracy types as Presidents.
This Michigan fiasco will only enrage regular working stiffs and give more firewood to those that blame the so called Rich and out of touch wealthy class for all of our ills.
Purp| 12.11.12 @ 4:26PM
There's a reason Republicants lose. They can't help it. They are there own worst enemies.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 5:04PM
Purp the Village Idiot posted the following after the elections:
"Purp| 11.8.12 @ 10:35AM
"The Lord rules, not Obama." - CORRECT!
The Lord works in mysterious ways... and this is something for the faithful to contemplate in the way the see the world:
Hurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials."
So purpie believes God killed over 100 persons and destroyed millions of dollars of property to help Obama win.
In Sept Purpie wrote that Amassador Stevens was at fault and caused his death.
Purpie also wrote that the unborn are biological entities not deserving of protection until God allows them to be born. (What does this mean?)
Purpie represents the Loon Left that should be mocked and ridiculed, and not engaged in conversation
Reply to this
log in or register to reply
Purp| 12.10.12 @ 10:41AM
All you're doing is spreading the true words that you don't like.
You are beyond stupid, purpie.
Archie| 12.11.12 @ 5:05PM
Pardon my skepticism. Reagan picked up union votes after canning the air traffic controllers union? That would be weird, wouldn't it?
Unions are pushing jobs overseas as much as any CEO or politician is. They need to realize that. And lots of regular working stiffs who are not in a union will also be enraged at the activities of the union thugs in MI.
Warrior| 12.11.12 @ 10:50AM
I will ask the question again that no liberal was willing to answer yesterday. If the Bush tax cuts benefited only the wealthiest Americans and hurt the middle class and lower income earners so badly. A mantra/canard that we have been hearing for over then years now. Why would letting these tax cuts expire hurt the middle class and lower income earners? Come on you wannabe Marxists, you should be cheering for us to go over the fiscal cliff. After all, it will only hurt the rich...or were you all lying again?
Occam's Tool| 12.11.12 @ 6:02PM
Correct, Warrior.
I say the Republicans in the House should pass a bill extending the 4% payroll tax and the Bush tax rates in toto indefinitely. Send that to the Senate, then GO HOME. Let Obama take the blame for increasing taxes.
Warrior| 12.11.12 @ 7:59PM
He won't take the blame. He'll go on his $4 million vacation and tell everyone he's identifying with the plight of the middle class. He could shit his pants on the runway and the TASS/Pravda like media write about how a conservative must have slipped a laxative into lunch.
George S| 12.11.12 @ 11:41AM
If -- according to Obama's comment -- cutting spending on things we don't need is "tough", then what would be an easy spending cut?
There you have it -- nothing that government spends our money on is wasted. It may not be needed but it is something we couldn't do without.
Like all those non-essential federal employees who were told to stay home during Sandy. If they are non-essential then why do we need them? Just kidding.
Paul A'Barge | 12.11.12 @ 11:55AM
With all due respect sir, I recommend that you read more Stanley Kurtz.
Obama's intent to raise the tax rates on the rich has everything to do with knee-capping Republicans.
Let's try and get the politics right. This is part of a fight to transform America into the vision of Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.
Hardcard| 12.11.12 @ 12:16PM
OK
PolishKnight| 12.11.12 @ 1:12PM
Lots of good stuff above, but it's worth reminding everyone that even if "idiots" know taxes on the rich won't fix the deficit it doesn't matter. It's a red-herring, non-sequitur distraction away from the primary way Democrats get votes: Race and gender preferences.
Bob K| 12.11.12 @ 6:01PM
You are right about it being a red-herring and both political parties are complicit in giving it publicity.
It's purpose is to hide the fact that taxes will go up for everybody, especially the middle class, which pays the great brunt of the state, local, municipal and school taxes which are critical to the maintenance of our Republic.
The voters will find this out in short order after it is passed and if the Republican party is seen as playing a part in "kicking this can down the road" to avoid responsibility they will end up getting their own "cans kicked" in the 2014 mid term elections.
It is long past time the Republican Pundits here, like Aaron, stopped talking about how this will or will not affect the so called "rich" and started talking about how it will affect the people who have enough votes to put them back in power!
PolishKnight| 12.11.12 @ 10:10PM
BobK, you still don't get it. This all doesn't matter. Maybe it might help Republicans win a FEW seats in the 2014 mid-terms. Maybe. If they're good and the Democrats are stupid and a few scraps fall from their table.
80% of Obama's electorate are race and gender entitlement voters. Most of them don't even bother trying to pretend they care about issues such as tax increases on the rich balancing the deficit.
Obama, to his credit, did play class warfare pretty brilliantly though by harping on "outsourcing". And he has a point: The republicans don't care about outsourcing and "insourcing" with H1B's and cheap labor to kill their blue collar working class base because they think they'll show up in sufficient numbers to win simply by running their candidate up the flag pole and getting salutes. Didn't work out. They need MORE than that.
And they still haven't gotten the message. Obama's election was a true turning point in American politics: It's about race, stupid! Republicans needn't become racists or "color blind" but rather propose that white males have civil rights. It's a radical concept, but there it is. Until they do, they will lose elections and, gasp, the rich will pay more taxes! EEEK! I feel SOOO bad about that!
sdfhlk | 12.12.12 @ 3:32AM
Merry Christmas
bison cookie| 12.12.12 @ 5:16PM
OBAMA’S MONEY PLANS BACKED BY COMMUNISTS. The Communist Party USA is backing Barack Obama’s position on the coming fiscal cliff and claims its economic program “will unfold in the coming year” with the reelection of Obama and continued Democrat control of the U.S. Senate. The statement came from Joelle Fishman, chairwoman of the … READ MORE: http://bwcentral.org/2012/12/o.....ommunists/
Toinfinityandbeyond| 12.12.12 @ 10:47PM
Get rid of Bo(eh)ner!
Get rid of Mitch the B!t(h.
Get rid of Lying Ryan.
Get rid of Mitt-ard Romney.
Oh! wait! He is already gone. :)
Get rid of Christie.
Get rid of DeMint.
Oh! wait! He is already gone for more money. :)
Get rid of FAUX.
Get rid of BRAINFART.
Get rid of Tea Beggers.
Get rid of Fatzo Rush.
Get rid of GOP.
Done!
Jim T| 12.19.12 @ 2:03PM
according to the 2011 census, there are 17M students in high school and 33M in grade school, so roughly 50M. (Oddly, it says there are more in college than in high school. http://www.census.gov/hhes/sch.....bles.html.) With a budget of $68B, that's about $14,000 for each student.