Payroll Tax Break Voted Down 51 FOR; 49 AGAINST (WHAT???)

It has been a while since I have checked in with a commentary, so here is today.

Late last night the U.S. Senate voted on extending, and possibly expanding, the Payroll Tax Holiday, which EVERYONE (economists, Democrats, Republicans, and all of the Millions of People that this will benefit in tough economic times) agrees that this is ESSENTIAL.

But it was voted down.

In fact there were 2 plans proposed, one by the Democrats and one by the Republicans.  The Republican Plan was voted DOWN nearly 80-20.  It was bad, it was designed to pay for the tax cut by putting roughly 200,000 people out of work (WHAT???) and freezing pay of federal workers for 3 years (so a break for ONE year in exchange for stagnant pay for THREE. Again; WHAT???) and deny certain government benefits, like food stamps, to Millionaires (because SO many Millionaires get food stamps; WHAT???).  Ok, so it was BS. And because of that 26 REPUBLICANS voted against it. Thus the BIG vote down.

Ok, So lets move on to the Democrats Plan.  Pay for the Tax Holiday for Working People by adding a 3-4% tax on all income earned OVER Million Dollars (in other words Millionaires DON’T get hit on the FIRST Million, ONLY money OVER that).  Like it or not, the VOTE in the Senate for this was 51 FOR and 49 AGAINST.  So logically it should have passed, right. WRONG (WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?) – See, in this current Senate, SINCE 2010, when the BIG Republican (TEA Party) swing, even though they don’t have the Majority, they CAN and ALWAYS DO threaten to FILIBUSTER. (For those that don’t know, here is Webster’s Definition: ”A: the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly; B: an instance of this practice”.) So NOTHING CAN GET DONE, because a MAJORITY is not enough anymore to move Legislation forward, they need a 60% or Super Majority, which is designed to only be needed to overturn a Veto and other HARD things.  It is NOT designed to STOP EVERY PIECE of LEGISLATION that the Majority Party puts forward.

The Filibuster was designed so that the Majority cannot do Tyrannical things to the Minority – NOT TO TOTALLY STOP GOVERNMENT FROM FUNCTIONING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WAS INHERITED FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND LARGELY REPUBLICAN POLICIES.  But that IS how it has been used by the current Republican Minority in the Senate.  We have had THREE SERIOUS THREATS of Government Shutdown, over REDICULOUS thing, like the Debt Ceiling Debate – which was really about whether we would PAY BACK debts WE ALREADY OWED to pay for the Bush Tax Cuts, the Unpaid-for Medicare Part D and the TWO Decades long Wars.

It Boggles my Mind that WORKING CLASS people, a LOT of working class people, can support the Republican Party.  They drove the Economy OFF A CLIFF with THEIR POLICIES and they have done EVERYTHING in their power to SABATOGE the economy from growing so Obama looks bad – they don’t even consider the day-to-day lives that are impacted by their political games.  A Majority should get Legislation passed again – if you want Obama to own the economy, let him get some policies passed so we can see it.  Actually, ever so slowly, the economy is growing stronger, despite the Republican opposition, I hope Obama gets a bit of credit for that come election time.

The importance of VOTING (and a bit of History)

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by [people] for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison [people] because they are different from other [people]." 


- President Lyndon B. Johnson when he signed the
 Voting Rights Act of 1965.

That statement is as true today as it was then.  But today it seems fewer and fewer believe it.  Even today as I was relieved at work, I asked the person relieving me if they had voted and the reply was “I never vote, both parties are the same.”  It is a similar belief that seems to permeate the 99%/Occupy movements.  It saddens me. While I admit, as a young man I too was hoodwinked by that terrible fiction, I have since realized my mistake.  There are others that realize that the 2 major parties are not the same but are discouraged because the best choice is only “the lesser of two evils”, and finally there are those that “protest” by boycotting the election, either because they want to “send the candidate a message” or simply because they are disheartened because they could not get as much done as was “promised”.

On the idea that “Both Parties are the Same”.  This simply isn’t true.  While I have my choices as to which is the choice for me, I will not share it here, but I will try to dispel the myth that they are the same.  One Party has CONSISTANTLY cut taxes while overspending on things like unfunded wars.  They fight AGAINST unions and other groups that support WORKING PEOPLE while also fighting to cut .  One side wants to CUT Regulations on the largest businesses in the name of “freedom” while trying to regulate who we marry, and what people share with their doctors and even what happens in the bedroom (how is that Freedom?).  One side has fought to get us Universal Healthcare, and while it did NOT happen, it only didn’t because the OTHER SIDE fought so hard against it.  One side has tried to regulate the banks that collapsed our economy – the other continues to fight against them AND to give MORE tax cuts for the VERY PEOPLE that profited off that thievery, while the rest of us have lost wages and benefits (for those of us “lucky” enough to even have a job).  One side has made proposals on how we might rebuild infrastructure and keep teachers, firefighters and police – the other has only blocked it.  The choices are NEARLY OPPOSITE – One side wants to regulate business and give individuals more freedom, the other wants to regulate individual choice and give businesses more freedom.  They just are not the same.

On “The Lesser of Two Evils”.  This is a little easier to understand.  While the two parties are NOT the same, there can sometimes seem to be a lot of similarities.  So, I researched it and found that one party is SIGNIFIGANTLY better than the other when it comes to HELPING WORKING PEOPLE.  I could almost repeat much of what is above, I wont.  But I will add to it a bit.  One reason why it seems like only a lesser of 2 evils, that is because even the MAJORITY Party has to work WITH the minority.  It has taken us 30 YEARS of bad policy to get us into this mess, slowly chipping away at the foundation of the middle class – it will take time to rebuild; especially when one group is doing EVERYTHING they can to stifle that process.  (Lets remember, the President went to Harvard, NOT HOGWARTS – he cannot simply wave a magic wand and fix things.  And he can only sign the legislation the CONGRESS sends to his desk)

On Boycotting to “Send a Message” or because you are disheartened. Simply put, where Boycotting works on a For-Profit industry (BECAUSE IT CUT INTO PROFITS) it does not work on voting.  Why – because there are ALWAYS some that WILL vote, so by you sitting out YOU ONLY GIVE MORE POWER TO SOMEONE ELSE’S VOTE.  If you don’t like the Republican Party, but are disheartened by the Democrats and decide not to vote – YOU DOUBLE THE POWER OF THE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTES (or vice versa) SO THEY WIN.  The ONLY message you send when you don’t vote is “There is no reason to worry about that groups interests”.  The Tea Party is such a HUGE political force BECAUSE THEY VOTE.  If the 99% want to be also, they MUST turn out to the polls.  In 2010 many Democrats disheartened with Obama stayed home, but the Tea Party did not – and Republicans won the day in not only congress, but also in many State Legislatures and Governorships – so if you are one who stayed home – YOU ARE PARTLY TO BLAME now that they are trying to restrict votes and break unions – AND now that the CONGRESS doesn’t do ANYTHING except threaten to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT (3 times!!!) to stop Obama from doing anything.

I realize that this wont change many people’s minds, but I would have been remiss if I didn’t say it. The ONLY Political Capital is Votes; I know people think it’s money, but money is only important because money buys advertising – thus getting VOTES! The right to vote was hard fought for, some people LITERALLY DIED for the right to vote, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT.  Perhaps if my words have not persuaded you, I will end on someone else’s who might.

‎"Voting is the foundation stone for political action. The basic elements so vital to … advancement can only be achieved by seeking redress from government at local, state and Federal levels. To do this the vote is essential."


- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to civil rights demonstrators.

Since when is fulfilling a contract considered an “Entitlement”?

Let me propose a question. If you make a contract with someone, and fulfill your end of the bargain, do you consider the other party’s end to be an entitlement?

Simple answer – NO – it is considered to be an obligation of the other party to fulfill their end.  That is basic contract law, isn’t it?  So why is it when we talk about it in the context of government we refer to them as “Entitlements”?

I pay my taxes, I pay a portion of them to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.  So why is it that whenever there is a so-called “Budget Shortfall” the FIRST thing the Republican Party wants to cut are these programs?  These are programs I pay for!!! I am fulfilling MY obligation in the “contract” with the government, but for some reason we (we being the Working Class) are somehow spoken about as feeling “entitled” because we expect to have that contract fulfilled.  WHAT?!?!?!?

In the last 30 years (basically my ENTIRE lifetime) the American Working Class has had their futures chipped away by bad policies that have the WEALTHIEST among us gaining a 275% increase in income – while those of us that actually WORK for a living have only seen a 20% increase (WHICH DOESN’T EVEN KEEP UP WITH COST OF LIVING!).  That’s right – those that make the most (by FAR) and therefore need it least, have also had an increase that is 10 TIMES the increase of us that make the least (and NEED it the MOST!).  But somehow we are the ones who are UNGRATEFUL and feel ENTITLED!

As it stands, I have no savings, and about $600 (not a typo) in my 401K and now I am supposed to look forward to having my Social Security benefits reduced, or if the Republican Party has it’s way – Taken away entirely.  By the way when someone says “Privatize Social Security” (or the “Chilean Model” which is the SAME thing) what they mean is to TAKE AWAY the one guaranteed source of income that people like me will have and give that to Wall Street too!

Does anyone even remember 3 years ago – when Wall Street (and YES IT WAS WALL STREET) tanked the United States Economy, and thousands of people that were closing in on retirement had to totally re-think their futures because their 401K’s were virtually cut in half!  Do we really want that to happen to Social Security as well?

I am so sick of people who get GOVERNMENT pay and GOVERNMENT Pensions and GOVERNMENT Healthcare (i.e. all the Representatives and Senators) talking about how WORKING CLASS people need to make more sacrifices.  And they have the GAUL to continue funding LARGE Government SUBSIDES to businesses that reap ENORMOUS PROFITS while simultaneously claiming Poverty so they can Outsource Jobs and cut the Pensions of Working People – and so the Board Members can retire with “Golden Parachutes” – even if those Board Members tank the company they work for OR the ENTIRE ECONOMY in he process. But WORKING PEOPLE are supposed to suck it up and MAKE SACRIFICES.

It is simply time to change the system so that Working People have a future again and frankly those that have benefitted most from the policies of the Past 30 years need to give something back.  Yes, we need to reform the tax code and remove loopholes, but we also need to make income from actually working worth AT LEAST as much as money gained from investing on Wall Street (in fact if anything Investment Income should probably be taxed at a slightly higher rate) unless that investment Directly (Let me re-peat that DIRCTLY) creates American Jobs and GIVES Back to Society.  But also we NEED to have those that have profited MOST from our currently BROKEN system to be the ones that act a little GRATEFUL for their success – and not expect the rest of us Working People to instead bear the entire burden – which for us; means little to no chance of retirement, a lifetime of debt for things like School and Healthcare, and a Job that doesn’t even pay the Bills anymore.

With regard to the death of Moammar Khadafy.

There has been a lot of talk about the circumstances surrounding Moammar Khadafy’s death.  It seems that the likely story is actually that he was executed by one of the men in the Rebel forces.  There have been many calls for an investigation as to what happened, because the video shows he was captured alive and then he was declared dead.  There are some reports of a firefight, but other stories which have contradicted that.  I personally feel it is ultimately irrelevant whether or not there was and I will explain why.

I want to start by saying that I am generally against the death penalty, also I’m not a person that believes in revenge, I cannot think of a single person that I actually hate, and I consider myself fortunate that I have never personally experienced war, nor had to be in a situation that escalated to a point where I would even need to consider harming, let alone killing someone. But; if I had been in a situation where I, or my family, or friends, had been the victims of a lifetime of tyrannical rule by a despotic dictator and it was me that found him in that hole, I am certain that he would not have left my company alive.

I do not say that because of the anger, and possibly hatred, that I am sure to have felt; instead I think the simple truth is that after such a struggle to overthrow this cruel megalomaniac, I would make certain that there would NEVER be a way for him to come into power again.  If indeed there was a firefight, the first shot I personally would have fired would have been to end Khadafy’s life, because I could not possibly allow him to be rescued, only to re-inspire his troops and possibly continue, or more horrifying, win, the fight.  I would instead end any inspiration his life might stir in his supporters.

That said, I think even if there was no firefight the point remains the same. There was no question of Khadafy’s oppression, so some kind of show trial would actually prove nothing except to show that we are “civilized” when it comes to killing people.  But in the meantime, as we waited for the trial, there would be a re-doubling of efforts to secure Khadafy’s rescue, the fighting would continue.  During the trial Khadafy would undoubtedly say something hateful and inflammatory, at best, and inspirational to his supporters to keep fighting at worst. With Khadafy dead, the rallying point is effectively destroyed and so the opposition is more likely to become disheartened and give up the fight; certainly there would be more people re-examining their support on an individual level.

Frankly, I think his death, or execution if you would rather call it, is totally justified and I support the decision to end his life, regardless of the circumstances.  I view it much like the death of Osama bin Laden or Anwar al-Awlaki, or even Saddam Hussein for that matter.  I do not celebrate their deaths because of a sense of vengeance or retribution; but accept the necessity of their deaths, because Society has a Right to protect itself from monsters that so blatantly wish to harm it.  If only all deaths could be so Justified.

It has become PAINFULLY obvious that the Republican Party doesn’t care one iota about Working Class People

I have to admit this is something I have been reluctant to say outright.  I have been fooling myself into thinking that perhaps it was a difference of opinion, or a disagreement about ideology, but no more.

So I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to what is actually going on, as opposed to just listening to what they are saying, but yesterday the first part of President Obama’s Jobs Plan was voted on in the Senate, it received a vote of 50/50, so no problem, right, VP Biden just needs to go in and cast the tie breaker and he Bill passes right? WRONG!  The Republicans have decided to ONCE AGAIN Filibuster this vote (i.e. DELAY IT INDEFINITELY) unless 2/3 of the Senate votes to stop it.  Why did they do this again (by again I mean only adding to the MOST filibusters that have EVER happened in the entire HISTORY of our nation since Obama became President)?  Well, they say, Obama’s Jobs plan is not long term.

First, lets pretend their right – and I do mean pretend, because our big problem in the economy right now is DEMAND and in order to generate demand working class people need to have money to spend in the economy.  Ok, so lets pretend their right – what they are saying is “No, I don’t want to give you CPR, because you need a bypass to solve the problem,” “No, I don’t want to put on a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, because you need surgery to close the wound.”  Oh, but there are no plans to actually get you into surgery.

HOW IS THIS GOOD FOR WORKING PEOPLE?!?!?!  How is firing people (and that’s what we’re talking about) going to help the economy?!?!?

But lets be fair, the Republicans do have a jobs proposal.  Cut Regulations to the Banks (you know, the very ones that were implemented after the banks already tanked the economy), Cut the EPA (you know, the agency that protects our air and water, to make sure that big businesses don’t destroy the land where working class people actually live) and to open PUBLIC land for MORE DRILLING, because as they say, we have 300 years of oil and/or natural gas, because THAT’S their LONG TERM PLAN?!?!?!?

HOW DOES ANY OF THAT ACTUALLY GENERATE JOBS RIGHT NOW WHEN ACTUAL PEOPLE NEED THEM?!?!?!?

The fact is, it doesn’t.  They are more than happy to tank the economy (by blocking ANYTHING the President puts forward to actually help), as long as it gets Obama out of office.  Therefore there is no other logical conclusion except that Republicans just don’t care about working people.

Republicans cheer France for their Victory in Libya

With the death of Moammar Khadafy (in addition to Osama bin Laden’s recent demise) and word that the NATO operations in Libya will be coming to a successful close AND the fact that this victory came with a cost of only $2 Billion (as opposed to the roughly $900 Billion in Iraq and counting) AND the fact that not one American Life was lost, oh, AND the fact that this conflict has given the US a good reputation on foreign Policy in the world again AND the fact that the people in Libya are CHEERING our name instead of cursing it; perhaps the Republican Party can finally come together with President Obama to celebrate this indisputable Victory.

Ok, so nobody really believes that’s going to happen, right.  Of Course not – in fact already the Republican Party has been hitting the News circuit congratulating NATO and France (yup – the Party that brought you Freedom Fries is congratulating FRANCE on their Victory but NOT OBAMA?!?!) while criticizing our President for “leading from behind” and “not being forceful enough” in his reaction to the Libyan uprising.  Right, because I’m sure the Libyan People would still be cheering the US if we went stomping in there – Just like the people of Iraq.  Yes, by the way, this is also the same Republican party that criticized him for going into Libya in the first place.

It should be obvious to anyone that actually pays attention, that the Republican Party is NOT Patriotic. Tanking our economy and destroying the Middle Class, and Filibustering (i.e. BLOCKING) any effort the President has made to actually fix it is bad enough - but The Republican cannot even acknowledge a GENUINE Victory by this President because they are so hatefully focused on getting him out of office.  

Columbia University Economist Jeffery Sachs Addresses Occupy Wall St

I was Occupying Wall Street on 10-15-2011 - after cold wind and poor sleep the night before I sat down for a nap - and awoke with Columbia University Economist Jeffery Sachs, one of my favorite Economists (because, yes, I'm the type of person that is a fan of Economists!) about to literally step up on the ledge I was leaning on and start speaking so I ended up with the best seat in the house.

Check out the Video Below of what he said!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5USicF5-cjo

the News Needs to stop Coddling Guests and Call them on their BS!

So I am INCREADIBLY disappointed in the Morning Joe Crew today – I was pleased when I heard Grover Norquist (the guy behind the Republican “no taxes of any kind” pledge) was going to be on today. Until I watched them all coddle him! 

Why didn’t they ask him about the American Jobs Act that had passed the Senate but then Filibustered by the MINORITY Republican Party (which they have done MORE THAN ANY OTHER Senate Minority IN HISTORY) and whether he really thinks protecting the MILLIONAIRES from a 5% tax increase is really more important than GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK!

Why didn’t they ask him if he agrees with Republicans who protect Millionaire’s from a slightly higher tax burden – BUT FIGHT AGAINST Payroll Tax cuts that will help WORKING PEOPLE?!

I am so SICK of ALL news organizations coddling people that come on for interviews and not calling them on their BS. Fair and Balanced does NOT mean just taking EVERYONE at their word!

Virtually ALL economists agree that Republican so-called “Real Jobs Plan” will do NOTHING to create Jobs in the short term and the President’s plan WOULD!  And making sure people have JOBS is the ONLY way to create DEMAND which businesses ALL agree is what’s needed to get the economy going again.  And the MAJORITY of the AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE TOO!  I have heard the Republican Party say the stimulus didn’t work, but the FACTS say otherwise! THE STIMULUS SAVED THE ECONOMY the first time – How is that a failure?

The Republicans have made clear that all they want to do is get Obama out of office, and have shown through their actions that they are ready to take the economy down to do so (why not, they’re all rich, so they and their wealthy contributors will be fine).  It’s as if the Republican Party set a house on fire, cut holes in the fire hose and have been working to get the water shut off then complaining that Obama isn’t putting the fire out.

What would you ask the President?

So, this post is a bit different from the usual format.  I entered into the "Have Dinner with President Obama" contest.  Part of one of them had a box for "What would you ask the President if you sat down with him for dinner?" As I figure I probably won't win (but would love to be surprised), I thought I would post what I wrote here (so maybe somebody would read it). 

__________________________________

I don't know if I have a specific question, I recently went back to school and received my BS in Political Science and a minor in History, and I keep up with current affairs as well and so, not to be a suck up, but as I have often found myself defending Obama’s policies, and the reasons why he made the compromises he has made and reminding people of his successes and debunking some of the “Spin” (read: Lies) that has been floating around out there for the last year and a half, to both more Republican leaning and Democratic leaning friends.

But as someone that, at 33 and having never made more than $25,000 a year working FULL TIME, I would want to have a very serious discussion with him regarding the “Working Poor”, like myself.  While we are working on getting people back to work, a very important mission to be sure, let us not forget that a job that pays roughly half of the living wage, also known as the Federal Minimum Wage, is not all that much better than being unemployed, or on government assistance.

Actually, this is something that is very close to me, I literally went back to school with this goal in mind, and, if you excuse me while I brag for a moment, I did this while working virtually full time and being the primary caregiver for a disabled parent, who, frankly, was practically an invalid for several years as we tried to get a needed orthopedic surgery.

It bothers me that we even have a term “Working Poor” in our active vocabulary; if ever there was a measure of inequality it is this.  To combat this I would like to discuss three primary topics; Health Care, Education, and Minimum Wage.  It seems to me these are the areas in most need of our focus as a Nation to combat this grave injustice.  While I applaud the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and have been a supporter of it, I think even the President would agree that it is only a step in the right direction, not the final solution.

Actually, I finish writing this I have figured out a question:

What can I realistically do to help make this happen on a National level?

On Political Theater, "Silver Bullets" and those who continue to say it's too Broken to fix

I’m sick of hearing people say “This is Political Theater” or “is only to get Obama re-elected” with regard to the President’s Jobs Plan, or the “paid for” part of that plan, because “it will take years to implement fully” or “this wont solve the whole problem”.

Do people really think that any one piece of legislation can be a “Silver Bullet” that will instantly solve all our economic problems?  The mess the US is in is the culmination of years, decades, of chipping away at the protections, benefits and compensation for regular working people that were literally paid for with the blood of those who gave their lives in the forming of Unions, the Civil Rights Movement, even ending of Slavery in the first place. 

Like our crumbling infrastructure is constantly being battered by weather and wear, our “Social Infrastructure” is constantly being battered by policies that keep funneling both money and power (political and otherwise) into the hands of the few.  The Republican party is currently moving to break Collective Bargaining Rights and stifle voting – STIFLE VOTING!!! I thought the Right Wing was supposed to be all about the Constitution?  I guess the 26^th Amendment (or the 24^th or 19^th for that matter!) doesn’t mean anything to these guys – they like to talk about freedom and liberty – but they are just giving it lip service – total hypocrites.

Saying things like, “it will take years to implement fully” or “this wont solve the whole problem” are just things those who are actively chipping away at our Liberties and protections like to say to try to also chip away at our determination to fight back.  But this is why that, above all else; only by working persistently, brick by proverbial brick, to constantly re-enforce the foundation will we be able to rebuild OUR Nation.

Something to remember when discussing Bullying in America

So I am sitting here watching the Daily Show and they opened with a bit about Fox News talking about Dancing With the Stars and how they are brushing over the Nancy Grace "wardrobe malfunction" and continuing instead to say awful things about Chaz Bono.  It seems to me, with Lady Gaga and others are working on bringing awareness to bullying I think perhaps some attention should be brought to this.  When we are trying to figure out what we can do as a culture to curb this behavior in our children, in schools and social media, I think we need to seriously look at how a national network like Fox News is basically bullying Chaz on national television. Despicable.

Go here and sign up to help get Big Corporate Money out of Politics!

This seems like a fantastic movement - and it LITERALLY started today -

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

This is a good start toward re-gaining political power for the People, as was intended.

On Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain

Over the weekend Mr. Cain won the Florida Straw Poll.  And while many in the media are still dismissing him outright there are some who look at his 2 major talking points as having substance.  First I would like to look at his so-called “Fix” to Social Security, what he calls the “Chilean Model” but is really just a re-packaged Privatization.  Here’s where I have a problem.  For those that didn’t see my post yesterday I will briefly elaborate.  I am coming at these issues from the point of view of one of the MANY underemployed, well more specifically UNDERPAID, Americans. What I mean is, despite the fact that I work full time (and have since high-school), I make less than $25,000 per year.  In fact the only time I ever broke that particular benchmark was the one year I worked a second job.

So here’s my problem with Herman Cain’s “Chilean Model” plan (though I would think it was obvious by now).  I MAKE LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR.  So when I hear things like “Give people a chance to create their own savings accounts” I can help but think to myself – How am I possibly supposed to “save” for my retirement when, frankly I can barely afford my bills.  Ok, so perhaps I’m not the one that he supposes will opt-out of Social Security, fair enough.  So instead the more affluent individuals, lets say those with what, $50 or even $100,000 per year (I certainly know I could save money if I was making that much).  Well, about 28% of the US population make $25K or less, and just over 50% of people make $50,000 or less.  So as we talk about “fixing” Social Security, can you explain to me taking 50% of those paying out of the SS system, or in the case of those over $25K, 75% of those paying in.  I suppose that would be great for those that are doing great in this troubling economy, but for the other 25-50% of us, what are we supposed to do?

Also, for those that don’t know, Social Security is only paid on the first $130,000 made annually.  To be clear, this means that those of us on the lower end of the wage spectrum pay a MUCH larger percent of our wages than those that can most afford it.  So if you are one of those lucky enough to make $250K then you only pay into Social Security for about half the year; that’s right, after 6 months you ALREADY opt-out for the rest of the year.  If you make a $1 Million you are done in only 2 months.  If you are making $2.5 Million you stop paying into SS in 3 WEEKS – that’s right – LESS THAN A MONTH. 

So what are you really contributing if you are pulling down $10 or $20 Million.  Their FIRST paycheck of the year takes care of ALL you Social Security contributions for the year.  So those that can afford the least pay (relatively) much more. Finally, what happens if you do opt out, and somehow loose it all?  What is Cain’s (or any other Privatizer’s) plan for those that save and somehow end up destitute anyway?  Since they opted-out – there will be no Social Security to see them through.  I guess they’re screwed.

Now as for Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 Tax Plan, seems fair on the surface, Right?.  Again lets look at this rationally.  For this example lets make it 10-10-10 for just a second to make the math much easier. So if you make $25,000, you pay $2,500 per year, so you need to live on the other $22,500 (not including Social Security, Medical Insurance if you are lucky enough to have it, and State taxes). This is a good time to point out that the LIVING wage about $29,000.  At $250,000, you pay $25,000 (that’s right, at $250K, your taxes become MY ENTIRE INCOME before taxes), and so still have over $200K to live on. 

So even though all these people work full time, one is expected to live on 1/100^th the money as someone else?  In other words, a progressive income tax system is actually an attempt to balance the great Inequity in pay that ALREADY exists in wages in this country. (Alternatively, CEO’s could take a little less pay so those of us on the bottom could at least make the living wage .  .  . anybody? Yeah- didn’t think so)

Ok, next, the 9% sales tax Mr. Cain is discussing.  I would like to point out the GLARING Flaw in this plan.  Most sales tax is STATE and COUNTY tax.  This is important, because by putting a 9% sales tax on goods/services would actually end up being (where I am anyway) 17% sales tax, so nearly TWICE as much as it is now.  Again, I make $25K, and now am expected to pay MORE for what I need to live than what I pay now.  Can’t you see how this will affect most those that have the least?  If you start with less, then paying a little more for everything JUST HITS YOU HARDER.  If we were to implement just these two things, the Working Poor (and HOW CAN THAT TERM EVEN EXIST IN AMERICA?!?!?!?!) will be hit WAY harder than they even are now.

This doesn’t even take into account reducing the tax on Corporations by 25% (not including loopholes of course).  How does Mr. Cain propose to keep the Budget Balanced by reducing revenues?  That is a major problem with virtually all Republican proposals which call for cutting Federal Programs and reducing rates; oh, but they also include “Broadening the Base” (for my thoughts on that check out what I wrote yesterday) which really just means making those who have less take up more of the burden, while simultaneously cutting public services to those very same people.

My take on the so-called Class Warfare

Can I just say that I am getting upset listening to people (mostly Republicans) claim “Class Warfare” when Obama (or any other Democrat) suggests raising taxes on those who make over $250,000 or those over $1 Million.  Additionally, they like to say we need to “Broaden the Tax Base”, which even MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough said just this morning (nothing personal Joe, you are a smart guy and are usually fair in your assessments).  The suggestion is that that top 1 or 5 or 10% already pays 70% of the taxes and so the rest of us are just picking on those “who have done well” or the “Achievers” (as Bill O’Reilly says) or the “Job Creators”.

I work FULL TIME, I have for the last 15 years, and I make LESS THAN $25,000 a year (and DO pay income taxes).  I have worked in manufacturing, then retail for a small business (and eventually became store manager), commission sales of used cars (and became their title clerk as well for a while), took a second, part-time job as a ticket clerk for a national movie theater company (the ONE year I made over $25K) and now I am working in human services; that is most of the working spectrum and the ONLY thing they all had in common it that NONE of them paid me a living wage.

Congressman John Fleming, (R) Louisiana, is complaining that he only has $400,000 left after he feeds his family (on only $200,000).  How out of touch with the reality of Americans can you be?  As it stands, it will take me 20 YEARS to make $400,000 (BEFORE TAXES)!!!! But I don’t pay enough taxes?!?!?!  The inequity in PAY is the real problem (and the TOTAL disconnect of our politicians to people that work for a living).  How can we even think of broadening the base with so many people that are unemployed, or like me (and MANY like me) underpaid.

A little bit about myself

I graduated from high school 15 years ago, like many people, I did not go to college right away, and instead joined the workforce.  In the last 15 years I have worked full time across much of the spectrum.  First I worked in manufacturing, then retail for a small business, commission sales of used cars, took a second, part-time job as a ticket clerk for a national movie theater company and now I am working in human services.  Additionally, many of the people I have known work or have worked in food service, for convenient stores, and in construction.  I have worked, or known someone who’s worked, throughout the entire spectrum of low-wage working class jobs.  In fact, I found that the one thing that all these jobs had in common was that they were all low-wage.

I went back to school where I recently graduated with a degree in Political Science with a minor in History, to see if maybe there was something I could do to change this grave injustice, not just for me, but for everyone I’ve ever known. This Blog is my attempt to at least document my perspective.  The perspective of the “Working Poor”.