As a sidebar, I feel like I MUST make a comment on something political because it’s been weighing heavily on my mind (along with 300 million other Americans, I’m sure). As we all know, hopefully, Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th president of the good ol’ U.S. of A. I’ve never been a fan of his radically socialist ways, but I can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst. It does scare me, however, that even in his victory speech he alluded to this notion of “Wall Street becoming Main Street.” There are a lot of things wrong with this statement but Obama’s Robin Hood tendency of effectively stealing from the rich and giving to the poor emanates the most from something as simple as a sentence in what was otherwise, I’m sure, an inspiring oration. If I’ve learned anything thusfar in this lifetime (all 23 years), it is that all people are NOT created equal. The mismatch results from this preconceived notion that the majority of the population has of equality and how everyone “should” be on a level playing field. If that were the case, everyone would go to Harvard, have a high paying job, a home, and a good life. Or, we’d be in a communist society where we line up for bread and toilet paper. While a host of other factors come into play, the bottom line is that we are not all equal because of the lack of hardwork. Obama continually stated that he would not have had the opportunity if someone/society did not give him a helping hand. Yes, that would probably be true, but I’m also willing to bet that he worked very hard in addition to getting help. The way he has laid out this master plan, it appears that he is just handing out money to anyone who needs it. This is not how to better the system nor is it the way to ‘better’ Main Street.
I did not exercise my right to vote in this election. My decision has been met with the jeers and boos of my friends and the disapproval of my parents. While it may be my ‘duty’ as an American do vote, I don’t believe in voting for the sake of voting. I will not vote for the lesser of the two evils because I don’t believe in either Mr. Spread the Wealth or Ms. I-can-see-russia-from-my house.
I think the thing that gets me most about Obama is his continuous mantra of “Taxes are about fairness, not what makes sense.” Of course, if you look at it from the other side of the table, it’s not really fair to heavily tax the wealthy, is it? The day after the election, one of the principals in my office was peeved that an admin told him he should be taxed more because he “could afford it”. A little ridiculous to think that just because you have it or you can do something, you won’t miss it? For those that think it won’t affect him/her/their families, think about this. Obama wants to tax total household income of $250k, not individual. Here’s some math to support the other notion regarding the 22, 23-year old yuppies running around screaming bloody murder:
1.Check out this website: www.electiontaxes.com
2. Depending on how this ‘making work pay’ tax credit works, you may have some eligibility but it will be completely gone somewhere between $75,000 and $95,000.
3. Obama has based his policy around a number of refundable tax credits (welfare checks). If you don’t qualify, you don’t receive them and your taxes are raised by your state to cover the budget shortfall.
4. A more comprehensive list of tax credits provided by Obama for America includes a mortgage credit, college credit, child care tax credit, making work pay credit, savings credit, health care tax credit, senior credits (65+), tax credits for clean vehicles.
My greatest fear in all of this is that the U.S is headed towards a type of socialism that has built up Western Europe. Socialist policies are what keep France’s unemployment perpetually at 10% and keep their system of higher education (with the exception of Sciences Po) terrible. It seems to me that Obama would like to give a man a fish so he can eat for a day but not teach him how to fish so he can eat for a lifetime.
While I have many problems with Obama’s leftist lean, I do recognize the awesomeness of this situation. This is a pivotal point in American history and I’m happy that I was able to experience it. The energy was tantamount on Election Night and I think everyone can agree that what we, the American public, witnessed was and is truly incredible.
An Aside
November 12, 2008
As a sidebar, I feel like I MUST make a comment on something political because it’s been weighing heavily on my mind (along with 300 million other Americans, I’m sure). As we all know, hopefully, Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th president of the good ol’ U.S. of A. I’ve never been a fan of his radically socialist ways, but I can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst. It does scare me, however, that even in his victory speech he alluded to this notion of “Wall Street becoming Main Street.” There are a lot of things wrong with this statement but Obama’s Robin Hood tendency of effectively stealing from the rich and giving to the poor emanates the most from something as simple as a sentence in what was otherwise, I’m sure, an inspiring oration. If I’ve learned anything thusfar in this lifetime (all 23 years), it is that all people are NOT created equal. The mismatch results from this preconceived notion that the majority of the population has of equality and how everyone “should” be on a level playing field. If that were the case, everyone would go to Harvard, have a high paying job, a home, and a good life. Or, we’d be in a communist society where we line up for bread and toilet paper. While a host of other factors come into play, the bottom line is that we are not all equal because of the lack of hardwork. Obama continually stated that he would not have had the opportunity if someone/society did not give him a helping hand. Yes, that would probably be true, but I’m also willing to bet that he worked very hard in addition to getting help. The way he has laid out this master plan, it appears that he is just handing out money to anyone who needs it. This is not how to better the system nor is it the way to ‘better’ Main Street.
I did not exercise my right to vote in this election. My decision has been met with the jeers and boos of my friends and the disapproval of my parents. While it may be my ‘duty’ as an American do vote, I don’t believe in voting for the sake of voting. I will not vote for the lesser of the two evils because I don’t believe in either Mr. Spread the Wealth or Ms. I-can-see-russia-from-my house.
I think the thing that gets me most about Obama is his continuous mantra of “Taxes are about fairness, not what makes sense.” Of course, if you look at it from the other side of the table, it’s not really fair to heavily tax the wealthy, is it? The day after the election, one of the principals in my office was peeved that an admin told him he should be taxed more because he “could afford it”. A little ridiculous to think that just because you have it or you can do something, you won’t miss it? For those that think it won’t affect him/her/their families, think about this. Obama wants to tax total household income of $250k, not individual. Here’s some math to support the other notion regarding the 22, 23-year old yuppies running around screaming bloody murder:
1.Check out this website: www.electiontaxes.com
2. Depending on how this ‘making work pay’ tax credit works, you may have some eligibility but it will be completely gone somewhere between $75,000 and $95,000.
3. Obama has based his policy around a number of refundable tax credits (welfare checks). If you don’t qualify, you don’t receive them and your taxes are raised by your state to cover the budget shortfall.
4. A more comprehensive list of tax credits provided by Obama for America includes a mortgage credit, college credit, child care tax credit, making work pay credit, savings credit, health care tax credit, senior credits (65+), tax credits for clean vehicles.
My greatest fear in all of this is that the U.S is headed towards a type of socialism that has built up Western Europe. Socialist policies are what keep France’s unemployment perpetually at 10% and keep their system of higher education (with the exception of Sciences Po) terrible. It seems to me that Obama would like to give a man a fish so he can eat for a day but not teach him how to fish so he can eat for a lifetime.
While I have many problems with Obama’s leftist lean, I do recognize the awesomeness of this situation. This is a pivotal point in American history and I’m happy that I was able to experience it. The energy was tantamount on Election Night and I think everyone can agree that what we, the American public, witnessed was and is truly incredible.