Saturday, July 25, 2009

Where Is Robin Hood When You Need Him?

Stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Fairytale concept or achievable reality? Let's not call it "stealing" though....let's call it "helping those less fortunate". I'm talking about the stinginess of the wealthy in regards to them not wanting to pay a little more in taxes to help fund universal healthcare.

I don't understand people who keep their fist so tight on the dollar. I don't care if I were making $30,000.00 or $130,000.00 a year, I would be HAPPY to pay more taxes so my friends and family members can have the health care they need.

Why? Because it's the RIGHT thing to do. It's a circle of giving in a sense. You should always help those less fortunate if you are able. And in this case, I don't really care whether it's a single mother, an unemployed student or an illegal immigrant. All of these people contribute in some way to our economy - they are spending money SOMEWHERE - they have to eat, wear clothes, buy gas, etc. So if they need help with the RIDICULOUSLY exhorbitant cost of health care, they should get it.

We all know someone who is struggling, whether it's paying the rent, paying for childcare, paying for food or just trying to keep their job. Why should they also have to worry about how they are going to take care of their health or the health of their family? If you think about all the people you actually know who do not have what they need, imagine the people you don't know.

And honestly, if the President is talking about tapping people who make more than a million dollars, I'm guessing not too many people I know will really be affected. Yet they seem to be the ones, along with the rich, raising the biggest stink.

After having this discussion on Facebook, my friend
Michelle sent me the following article. President Obama's response should be that of everyone who has the means to make this very important plan happen.

The rich have never had it so good
Taxing the wealthy could help the poor? Not if Congress has anything to do with it
By David Sirota

July 25, 2009 Here's a truism: The wealthiest 1 percent have never had it so good.

According to government figures, 1-percenters' share of America's total income is the highest it's been since 1929, and their tax rates are the lowest they've faced in two decades. Through bonuses, many 1-percenters will profit from the $23 trillion in bailout largesse the Treasury Department now says could be headed to financial firms. And most of them benefit from IRS decisions to reduce millionaire audits and collect zero taxes from the majority of major corporations.

But what really makes the ultra-wealthy so fortunate, what truly separates this moment from a run-of-the-mill Gilded Age, is the unprecedented protection the 1-percenters have bought for themselves on the most pressing issues.

To review: With 22,000 Americans dying each year because they lack health insurance, Congress is considering universal healthcare legislation financed by a surcharge on income above $280,000 -- that is, a levy almost exclusively on 1-percenters. This surtax would graze just 5 percent of small businesses and would recoup only part of the $700 billion the 1-percenters received from the Bush tax cuts. In fact, it is so minuscule, those making $1 million annually would pay just $9,000 more in taxes every year -- or nine-tenths of 1 percent of their 12-month haul.

Nonetheless, the 1-percenters have deployed an army to destroy the initiative before it makes progress.

The foot soldiers are the Land Rover Liberals. These Democratic lawmakers secure their lefty labels by wearing pink-ribbon lapel pins and supporting good causes like abortion rights. However, being affluent and/or from affluent districts, they routinely drive their luxury cars over middle-class economic interests. Hence, this week's letter from Democratic dot-com tycoon Rep. Jared Polis, of Boulder, Colo., and other Land Rover Liberals calling for the surtax's death.

Echoing that demand are the Corrupt Cowboys -- those like Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who come from the heartland's culturally conservative and economically impoverished locales. These cavalrymen in both parties quietly build insurmountable campaign war chests as the biggest corporate fundraisers in Congress. At the same time, they publicly preen as jes' folks, make twangy references to "voters back home," and now promise to kill the healthcare surtax because they say that's what their communities want. Cash payoffs made, reelections purchased, the absurd story somehow goes that because blue-collar constituents in Flyover America like guns and love Jesus, they must also reflexively adore politicians who defend 1-percenters' bounty.

That fantastical fairly tale, of course, couldn't exist without the Millionaire Media -- the elite journalists and opinion-mongers who represent corporate media conglomerates and/or are themselves extremely wealthy. Ignoring all the data about inequality, they legitimize the assertions of the 1-percenters' first two battalions, while actually claiming America's fat cats are unfairly persecuted.

For example, Washington Post editors deride surtax proponents for allegedly believing "the rich alone can fund government." Likewise, Wall Street Journal correspondent Jonathan Weisman wonders why the surtax "soak(s) the rich" by unduly "lumping all of the problems of the finances of the United States on 1 percent of (its) households." And most brazenly, NBC's Meredith Vieira asks President Obama why the surtax is intent on "punishing the rich."

For his part, Obama has responded with characteristic coolness -- and a powerful counterstrike. "No, it's not punishing the rich," he said. "If I can afford to do a little bit more so that a whole bunch of families out there have a little more security, when I already have security, that's part of being a community."

If any volley can thwart this latest attack of the 1-percenters, it is that simple idea.

** You can read the article at its original source
here.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
All American Eddie Friday
2 YEARS AGO:
A Hippie Dippie Woo Woo Town Sporting Lots Of Leg Hair
3 YEARS AGO:
Flowering Rocks
4 YEARS AGO:
The Cool Mom

3 comments:

Evil Pixie said...

I think the reason the rich stay rich is because they are so stingy. I remember reading a study somewhere that said the worst tippers are the ones who make the most money. Just as the ones who are the most generous with their income (proportionately) are those who are in the lower, middle income or less ranges.

Don Olney said...

Right on Girl!

Txjerry2 said...

Why does everyone what to demonize those that are wealthy? Don't we all aspire to being in a position that we do not have to worry about money. True, some did not work at all for the money and some worked very hard for it, just like you and I are doing. Whats $9,000 more tax if your rich? I think the same could be said of you. What is say $900 more in tax for you to support the health care reform. You seem to be doing pretty well with a new modern truck and computers, etc. is that fair. Or if that is not so much fun, I am sure there is a truck driver out there that can't afford to repair his truck or put fuel in it. I think the government should require you to give your truck to that needy driver 2 days a week and you pay for all the expenses. He gets all the pay. That is only 2/7 of your week and you still have 5/7 of a week to make what you need. Does that sound fair? Based on your post that is what you are asking those that have achieved wealth to do for the health care reform. Remember there were very few "poor" folks that created the businesses that you deliver to or deliver for. Most started small and with minimal interference of the government they have grown and have created jobs. Not sure that is going to continue any more. Just another way of looking at things that make it "fair".