Democrat Bigotry: More Taxes for "The Rich"

There is a spirited debate about the upcoming expiration of the Bush tax cuts, and Barack Obama and the Congressional Democrats have brought out their usual arguments with new vigor and creativity:  "The Deficit," class warfare, income redistribution.  Here, Obama and the Democrats are demonizing "The Rich" and targeting them for higher taxes in what can only be called an act of economic bigotry.  For reasons known only to the Democrats, they appear determined to repeat their "stimulus" mistakes since January 20, 2009, ignoring at least 100 years of economic history of what works and, more importantly, what does not work to get the economy growing.

According to the Democrats' plan, economic growth was to have started by now, triggered by their Keynesian stimulus, actually payoffs to key constituencies using taxpayers' money.  Then, the Bush tax cuts which the Democrats have always despised, could be allowed to expire quietly.  Unfortunately, reality intruded, and raising tax rates back to Clinton levels would make a bad economic situation worse.  The Democrats' solution is to single out the "The Rich" for higher taxes for the "offense" of having wealth and the perception that "The Rich" can afford it.  In this economic context, as with all forms of bigotry, many of the same dynamics are in play:  ignorance, seeking economic short cuts, instigating animosity among groups of Americans, arbitrarily favoring some groups over others, and arbitrarily taking wealth from one group and giving it to another.  In a word, Democrat-sponsored bigotry.  (See 9/21/2010 post - Democrat Strategy:  Divide Americans Into Classes)

All Americans, including "The Rich," need to come together to get the economy back on track,  The Democrat tactic of dividing Americans into classes and demonizing "The Rich" is not helpful.  When candidates ask you for your vote, be sure they support all Americans coming together to get the economy back on track.

Democrat Strategy: Divide Americans Into Classes

The upcoming expiration of the Bush tax cuts has prompted Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats to say and do some curious things.  This is the first of several posts on the current situation with taxes and why the Democrats' thinking and proposals, despite perhaps the best of intentions, simply will not be successful as understood by the real world outside the Washington DC Beltway.  This post looks at the ideology and agenda which appear to drive Obama and Congressional Democrats.  This will help provide context for future posts and for the curious things Obama and the Democrats say.

The foundation for the Democrat/Liberal/Progressive agenda and ideology appears to go back to a quote from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, although there is some dispute about who actually said it:  "We are going to tax and tax, spend and spend, and elect and elect."  The top priorities of this ideology in today's Washington DC seem to be:

• Secure Democrat control of government; the end justifies the means.
• Create and expand Americans' dependency on government.
• Expand government control of all wealth and people's lives.
• To make this all work, divide Americans into classes and demonize and favor different classes as needed.
  

Obama and the Democrats appear to have missed or chosen to ignore where the Declaration of Independence talks about the self-evident truth "that all men are created equal," and "life and liberty" as among "certain unalienable rights."  As candidates seek your vote in the upcoming elections, make sure they reject the Democrat/Liberal/Progressive agenda to run America, and they understand the Declaration of Independence means what it says.  

The Teamsters vs. Mexico: Everybody Loses

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was negotiated in 1993 and signed and ratified by Canada, Mexico, and the United States as a commitment to protect and expand the free flow of trade among the three nations.  The purpose is to promote economic growth and provide all North American consumers with a wider choice and availability of products at lower prices.

NAFTA includes a commitment by the United States and Mexico to give their truckers freedom to operate in both countries.  U.S. truckers currently operate in Mexico.  Since 1993, the U.S. has not upheld its commitment to allow Mexican truckers to operate in the U.S. due to the efforts of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the U.S. Presidents, Senators, and Representatives who support the Teamsters agenda.  Mexico recently concluded that years of good faith attempts to resolve this with the U.S. would not be successful and imposed 15%-20% tariffs on a large assortment of U.S. exports to Mexico.  The Teamsters win a very shortsighted political victory which, for now, eliminates the competition of Mexican truckers operating in the U.S.

Overall, everyone loses.  Fewer, more expensive exports to Mexico mean less business activity and fewer jobs in the U.S., including Teamsters members.  If your state (or employer) has exports to Mexico, especially the states of California, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin (there may be more), find out if the candidates who want your vote support the shortsighted Teamsters political agenda, or if these candidates support U.S. exports and jobs and support honoring the commitments the U.S. makes to its friends.

If the US (and the World) Really Wants to Help Pakistan….

A good place to start is economic and political freedom and the human struggle to achieve them.  Today, Pakistan is battling both terrorists and the recent floods.  The two battles are connected, and Pakistan needs to win both to achieve much of what we in the US and Europe take for granted.

Pakistan’s textile industry presents an easy way to help Pakistan win these battles.  According to the fibre2fashion Web site, Pakistan’s textile industry accounts for 60% of exports and 38% of the workforce (almost 6 million textile workers).  Leveraging Pakistan’s textile industry can provide lasting economic growth and jobs, and help Pakistan’s people recover from the floods, achieve a higher standard of living, and reduce recruiting opportunities for terrorist groups.

Currently, the US levies an average 17% tariff on textile imports from Pakistan, and Europe has a 12% tariff.  US and European consumers pay for these tariffs as needlessly higher prices for clothes, linens, and other textile products.  These tariffs also create an unnecessary obstacle for Pakistan to export these items.

Eliminating these tariffs and any import quotas permanently would benefit everyone.  Consumers would pay lower prices for clothes and other textile products.  Pakistan's economy would grow and create more jobs, and, as its exports grow, Pakistan would be less dependent on aid from US and European tax dollars.  Everybody wins.  Ask the US candidates who want your vote in November when they plan to eliminate permanently this 17% US tariff on textiles from Pakistan.  Our friends in Europe need to ask their candidates the same questions.

ObamaCare and Future Health Care

Dr. Hal Scherz, a practicing physician in Atlanta, had an enlightening opinion piece about ObamaCare in today's (9/1/2010) Wall Street Journal.  Dr. Scherz is president of Docs4PatientCare, and he makes some compelling points:

• According to the Affordable Health Care for America Act (ObamaCare), the US Secretary of Health and Human Services (among other bureaucrats), will determine if and when your doctor can provide health care services to you.
• Your doctor will basically take orders from the federal government.
• You and your doctor will no longer work together to make decisions about your health care.
• Some Democratic politicians, in a desperate attempt to save their jobs, are trying to convince voters that ObamaCare is somehow fixable...after the election.

Dr. Sherz's opinion piece and "Dear Patients" letter are required reading for anyone who needs health care now or in the future.  Please read these, and ask the candidates who want your vote in November if they think ObamaCare is fixable, or if they plan something more serious to ensure everyone can continue to work with their doctors to make their health care decisions themselves.