John Petro
Not Spreading the Wealth, but Raising the Floor
"We're gonna take Joe's money, give it to Senator Obama, and let him spread the wealth around. I want Joe the Plumber to spread that wealth around." - John McCain, on Barack Obama’s tax plan.
Spread the wealth around. It has become the McCain campaign's new battle cry, supplemented with shouts of "Socialism" directed at his opponent, Senator Obama. Mr. McCain's tactic is striking a chord with republican-leaning voters.
Never mind that unless Ms. Turtine makes significantly more than the average nurse, Mr. Obama will allow her to keep more of her money than Mr. McCain would. This statement represents the individualistic streak in the American psyche, the one rooted in Jeffersonian ideals and still espoused by Sarah Palin and her “small-town America” rhetoric.
I’ve met many people that share these ideals. They usually feel that if people would only work harder, they wouldn’t be in poverty. If someone would have been more responsible, they wouldn’t be in such trouble with credit card debt.
In reality, middle class families are finding it harder and harder to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. Families are working more for less money. At the same time, expenses are increasing – housing, transportation, food, and healthcare.
For those deciding on who to vote for, they should consider which candidate will make sure that working families aren’t just treading water, but are able to actually get ahead, to save money, and to build wealth. Mr. McCain has offered his solution: to cut taxes for the wealthy and to cut government spending. Mr. Obama's tax policy would lift the income floor so that everyone can reach the first rung on the economic ladder.
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Posted at 8:50 AM, Oct 22, 2008 in Economic Opportunity | Election 2008
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Comments
Oh sure raise the floor! Create a ceiling on wealth! Yea you're fine just as long as you dont do too well.
Posted by: Bob | October 23, 2008 09:52 PM
Just an observation: In 1992 I moved from Long Island NY to the lakes region in New Hampshire. A full time college student I worked fulltime in food service at $6 an hour and was told I could get a ten dollar job at the local factory. That was a good wage and workers supported families all over town from these jobs. Gas was less then $1. In 1996 I had my B.S. and made $9 an hour in a youth shelter. 1999 I was a retail manager making 13 an hour and paying 10 an hour to my supervisors, gas was just reaching $2 because we had to order new signs..not enough 2's. I was approved for a mortgage for 90k, 3x my annual salary. In 2002 I moved to NY and ran a pharmacy chain store for 30k and paid my supervisors 10 an hour. By 2006 I was making 53k, paying 10 to anyone was forbidden and gas topped $3. People were buying houses 6x their annual salaries. Now I have my MSW and was offered 34k for a director position and made $10 an hour at 7-11 while I was in school. HOW DO WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO RISE ABOVE ANYTHING IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN OUR MIDDLE CLASS?
Posted by: Keri Ricci | October 25, 2008 06:06 PM