DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE TO MAKE SOME BUSH TAX CUTS PERMANENT WITHOUT MAKING AN EFFORT TO PAY FOR THEM IN THIS ELECTION YEAR!!

The NYTimes reported on Thursday that Democrats and hold-out moderate Republicans have agreed to make some of the Bush tax cuts permanent without finding ways to pay for them. The federal budget deficit projection for the next ten years increases by $1.9 billion with this move. Charles Rangel, D-NY and ranking Dem on the House Ways & Means Committee, replied to questions about the move by saying that, "I wish we could pay for them, but this is a political problem and we have people up for re-election.... If you have to explain that you voted for these tax cuts because they benefit the middle class and against them because of the deficit, you've got a problem."

It seems to me that we ALL have a problem when our lawmakers refuse to make decisions based upon sound reason and foresight, but rather make decisions based on how it will affect their chances at re-election. Dems do not want to appear to be raising taxes just weeks before the election, and Republicans have taken advantage of that stance to push through the more permanent tax cuts. Of course, most of the cuts that were allowed to remain actually benefit lower- and middle-income families, but give the GOPers some time and they will make the top tax rate even lower--they have to take care of their benefactors!

I have come to believe that the Republican Party, at least the far-right wing, has set out to bankrupt the federal government. If the government has no money, then there can be little reason to maintain social security, medicare, the education department, the labor department, the energy department, etc. Are we to believe that the neo-cons really think that the Reagan voodoo economics really work? Even Reagan raised taxes after the tax overhaul that is considered the hallmark of his administration. Not only did he raise taxes, but it was the LARGEST tax increase in the history of the United States, including both tax increases during the Clinton administration. The Republicans would have us all believe that they are the party of financial restraint and economic prosperity. THEY ARE NOT. Both the stock market and domestic GNP have increased by greater amounts under Democratic administrations in the last one hundred years than under Republican administrations. Furthermore, during the Clinton administration, every income level increased their annual income while under Bush43 over 3 million more people have moved into poverty and 4 million more people have lost their health insurance.

Over 1000 soldiers dead in Iraq and that country is in worse turmoil than at any time in its last fifty years. More people below the poverty level. Borders remain unsecured. Constitutional rights and freedoms are continually ignored and questioned. American continual dependence on oil drives our interest in the Middle East, and the current administration has done NOTHING to change the level of dependence.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE! CHANGE IS NEEDED!