INCOME, TAXES, AND THE REPUBLICAN HOAX

Democrats raise taxes while Republicans lower taxes. This is what has been hammered into our heads year after year, political cycle after political cycle - and it still continues today with John McCain's newest ad against Barack Obama:

Now when McCain asks "Obama: Is he ready to help your family?", would you think he's referring to most families, or simply 1% of them? You see, the "higher taxes" claim is a scary one. In this economic climate, the thought of a struggling family trying to pay more taxes is enough for most people to see red. But sadly it - like most things coming out of McCain's campaign - is a lie.

The fact is that Obama's tax plan actually lowers taxes for all people except the top 1% of households in America. So if those kids' parents in John McCain's ad make more than $250,000 per year, then yes, he is going to raise taxes on them... otherwise, not so much.

In fact, the Tax Policy Center issued a nice comparison of McCain and Obama's proposed tax plans. And they break down like this:
Okay, Obama's plan is in blue, while McCain's is in red. Everything under the line would be considered a tax raise against the current system - - everything above the line is a tax cut. As you can see, Obama actually lowers the tax burden on the lowest four "quintiles" more than both McCain & Bush. His only raises are on the top 1% of earners (roughly $250,000 per year) and the top .1% (or the super-rich). Notice how McCain's tax cuts get better the more you earn? Any wonder why Obama gets most of his contributions in $200 (and less) increments, while McCain's tend to come from the Kathy Hilton's of the world in $2,300 chunks?

These targeted tax increases were used under the Clinton Administration in the 1990's and - minus the blow job - that seemed to work out okay, right? I mean economic prosperity for 8 years while actually paying down the debt? Damn these "tax and spend" Democrats!

The most ironic situation about this whole thing? It's the people in the states with the lowest median household income that would benefit the most from an Obama Presidency, and yet the majority of those states are (you guessed it) RED states. That's right, out the of fifteen lowest earning states, ALL FIFTEEN went to George W. Bush in 2004 - and 14 of 15 (thanks New Mexico) went to Bush in 2000. And again, all but New Mexico are currently leaning towards McCain in the polls.

I wonder if these people will still be against gay marriage when they're living in a van down by the river.