I was having lunch with a dear friend of mine not long ago and we were having a discussion about just how bad off I feel politics and the state of our country has become over the past several years, both under Obama AND Bush. When he asked me for something specific, I brought the travesty that is our federal and state taxation system. I mentioned in particular that I feared we could soon see more and more people paying close to 50% in taxes, outside of such taxes as sales tax and things like that which are harder to quantify. He seemed completely aghast at my concerns and basically passed it off as utterly ludicrous, that no one was anywhere close to paying 30 or 40 percent, let alone 50.
Well, I was listening to the news just now and they gave me a set of interesting figures out of New York. Certain higher tax brackets in New York City are paying the following tax ranges:
- 35-39% in Federal Income Tax
- 8-12% in New York State Income Tax
- 4 and a half percent in ‘City tax’
That’s getting awful close, don’t you think? (Hehe, yeah, ya think?!) Hell, the Federal income tax alone is already inching far too close to 50% for comfort, so I certainly don’t think it’s that outlandish of a concern to think that we could soon see half of our income being taken away in one form of taxation alone, let alone all the various taxes combined. And I’m not just talking about the wealthy, although frankly, I don’t feel they should have half of their income taken away any more than anyone else’s. After all, the wealthy are the ones who are investing in companies, creating their own, and getting all that capital out into the system that makes the world go round. But beyond that, everyone’s taxes are escalating, and the threshold for the so-called “wealthy” seems to dip ever lower with each passing year. Those who are currently wagging their fingers at the “evil wealthy” and proclaiming it necessary for them to be unfairly punished, they may soon find themselves in the same boat.
Granted, I don’t personally have any experience with taxation at the moment, given the fact that I’m no longer working due to disability and have no income to speak of. But do any of you out there have any personal experiences to share? How much of your income is being taken away to the government’s National Money Hole?

By the way, I want to apologize for the long delay between new entries lately. My health has declined a bit over the past several months as I’ve been battling both a long term upper respiratory infection as well as decompression sickness (don’t ask…) I’m trying to keep up, but alas, sometimes my body and brain just won’t let me. I’m doing my best, though, and will keep trying to bring you my perspectives on the latest political tidbits. Of course, if any of you would like to suggest a topic, or even if you want to write an entry and submit it, that’d be peachy with me!

“We must not revert to isolationism and unrestrained economic egotism… Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence is another possible mistake. True, the state’s increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent… In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.”

- Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin
Opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
January 28, 2009

It seems a shame that everyone in the world but us can recognize that the United States, under the leadership of the Democrats and their Messiah, is slipping ever further into the clutches of socialism. Why is it that we’re the only ones who still refuse to admit the truth? Even when our own newspapers and magazines are declaring, “We’re all Socialists now!”, so many people still refuse to believe it, refuse to acknowledge it. Perhaps what’s worse, the few that do see it, are still saying, “What’s so bad about socialism?”
Putin, of all people, just told us what’s so bad about socialism! Look at history, look at what became of the Soviet Union. Look at the horror it inflicted upon its own people, the people of Europe, the Middle East, and the entire world. The former head of the KGB is warning us not to slip any further toward socialism, or it will eat us alive, as it ate his country alive. Please, let’s listen before it’s too late.
If he can see it, why can’t we?

(hat tip to my friend Joey for sending me the link, and to Gateway Pundit for the info.)

I just came across this article again about what many are calling “The New New Deal” and thought it was worth posting. I meant to post it weeks back but could never find the link again. Ah well. At least we can read it now, to prepare ourselves for exactly what it is we need to fight. It’s an article from the Wall Street Journal, written by Paul Rubin, a professor of economics and law at Emory University.
Click “more” to read this brilliant article, because we need to know what it is we’re up against. Enjoy!