Here is the straight skinny

[The Gunny]

So your solution is to reward the poor at the expense of the rich? Doesn't that kinda reduce the incentive to work hard that characterizes self-made millionaires? Why would anyone want to work hard to accumulate wealth knowing that the government will just take much of it away? The "Robin Hood" idea of income redistribution disincentivizes hard work, and thus, makes America poorer over the long run.

No, I think it has gone far to far the other way for the last decade or so. We have given so many tax breaks to the richest 10 percent of Americans it is time to level the playing field. That is the role of the government as I see it. We have begun to see the down side to a totally free market society yes you can make gobs of money and screw over the majority of your fellow Americans but the downside is that when the ***** hits the fans and the bottom drops out of that market they go running and screaming for the government to save them. They talk about the US having one of the highest corporate tax rates in the industrialized world but what they neglect to tell you that there are so many loop holes that in reality we collect far fewer corporate taxes than most other industrialized nations and there is little or no enforcement for failure to pay those few remaining taxes. What I would like to see is a flat tax with no exceptions this is something that no could deny would surely be fair however the mere mention of this sends many of the wealthy screaming about how unfair that would be. I fail to see how it could be anything but fair. The middle class has been forced to bear the burden for far to long and we are seeing the beginning o f the end of it. There are now more wealthy Americans per capita than at anytime since prior to the Great Depression, however I feel that is changing rapidly from what I have been seeing on the news about Wall Street. The divide between the wealthy and the poor is greater than it has ever been, the middle class has shrunk and can no longer be expected to carry the burden.

[HK4U]

No, I think it has gone far to far the other way for the last decade or so. We have given so many tax breaks to the richest 10 percent of Americans it is time to level the playing field. That is the role of the government as I see it. We have begun to see the down side to a totally free market society yes you can make gobs of money and screw over the majority of your fellow Americans but the downside is that when the ***** hits the fans and the bottom drops out of that market they go running and screaming for the government to save them. They talk about the US having one of the highest corporate tax rates in the industrialized world but what they neglect to tell you that there are so many loop holes that in reality we collect far fewer corporate taxes than most other industrialized nations and there is little or no enforcement for failure to pay those few remaining taxes. What I would like to see is a flat tax with no exceptions this is something that no could deny would surely be fair however the mere mention of this sends many of the wealthy screaming about how unfair that would be. I fail to see how it could be anything but fair. The middle class has been forced to bear the burden for far to long and we are seeing the beginning o f the end of it. There are now more wealthy Americans per capita than at anytime since prior to the Great Depression, however I feel that is changing rapidly from what I have been seeing on the news about Wall Street. The divide between the wealthy and the poor is greater than it has ever been, the middle class has shrunk and can no longer be expected to carry the burden.

While I agree with a lot of what you are saying I do not think Obama is the one to change it and in fact as I have said I believe it would get exponentionally worse with him as President.

[Glock Fan]

While I agree with a lot of what you are saying I do not think Obama is the one to change it and in fact as I have said I believe it would get exponentionally worse with him as President.

I agree. Obama has limited experience in public office. This guy is simply a smooth talker who has a vision but no solid plan.



gf

[The Gunny]

Well we all have our veiw of things. I have listened to both sides and that is who I feel has been listening to my demographic the middle class. Americans who have been down sized and belt tightened to the point of having to worry over whether to buy grocieries or fill up on gas. Ask yourself this question are you better off now than you were four years ago?

[HK4U]

Well we all have our view of things. I have listened to both sides and that is who I feel has been listening to my demographic the middle class. Americans who have been down sized and belt tightened to the point of having to worry over whether to buy groceries or fill up on gas. Ask yourself this question are you better off now than you were four years ago?

No probably not but do I think four years from now I will be better off under Obama? No. I am all for change if the change is for the better. If it is positive change. I do not believe Obama will bring positive change but rather I will have nothing but change in my pocket after he gets finished with us.

[The Gunny]

Here are some interesting facts.

In his closing remarks during the final presidential debate of 1980, Ronald Reagan famously asked the American people: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"

The table below updates Reagan's question by comparing the state of the economy in 2000 and 2008. We use 25 indicators of economic well-being and economic performance and find that 23 of the 25 indicators are worse in 2008 than they were in 2000. Click here for a list of the sources used.

With this report, CEPR is trying a new feature for our site - allowing you to provide us with feedback. So please take a look at our new commenting system below and let us know what you think.



Economic Indicator
2000 2008
Unemployment rate 4.0% 6.1%
Inflation rate 3.3% 5.4%
Job Growth (preceding 8 years)
Total nonfarm employment 21.4% 4.3%

Private sector employment 23.6% 3.6%

Manufacturing employment
2.9% -22.2%

Employment rate (% of population)
All, age 16 and older
64.4% 62.6%

Men, age 16 and older
71.9% 69.1%

Women, age 16 and older
57.5% 56.5%

Real wage growth (preceding 8 years)
8.2% 1.8%

Minimum wage (July 2008$) $6.58 $6.55

Family income
Median, 2007$ $61,083 $61,355
Growth (preceding 8 years)
14.7% 0.4%

Poverty
Rate (% of population)
11.3% 12.5%

People in poverty (millions)
31.6 37.3
Uninsured (health insurance)
Rate (% of population)
14.0% 15.3%
People without insurance (millions) 38.7 45.7

Personal savings (% of disposable income) 2.3% 0.6%

College tuition (average per year, 2007$)
Private four-year college $19,337 $23,712
Public four-year college
$4,221 $6,185

Gasoline (gallon, 2008$) $2.03 $4.09

GDP growth (preceding 8 years) 34.2% 19.6%

Productivity growth (preceding 8 years) 15.9% 21.9%
Trade balance (% of GDP) -3.9% -5.1%
Federal debt (% of GDP) 57.3% 65.5%

Net foreign debt (% of GDP) 13.6% 17.9%

[tattedupboy]

Well we all have our veiw of things. I have listened to both sides and that is who I feel has been listening to my demographic the middle class. Americans who have been down sized and belt tightened to the point of having to worry over whether to buy grocieries or fill up on gas. Ask yourself this question are you better off now than you were four years ago?

Heck no! And the recent economic meltdown will make us even worse off.

[Hoplites1234]

You call yourself The Gunny implying your USMC--are you? Pretty radical perspective compared to all the Marines I've had the pleasure of working with over the past 25 years. When/if Hussin Obama gets elected will you be the first to turn in your firearms and attend church with Rev Wright at the pulpit. Elections always seem to be a choice of the lesser to two evils and this choice is not difficult.

[tattedupboy]

You call yourself The Gunny implying your USMC--are you? Pretty radical perspective compared to all the Marines I've had the pleasure of working with over the past 25 years. When/if Hussin Obama gets elected will you be the first to turn in your firearms and attend church with Rev Wright at the pulpit. Elections always seem to be a choice of the lesser to two evils and this choice is not difficult.

Which is why I won't be voting for either; I'm voting Libertarian.