For My 1000th Post. Democrats Fair Deal with America

[maxrandb]

I get so tired of hearing the other side bitch and moan that all the Democrats do is oppose * (as if that is a bad thing), and that they have no plans of their own.

I have a modest proposal for something modeled on the Repukes Contract ON America. Dems need to get behind some tested and true issues that you could fit on a poster board, or a wallet sized card, that they plan to implement when they return to power. Unlike the 4 of 10 things in the republican contract that they actually accomplished, DEMS would follow thru on their promises.

Polls repeatedly show that on issue after issue, a majority of Americans think Dems have the right ideas. Too often, they lose sight of those ideas when Repukes appeal to their fears.

Here's my very modest plan:

- Repeal the tax-cut for those making over $200,000 a year. Use that money to pay back the IOU's the Republicans have written to the Social Security Trust Fund (with no intention of paying back)

- Raise the minimum wage $1.50. This will increase revenue for Social Security, and move toward financial independence and wealth for millions of Americans.

- Provide a $1200 a year tax-cut for middle and low income Americans. Encourage Americans to use this $1200 for an individual retirement account AS AN ADD-ON TO SOCIAL SECURITY.

- Raise the cap on income withholding for Social Security to $200,000

- Increase Military Special Forces by 40,000, and create a Terrorism Rapid Response Team.

- Fully fund the COPS Program to increase security and combat crime.

- Close corporate tax loopholes and ensure that if a company makes money in America, they can't hide it in the Cayman Islands.

- Require comprehensive Medical Coverage. Yours and my tax dollars should not be going to pay for Wal-mart employees health care.

Just a few ideas, but please add more.

Let's show they Repukes how you really make a deal and keep your word to the American people. We've had enough lip service from the right. It's time for action.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. Good.

I also believe that companies who outsource should NOT get a tax break. If they increase profits by employing cheap foreign labor, they can afford to pay more taxes.

[LongTomH]

2. Single Payer Health Plan

We're the only industrial country on the planet without a national health plan for all citizens. We should be working toward this, even if it's not politically feasible in the current legislative environment.

[shoelace414]

3. Democrats stand for Ethics

if it wasn't for them, the ethics committee would still be crap.

[Singleterri]

4. One problem with your proposal

Repeal the tax-cut for those making over $200,000 a year. Use that money to pay back the IOU's the Republicans have written to the Social Security Trust Fund"

There is no real Social Security Trust Fund. That's the biggest flaw of Social Security. The money taken out of your paycheck is basically a tax that gets redistributed to Social Security recipients. If there is any left over money then it gets spent on general purposes not related to Social Security. No money actually goes into the Trust Fund.

The Social Security system is primarily a pay-as-you-go system, meaning that payments to current retirees come from current payments into the system. Basically, the Social Security Trust Fund is really only an accounting mechanism. The trust fund shows how much the government has borrowed from Social Security, but it does not provide any way to finance future benefits.

[maxrandb]

5. Really!!

No Social Security Trust Fund?? Where the hell did I hear that before? Oh yeah, right-wing, CATO Institute, Heritage Foundation, Rush and Insanity "Talking Points".

The fact is that there IS a Trust Fund. Just because the pResident and the Republicans can't keep their hands off of it, spent it on massive tax-cuts to the wealthiest of their contributors, and made a mockery of fiscal responsibility, does not mean it does not exist.

I know, I know, the right keeps filling everyones tiny little brains with sound-bites from the "wee cowboy" that it's nothing but a bunch of worthless IOU's. Gee, I bet the Chinese that have bought up massive amounts of our debt would be surprised to hear that what they hold is "worthless". You better hope they never take the pResident at his word and divest themselves of those worthless pieces of paper.

Try this experiment for me. Pull out a $20 bill from your wallet. What does it say across the top? "Federal Reserve Note"." Now, take that $20 bill and try to buy lunch with it. Do you think the waitress is going to refuse to accept it, because it is a "worthless piece of paper"?

If she does, we're in a world of shit. You see, the trust fund is just like that $20 bill (at least it used to be). It's accepted because it is backed by the "full faith and credit" of the United States of America.

Now, if the little Kennebunkport Cowboy is telling you that's a "worthless piece of paper", well then you need to read the Constitution.

THAT's AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE!