Poll: Tax Cuts Top Americans' Lame Duck Agenda

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Dan of MD your thinking is muddled.
(1) The excess 4.4 trillion spent during 2000 to 2008 was wasted on unecessary things (i.e. wars, boondogles, etc. like defense not needed). The 3.8 trillion spent in the past two years was demanded by circumstances that absolutely needed attention.
(2) Distribution of wealth IS a primary activity of government, which I would add is a legitimate and reasonable activity exercised by tax and fiscal policies. The only issue is which direction is the distribution. Republican philosophy is that it should be distributed to the wealthy (i.e. people who really do not need it). The Democratic philosophy is distribute it to the less wealthy (i.e. those who really need it).
(3) Churches and communities deliver charity, (properly so) the government does not deliver charity. Consider the following:
(a) Social Security payments to seniors are not welfare or charity. They are the redemption of investments made by working people over a lifetime that are now matured and being redeemed. No different than putting some money (part of your paycheck) each week in a savings account to be drawn out after reaching age 65. The only difference is that the government mandated that all working people must do the deposits each week. I will be forever grateful that FDR made that rule and that I participated in it. Without it today I would be penniless.
(b) Likewise disability and unemployment are payments received against an insurance policy that was paid for by the beneficiary in weekly deductions from his paycheck.
(c) Block grants, tax deferered income plans, Medicare and Medicaid payments, Pell Grants and other such things are all really investments in well being for citizens. Without such the country would sink to a lower standard of living, lower status in the international community re. health, education, enviornmental quality and other attributes that make America what it is. Ultimately eliminating such things would lead to lower economic growth for the nation at large.
(4) Of all the spending the government does, the one that is truly wasted is spending on weaponry and world military superiority. We throw money away daily on fantasies about threats against us fueled by companies and politicians that use fear to promote various agenda for their own enrichment. I was heartened by a recent CATO INSTITUTE paper suggesting defense spending could be cut in half without jeopardizing security. The first time I have ever heard a Republican leaning institution admit such a fact.

JC of RI 11:06AM December 01, 2010

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt.htm
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
National debt was 5.6 trillion when Bush goes in. It was 10 trillion on his way out. That is 4.4 trillion in 8 years and 2 wars! Still SICKENING however that is swalloed easier than the 10 trillion to 13.8 trillion, today, in 2 years!!!! That is already 3.8 trillion paying for Obamacare no one wanted and a big fat spending spree for businesses that should have failed because they had poor business plans and the impossible obligations due to the UNIONS. Not to mention the millions/day vacations! If we do not remove the nanny state there will be no motivation to succeed as you are punished for it. Everybody has the right to be free and PURSUE happiness, the government has no right to take from some to give to others, leave that to the communities, churches as there is direct accountability for the desicions you make. It is also a laughable concept to think if the government is givin more money they will all the sudden save it and not lump it in the the slush fund.

dan of MD 2:17AM December 01, 2010

Partisanship is destroying the economy and undermining your security. The quickest way to solve your deficit problem is to concurrently cut spending and raise taxes. Your currently fiscal crisis is a direct result of two unpaid wars (and you can't blame Obama for that one!) The Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 should have never expired and both sides can be blamed for that!

J in Canada 3:01PM November 24, 2010

I'm lost. Why should I, a struggling small business man worry about the taxes dead multi-millionaires may have to pay? Who was polled, the hedge fund managers association?

Mark of Lewiston of ID 5:00AM November 24, 2010

When did Democrat Congress pay attention to polls these past two years.. We would not have obamacare. Wait we don't. Just a little. Most comes into effect after Presidential election. If so great we would have it now and obama would be shoe end for second term. It isn't and they know it. How many times has obama said he would clear up falsehood of his plan. And pelosi.
Nov. 2 went completely over many of their heads. Most knew not to mention obamacare unless they voted against.
Good ridden to large number of Democrats in 2012. Let them retire in Gitmo with the rest of the terrorist to our Nation…

Bill Hedges of MO 10:43PM November 23, 2010

The lame duck, Democrat-controlled, congress does not give a s--t what most Americans want! They will pass whatever they can before they lose majority in January.
If it was up to me, Gitmo would be an excellent site to store these deliberately foolish spenders of our hard earned tax dollars!

Havahavana of CA 6:31PM November 23, 2010