Wrangler Dani

I try not to talk about politics. It’s something that I believe in very strongly, but, as Jen Lancaster wisely said, us bloggers aren’t always the best to go to for political insight, and all too often it just turns into a recycled sob story about how Dems care and Conservatives are a load of heartless White Snobs, which really gets my blood boiling. Besides, the political climate has gotten so nasty lately that I find it hard to even try a feeble “Go, Sarah!” without getting a spitwad in my face.

Despite the fact that John McCain has actually served in the military, (I strongly believe that one should not hold the rank of Commander-in-Chief without having first been a lowly officer,) and has roughly 21 years and 200 days of government experience over Obama’s 173 days of Senate work, will not institute a socialized national health care plan, will keep English the official language, and will not give Social Security benefits to illegals who have neither earned it nor paid into it the way that generations of Americans have; that’s not even what really gets me going.

The impetus for this hate-mail inducing post is economic. This is the fundamental difference between Liberals and Conservatives. Conservatives believe that we are, as Sarah Palin said, a nation of exceptionalism. (Remember, we’re the heartless meanies, and we think that the American people can run their own lives.) We believe that this is a nation that built itself, of citizens who are strong and faithful and capable. We believe that we have churches and volunteers and good people in this country who have earned their prosperity by old-fashioned hard work and right living, and who reach out to the less fortunate.

Liberals however, believe that you are not smart enough to handle your own money. They believe that you and your churches are not good enough to lend a helping hand, and they don’t think that you work for what you have. They want your health, wealth and strength, and they want to force you to give it to THEM, so that they can redistribute it to those have neither worked for it nor earned it. Plus, despite the what we give away every year, government programs are always less effective than churches and grassroots movements, because they’re huge, inefficient, and oddly enough, heartless… just like those durn Republicans. (For a great side story on how we got into this mortgage mess, click here.)

So here’s a brief breakdown of the Money you will lose if Barack Obama becomes President – and I guarantee it’s not all going to some Woebegone Kids Club. Look at the government’s track record, and quit listening to the hype about the handsome man and his silver tongue our own itch for “Change”.

I stole this info from my soon-to-be Mother-in-law… and think it’s worth a once-over, whether you believe me or not.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales

How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes.

Personal note: This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6% –

How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president.

Personal note: experts predict that ‘Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN (no changes)

Single making 30K – tax $4,500

Single making 50K – tax $12,500

Single making 75K – tax $18,750

Married making 60K- tax $9,000

Married making 75K – tax $18,750

Married making 125K – tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)

Single making 30K – tax $8,400

Single making 50K – tax $14,000

Single making 75K – tax $23,250

Married making 60K – tax $16,800

Married making 75K – tax $21,000

Married making 125K – tax $38,750

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN – 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

NEW TAXES PROPOSED

MCAIN None

OBAMA New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.

New gasoline taxes

New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)

New taxes on retirement accounts

New taxes to pay for socialized medicine

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I realize that I’ve already lost you. You probably are so tired of hearing about all this mess that you left as soon as you saw the word “politics”. But if you’re still here, bless you, stout-of-heart. Go do some research, and not just online – the Democratic campaign has effectively hi-jacked our generation, and thus the bloggers, facebookers and “digg”ers of this country.

Think about the repercussions of promises made, and who’s paying for, say, free tuition for college kids or free healthcare. Nothing is ever free.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html

http://elections.foxnews.com/latest-news/index.html

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/presidential_candidates.cfm