Anyone who follows politics should know the real issues get lost in any political debate and on purpose by our political leaders and the news media. That is the way political leaders work. It is a con game to deflect the real issue, but why does the news media go along with this con game. Do they lack the ability to recognize the real issues? I think not.
The present con game concerns the so called Bush tax cut agreement by President Obama and the republicans. But the tax cuts are really not the issue and are not really tax cuts. The real issues are: (1) The republicans vote against extending unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work for a long time (through no fault of their own) and other benefits that went along with it. (2) The republican vote against extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class that was passed by the U.S. House. Those republican votes against those two issues is in keeping with the republican party's anti American ideology. The republican opposition and negative vote on the above is the real story that should be talked about because those proposals would do more to help the economy expand and create jobs.
The extension of the tax cuts are a separate matter that should be debated as a stand alone item and should not be a part of any compromise with the other issues. Compromise is used by politicians to avoid making difficult choices because of a lack of leadership and courage. The question to answer is, did the tax cuts do what they were supposed to do for the economy, job creation and reducing deficit spending.
Two recessions took place while the tax cuts were in effect. The last one being the most severe with record job losses. As of this writing the tax cuts are still in place and not creating any jobs. In fact it is President Obama's stimulus package that is responsible for the jobs being created now. Also while the tax cuts were in place the Bush administration ended its term in office with eight years of record federal deficit spending and added $6.1 trillion to the national debt in those budget years. A case can be made that just on the above, all the tax cuts should be left to expire. That is the reason a sunset date was put on the legislation. However, with the severity of the present economic situation, one can also see it would be wise if any extension is given it should be given to the middle class only because they are hurting more than any one else and would be more likely to help the economy.
Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 left our country in such terrible shape fiscally with their record deficit spending and debt in the 20 years they served, the country can not afford to extend the tax cuts without funding to pay for them. Adding another $900 billion to the deficit is not acceptable, period. Democrats should not be a part of the continued deficit spending that is the trademark of republican administrations.
The above items should be debated separately to insure common sense be applied. The political process is wrong to do other wise and no help will come from the show business media, especially Television. They believe in confusing the people by bundling all the issues together to fill up air time.
The past is still the key to the future as I have written about in past commentaries. I'm afraid that the President and Congress are about to repeat the mistakes of the past from what I am seeing and hearing. If that happens, what a shame for the future.
