Last night I watched the first presidential debate. One candidate was bombastic and overbearing, the other was polite, natural, and self-effacing. It was difficult to follow what was said because of how it was said. So, in case you really want to know who is promising what to the American people, you might want to read the transcript which is here. One candidate was long on promises and short on specifics — as it has been for the past six months. That candidate repeated lies that he has so often spoken that he probably believes them to be true.
I’m not running for anything so I can criticize and make demands. I can promise things that cannot be delivered. THIS is what I want our Congress and the President to accomplish during the next term.
I want to end the subsidies for the oil companies. During the past few years of record gas prices, oil companies have set all time profit records — that was at my expense. It’s doubly at my expense because I pay taxes — some of which goes to the subsidies, and I buy gasoline with after-tax dollars — that goes to the oil companies.
I want the tax code to no longer take up two shelves in my bookcase. Let’s eliminate all the deductions except mortgage interest on one home and $2000 per child up to a maximum of $8000. Let’s set a flat tax rate of 25% on every penny over those deductions. There should be no tax on unemployment compensation, workers compensation, social security, and pensions withdrawn after age 65.
Corporations will no longer be persons. However, they would be subject to the same 25% tax rate as people are. Their deductions would only be expenditures that increase the probability that people in America will have more jobs available or that meet energy or environmental goals.
Political PACs get to pay taxes at the same rate as regular people and corporations, and their contributors are not entitled to be anonymous.
Political contributions (like $50,000 a plate dinners) shall be taxed at 25% — someone’s got to pay for all the security and expense that political campaigns engender.
The programs for which workers pay — like Medicare and Social Security shall continue and Congress will be prohibited from borrowing from those funds.
Transportation, clean air and water, child welfare, and health shall continue to be the responsibility of the Federal Government in concert with the States.
The Postal Service will no longer be required to give Congress a $3 billion dollars a year contribution.
I’ll bet there are hundreds of other wasteful and/or punitive measures that can be eliminated or revamped if someone was so inclined. I’d say Congress and the President will be very very pleased that I am not in charge. Yet.
Sure you don’t want to run for President, Penni? I’d vote for you!
Well stated. You’ve got my vote!
I’d vote for you too, Penni!