The necessity for tax increases.

In his speech to the country this morning, the President focused a little more than usual on the necessity for tax increases to help with the imbalance in our budget. Perhaps he finally recognizes that there is no escaping "tax increases" as an issue in next years election?

Much of our present debt is the direct result of the money we "borrowed" to give taxcuts to the wealthiest Americans. The Republicans are saying the wealthy should not have to pay back any of this money that was "borrowed" for their taxcuts. It should be on the backs of every other American. We should be willing to accept cuts in Medicare and Social Security and Education and numerous other programs just so the wealthy do not have to pay back any of this money that was borrowed from the Chinese for their taxcuts.

The basis for the Bush taxcuts was that the wealthy would create jobs and make our economy stronger. Well, look where they left us in January 2009. The largest debt in history. The least amount of jobs in any decade on record. The collapse of our stock market and our jobs market. The taxcuts are in effect even as we speak and what have they done. They should be sued for false advertising.

For many years, at least since Walter Mondale vs Reagan, Democrats have run scared of even mentioning "tax increases" or "revenue enhancements". It was an automatic win for the Republicans, or so they thought.

Now, they have to make a decision. Are they willing to run on a progressive tax rate system? Most Americans agree that the wealthy are not paying their fair share. Most polls show a large majority agree with tax increases on the wealthiest. Should the Democrats continue to run scared? Or should they pick up the issue and run with it?

All this maneuvering and debate about the debt ceiling is really about tax increases more than anything else. Most specifically, it is about the Bush taxcuts and whether they should be extended permanently or allowed to expire? Republicans really don't give a crap about "debt limits". They are concerned about the Bush taxcuts. That is their primary focus.

Unfortunately, the Democrats cannot escape this debate. So they should put on their gloves and get ready to rumble. They have to choose which side they wish to be on - with the wealthy or with the people? The time has come.

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already bought. it will either be the poor and the middle class or everyone. it seems the poor and the middle class want it to be everyone by the polls... these 'tax increases' would mean everyone would be paying for them. and it should be talked to that way. the tax cuts didn't 'create jobs' unless you count the ones in other countries. they certainly did nothing to create any here.

Because they cannot escape this issue.

Raising the debt ceiling should have been an easy vote of Yes or No, with the votes being the reflection of the will of the majority of each district in the House.

But as each day passes, it has become abundantly clear that the votes cast will be based upon what "the Party" wants and what the Party wants is determined by outside interests and not "The People".

This vote is almost a test balloon for future policy to be enacted through the same Chamber. How much resistance can they expect from a President who isn't in "the program"? Or the media? Or "The People"?