The issue of fairness in taxation has always been a point of contention between left and right. When the numbers are presented in a clear unbiased fashion one can understand the other side's point of view. Unfortunately, neither side ever seems to present the data in a fair manner.
Goldberg then hints of conspiracy theories. "If all of ...Obama's
plans are enacted, that percentage (of taxes the rich will pay) will
increase. We are heading toward being a country where instead of the
people deciding how much money the government should have, the government
decides how much money the people should have. Only after they passed
ObamaCare did Democrats clarify that this was one of their
motives."
In other words, Goldberg also claims that "health care reform was more about redistributing wealth than saving money" and that "Democrats believe the government is smarter at spending tax dollars than the dumb private sector." Now here is one area where the left does not understand the right. Don't those protesting about health care reform see that the nation really needs health care reform? His choice of the words "smarter" and "dumb" again reveal that his motive is more to excite than to inform. A more appropriate explanation would be that Democrats believe that some social services are a necessity, such as public education, and the government is the appropriate entity to handle it.
Goldberg follows up his taxation comments with this one; "I have never understood liberalism's blind spot for liberty when it comes to taxation." Mr. Goldberg, taxation does not limit liberty, but poverty does and a higher and higher percentage of Americans are being pushed closer and closer to poverty every year. Sadly, social services have evolved from being a safety net to being a necessity for many and it's becoming harder and harder to realize that American dream.
Goldberg then comes up with one of those statements that makes you just shake your head and wonder what he was smoking. "...our income tax that requires law-abiding citizens to reveal (and document!) many of their most private decisions to government inspectors..." What tax form are you completing??!! This is the kind of rabble that is making the newest incarnation of the GOP appear like a lunatic fringe. (Can you say "Glen Beck"?) Are these "inspectors" also the ones who serve on "Death Panels"? I've done my own taxes for years and have yet to reveal any personal information other than name, address, ssn, and income information. Is he so paranoid about the government that he doesn't want to reveal income information for purposes of taxation?
Both sides of the aisle claim the other side doesn't have a clue. Goldberg says "...the Democrats and the news media have a hard time understanding what the tea party crowd is talking about when it complains of incipient tyranny and intrusive government." Those on the left understand what is being said, they just disagree. They want universal health care, the tea-partiers don't. They see it as a civil right. The right sees it as a right of those who can afford it. The left sees Medicare as a viable option for all. The right doesn't seem to understand that Medicare IS government health care. (Why aren't they screaming for the repeal of Medicare?)
The criticism from the left toward the tea partiers is more about the open displays of threatening language, behavior, and guns along with spreading of patently false information about Obama and healthcare reform. They can understand their valid concerns over fiscal responsibility but wonder why they didn't seem to care when President Bush went on his spending spree.
Was anyone personally threatened because they voted against health care reform? As reported on CNN, there have now been 43 incidents of death threats so far this year towards elected officials and most of those have occurred because of the anger over health care reform.
While we all recognize that it's a small percentage of protesters that threaten and act out in violent ways, it's disturbing to see both the media and the Republicans stay nearly silent while it happens instead of expressing the outrage it deserves. This is something the left just can't figure out about the right and too often blames it on racism.
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