So. I lost a friend over my last blog. Which you're not supposed to be reading. Sigh. I guess no matter how much people want to pretend they're better than everyone else, at the end of the day we are all the same. Anyway,
I read an article today about the Democrats proposed 5% tax increase on people who make more than a million dollars. I don't make that much money. In fact, if I save every possible dime for the rest of my career, I'll probably still be woefully short. THIS IS STILL AN UNFAIR PROPOSAL. That's coming from a poor guy. Here's what is being said..... "Let's hold the people who make more than 1 million dollars responsible for their choice to be successful". Because Obama and his people are not "socialists", and I know that because he's said so. So they're not proposing this because they want to spread the wealth out (even though it's documented that the money raised from the proposed tax increase would go towards extending "long term unemployment benefits"). How about this for a crazy idea? We hold those who (wait for it) have not EARNED any money responsible for their choices too?
I don't know why or what the circumstances were, but when I was younger my Dad went to work for Sears changing tires and oil. AFTER he left his day job. Where he spent 8 hours a day working on jet engines for the Air National Guard. I can only assume based on what I know about my Dad that he wasn't getting off of one job he was overqualified and underpaid for and going to a second one because he just loved oil so much. I assume that our family needed the money, and he took responsibility for us. He did what had to be done, not because it was fun, but because it was what needed to be done. My point is this.....many people may be underpaid and overqualified (uuuuuh, me?), but that is not an excuse to shun the work that is out there. I will happily pay into unemployment benefits the day that I can drive through Tucson and NEVER see a "help wanted" sign. But if someone out there needs an employee, and a worker is "too good" to take the job, that is called a "poor decision".
If we are proposing to hold the rich accountable for being rich (because that's a choice they made), then we need to hold everyone else to the same standard. I wake up on a Thursday morning and usually watch the History Channel. And I do not get paid to do that. I have to leave my family and my home on Saturday nights to begin a tour of 4 days EARNING money for my family. You *cannot* tell me that people who are collecting checks by staying home are HONESTLY waking up and saying "Yeah, I'm getting money for doing nothing, but the thing I wanna do most today is go out and work". If that's the case, then America would have the biggest and best volunteer force in the entire world. Every park would be spotless, streets would be clean, and there would be no graffiti anywhere. Think about it. I'll be honest. If I thought Obama would pay me enough to support my family, I'd quit working. If you say you wouldn't, I think you're kidding yourself.
As always, I risk offending people. By now, if you're still reading (which you shouldn't be), you should probably know that when I write, I write for me, not for anyone else. I post it on Facebook because I'm not going to withhold if someone wants to get an insight into what it's like to be completely crazy. But by clicking on that link, you have bought your reactions to my post. Click and be offended or don't. But own your choice please. In that spirit, I understand that there are working families out there that need the help, and I agree with helping them. I know that not everyone is milking the system. Think about how much we could help those who really need it if we got all of the slugs off of the government cheese......
P.S.-Some of the things I posted in my last blog about my father came across wrong. I don't remember how, but in the name of clarification let me say this. My dad is the best father in the world. I don't have to agree with some of the things he did or the way he chose to raise us, but I can look at the man I am and blame him. And I'm a good man. He did his best, and my success as a father, husband and man are a direct result of his influence.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44785065
