The GOP's contract on America
Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM
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It's the conversation the GOP doesn't want us to have.
I'm talking about the massive and growing gap between the haves and the have-nots here. In the past decade the richest percentile saw its income grow by a remarkable 17 percent, while in contrast the middle class saw their real income fall.
Thank our tax rates. The richest Americans saw their effective tax rates fall from 30 percent in 1995 to just 17 percent in 2007.
The top one percent of Americans now take home nearly a quarter of all income and own more than 40 percent of the countries wealth (which, ironically enough, is roughly the same amount as the bottom 90 percent).
Who would suggest that's fair? Who would try to tell you the super wealthy are somehow now worth more to the United States than at any point in our history?
For the rich it's really the best of times. In fact, it's an unprecedented gilded age. They're clearly enjoying a record bonanza, but where are all the trickle down jobs that we've been promised?
Did you know that the majority of Americans now support raising taxes on the rich as well as cutting spending to reduce the nation's deficit? Did you know they support a restructuring of America's tax systems to ensure a much more equitable society where each citizen pays their fair share and where high priced accountants can't get you out of your responsibility?
America now ranks below every nation in Europe in terms of income equality. Read that again. Our collapsing infrastructure, our run down highways, the soaring costs of our education and our health care are all symptomatic of much wider crisis: there's an elite class in America that has retreated to its gated communities and need never concern itself with the struggles of the citizens or the nation beyond their well guarded electric fences.
At some point, unintentionally, the contract with America became the contract on America. There's still plenty of profit around, but it's being hoarded, and not invested, as the nation falters.
Why does the GOP not want to talk about this? Surely it's their patriotic duty?
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rpmschevy | Jul 13, 2011, 01:38 AM EDT
Cahir so this is really true "but the country has changed for the worse in the last 25 years" Were you writing this from your IPAD on your wireless network while being safer in NYC now, after Rudy G came in, and hired lots of cops.
Oh look at that more lovely hate speech from the left from dear haasny007
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rpmschevy | Jul 13, 2011, 01:35 AM EDT
And Cahir finally is learning some more folks. This is absolutely amazing.
"the soaring costs of our education and our health care are all symptomatic of much wider crisis"
Soaring cost of education, and yet reduction of real learning. Unions folks?
Health Care? Well we have no rights, other than not to go to a Doctor. Republicans do not control health care, the monopolistic AMA and such do. Folks who sets the rates that we pay. Not Insurance. Medical profession. Take a look at your bills. You take your car in to the shop, they give you an estimate. Try getting one from your doctor. Does not happen. You go and you pay through the nose. But instead your democrats went after health insurance, not health CARE.
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rpmschevy | Jul 13, 2011, 01:31 AM EDT
At least Cahir finally reports something correctly "Did you know that the majority of Americans now support ...as well as cutting spending to reduce the nation's deficit". I cannot believe a liberal finally reads the real truth.
And olovely that is what the Tea Party is about, cutting expenses, cutting the massive deficit. And by the way, when they talk raising taxes, with the democrat party, that means for us ALL. They raise taxes to take from us all. They want us all beholden upon them.
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rpmschevy | Jul 13, 2011, 01:28 AM EDT
There goes olovely shrill. No substance just hate speech.
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hollabackgurl | Jul 13, 2011, 12:04 AM EDT
Do the top one percent of American taxpayers truly believe that the government should shut down if we increase their taxes by what amounts to a rounding error? Are these fortunate few really willing to see Medicare and Social Security reduced for millions just so they can buy one more Mercedes?
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wiltimprice | Jul 12, 2011, 10:02 PM EDT
The "contract on America" pun was run into the ground while Clinton was in the White House.This wasnt a news feature or entertainment article, it was just a partisan rant.
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olovely | Jul 12, 2011, 08:09 PM EDT
The Tea Party has given us insane conservative extremists who would rather risk economic catastrophe than give an inch of ideological ground. They're a disaster for America and they're still in power.
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seanomelbourne | Jul 12, 2011, 07:31 PM EDT
I notice the whining right are not posting on this piece. Maybe they are having 2nd. thoughts and realise tey have been conned by the Fox/GOP and the Murdoch soiled press
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PiperMac52 | Jul 12, 2011, 06:37 PM EDT
It's not the tax rates of the wealthy that is the problem, they already pay 75% of the taxes while 50% pay no taxes. The problem is both parties selling the country out with so-called "free trade agreements" that favor companies moving overseas where slave labor and lax environmental laws mean bigger profits. An open border with Mexico(estimated 20,000,000 illegals now residing here)taking jobs at sub-standard wages etc., etc., Even if we raised the taxes on the wealthy to 100% it would not solve the problem in the long run. Do the research.
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haasny007 | Jul 12, 2011, 05:29 PM EDT
colkelley you are biggest mindless and uneducated Republican-brainwashed idiot. Billionaires have tax rates below 20%. Warren Buffett readily admits that his tax rate is lower than that of his secretary.
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Scrivner | Jul 12, 2011, 05:13 PM EDT
Don't forget those private jets and luxury vacations...oops, that's our liberal leaders! Let Barack & Michelle set an example.
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olovely | Jul 12, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT
The GOP refuse to tax the rich.
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cillowen | Jul 12, 2011, 04:02 PM EDT
the wealthy have to give back a little it can't be socialism for these mucky mucks. Amazing but true that the well to do gain perks that the masses largely don't have a clue about. This ignorance must be the reason the joe-six-packs defend our master class to the hilt.
Sumpin else - those poor 18k job numbers for July didn't include the swarm of hard working
latinos that are happily laying cable around me. Now I'm programmed to laugh at the thought of American's inability of doing such a job.
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FastEddy | Jul 12, 2011, 03:50 PM EDT
" the [USA] has changed for the worse in the last 25 years. ..." Absolutely correct! Ever since old "read my lips" stumbled, fell down and couldn't get back up. The only bright spot was when "the slick one" cut taxes and tried to shrink the fed government. (AlGore was unable, even with a fork lift truck full of tax code regulation as a prop.) This is an important object lesson for Ireland and all of the EU. You can't promise tax cuts or relief without delivering same. As g'ment regulation increases, dependency on g'ment increases until there is no game left.
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