A Little Straight Talk

I'm sick of the double-talk emanating from Washington these days.  It's nothing new, but don't you just sometimes reach the point where you want to scream "Enough!!"?

For starters, let's call "revenue" what it really is - taxes.  Some people seem to think that the federal government just has money falling from the heavens  into the national treasury, but make no mistake about it:  the only income the government has is what it confiscates in taxes.  Obama doesn't have a "stash" - that money belongs to we, the people.  

The president told Barbara Walters he doesn't believe Republicans will hold "middle class tax cuts hostage".  Let's be clear here:  no one is getting a tax cut next year.  One of two things is going to happen:  either the current tax rates stay the same, at least for most of us, or taxes will rise.  But there are no cuts being discussed and the language being used is meant to deceive and mislead.  

The political antics on both sides are frustrating and disgusting.  Wouldn't it be refreshing if politicians, for once, stored their egos away and put the interest of the country first?  I won't hold my breath on this one.   

Obama the Foolish

As reported in The Weekly Standard today, President Obama is seeking advice   about taxes from Al Sharpton and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC.  This is like asking marital advice from someone who's been married and divorced several times.  

When the Simpson-Bowles Commission brought forth their economic plan for dealing with the deficit and reforming the tax code, there was a brief moment of hope that those in power could and would begin to manage our fiscal problems in a responsible manner.  Unfortunately, that was not to be. Obama made a big show of forming the commission and then proceeded to ignore their recommendations.  As noted before, the president is mired in a rigid ideology and he is obsessed with raising taxes on the "wealthy" (a little aside to the president: they have medications now that can help control obsessive/compulsive disorder).  He makes a show of seeking advice, but never seems to take the advice offered.  

Now, he's asking for advice from Al Sharpton and Rachel Maddow?!  MSNBC is the most blatantly partisan network on TV and Sharpton and Maddow are certainly not going to offer wise counsel.  

Democrats have been touting Barack Obama's supposed intelligence for years.  He may be intelligent, although that's debatable.  He most certainly, however, is not a wise man, for a wise man knows his limitations.  Obama, on the other hand, seems to believe he knows more than everyone else.

Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best:  "Wise men don't need advice.  Fools won't take it."