How is that Hope n' Change VAT tax going to work?

[NCVol]

I'll support him occasionally and not at other times.  At least he's not a nutcase whose fiscal policy rests on the absurd premise that cutting tax rates increases revenue and maintained that farce in the face of $5 trillion in additional debt. 

We ARE going to have higher taxes - I am a big fan of the VAT.  It's a better choice than the alternatives. 

[Jeremy Roenick]

Don't get me wrong NC, but neither is worthy of upholding in the sense of economic policy and spending.

However, to place BHO on some higher plane that GWB in the realm of the deficit is maddening.  What GWB did to our debt was deplorable, and along comes BHO and this Congress and they just poured a 55 gallon drum of gas on the fire that GWB already had good and raging.

[Just Win]

Don't get me wrong NC, but neither is worthing of upholding in the sense of economic policy and spending.

However, to place BHO on some higher plane that GWB in the realm of the deficit is maddening.  What GWB did to our debt was deplorable, and along comes BHO and this Congress and they just poured a 55 gallon drum of gas on the fire that GWB already had good and raging.

good points all JR.

[NCVol]

JR, all that is true, I just don't let republican apologists who never uttered a peep of protest for the eight years of Bush pretend like they're fiscally responsible conservatives.

I am HOPING the republicans actually become a principled opposition party on spending and taxes and deficits, but so far they can't even manage that part right from the powerless minority.  As was the case with Bush, the ONLY actual planning points consist of cutting taxes some more and mythical, unspecified spending cuts that won't actually hurt anyone specifically.

In this environment, to propose eliminating capital gains taxes and eliminating estate taxes is just absurd and proof that actually dealing with the economic and fiscal crisis not a priority.  Most of the country is dealing with trillions in LOSSES, not worrying about the 15% tax on what meager gain positions might be left or whether the 10 million is going to be enough to avoid all estate taxes. 

[Jeremy Roenick]

More Republicans (a lot more now ex-republicans) are fiscal conservatives than you probably realize.  The problem is the same greedy bunch has infiltrated the republican party.  The massive spending and bailouts started under GWB's tenure.  It polarized the republican party and a lot of folks like myself have given up on changing the party and have left it utterly.

Don't count on the Republicans turning things around either.  They'll resort to the same politics of fear in 2010 that they've campaigned on for more than a decade.  It may pay off for them at the polls, but the party won't change in principal.

At this point I'm afraid that the only real "Change" that we'll get in D.C. is at the business end of a pitch fork.  Anyone with the money and persona to run for office is already beholden to the corporate powers that really run this country.  At the Federal level government no longer works for the people.  Until the masses realize this, nothing will change.  Every four and two years we'll head to the polls fed up with the current group in power, and vote in another new block of criminals who will exploit the people and waste our money.

[NCVol]

More Republicans (a lot more now ex-republicans) are fiscal conservatives than you probably realize. 

That would be me as well. 

As to the rest of the post, I agree with it all, nearly 100%.

[xander]

  I agree NCVol!