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Oct. 16, 2004 In less than three weeks there is an election and I have to decide which candidate I should vote for. I have a good deal of contempt for John Kerry because of his fraudulent military service and his anti-war activities. However, I keep listening to news commentaries and they keep telling me that is not relevant. Okay, I'll set that aside. I'll set aside Kerry's 30 year history of opposing U.S. foreign policy and siding with our enemies. I'll ignore his castigation of President Bush over the war on terror. That leaves the economy. According to John Kerry's own tax records (and he hasn't released all of them), he and Theresa had a combined income of $5.5 million dollars. Mind you, that is annual income; their estimated worth exceeds $500 million dollars. The Kerry's paid $704,227 of income tax, which is an effective tax rate of 12.8 percent. Federal statistics list the average federal tax rate as 20 percent. George W. and Laura Bush had about a tenth of the Kerry's income. They paid a tax rate of 30.4 percent. John Kerry, self-proclaimed hero of the middle- class, has assailed the Bush tax cuts as being for the rich at the expense of the middle-class. He tells us he has a "plan" to tax the rich and give to the poor. (Delusions of Robin Hood?) He doesn't speak of his senatorial record, however. In the past 20 years he has cast dozens of votes for higher taxes on the middle-class. He voted against the Bush tax cut. I don't know how much the rich benefited from the Bush tax cut. I really don't care. I do know that for the first time since 1986 I began getting money back from the government. When a family is working three jobs and living paycheck-to- paycheck, a tax cut benefit of $600 is quite noticable. Especially when it comes in the mail and you can cash the check for greenbacks. It is solid, not some promised "plan". I also know I was never hired for a job by a poor man. Dick Armey was a Congressman for 18 years, and served for awhile as House Majority Leader. Steve Forbes is Chief Executive Officer of Forbes magazine, and was once a presidential candidate. Both men have argued for years for a flat tax rate of 17 - 19 percent. John Kerry has consistently opposed a flat tax rate. He claims it would be a tax break for the rich. Had there been a flat tax rate last year, however, John Kerry would have had to shell out an additional $500,000 in taxes. I like to put things in perspective. My tax rate has been about 24 percent for years, which is 12 percent more than the Kerry's pay. The $500,000 Kerry did not have to pay would enable my family to live comfortably for ten years. John Kerry promises to stop outsourcing American jobs overseas, yet has substantial foreign investments. John Kerry promises to give us tremendous benefits by making the rich pay their fair share of taxes. I live in an apartment; John Kerry has 5 or 6 mansions. I pay 24 percent of my income on taxes; John Kerry pays 12 percent. John Kerry, put your money where your mouth is. A true crusader believes in his cause. A true leader leads by example. John Kerry, your actions belie your claim to be the hero of the middle- class. John Kerry, your hypocrisy makes my choice for president easy. ------------ About the author Joseph Boudreau: I spent just under 24 years in the Navy, 9 on active duty, the rest in the Naval Reserves. From paygrade E-1 I advanced to paygrade O-4, and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Email: bunnyboggins@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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