Email exchange with the right.

He asked me if it's OK to let the President to raise taxes to pay war debts and to provide medical care for the aging population.  Odd question.

I don't agree that taxes have to go up to pay our debts or provide for the elderly (or poor).  We could massively cut spending which would include lowering the level of benefits for those seniors and hundreds of other expensive projects (and cutting oil and coal subsidies etc.).  I believe in providing for yourself or suffer rough public handling.  The problem is that those old people paid in.  They should be offered their money back - payment plan, non-transferable.

"Our dear President is saying today that we have to pay higher taxes ..."
Not true.  Here are some facts:  The president's plan (subject to congressional approval) is to allow some of the Bush tax cuts to expire.  But only for only for the top 3% of earners in the country.  The Bush cuts for the other 97% of the country will remain.  That upper tax bracket will go up like 5%?  Big deal.  Even Boehner is going for it.  It's good policy.  Can we really afford to take a 700 billion dollar hit from people who won't spend it?

More facts:
When W Bush took office and proposed his tax cuts, we had a budget surplus.  Did you know that?  Also, taxes were higher under Reagan.

I suspect Reagan knew you couldn't run a country like ours with such ridiculous tax percentages.

To answer your question, I think it's OK to let the tax cuts expire for the top 3% for now.  We're in tough times and clawing our way out.  The very wealthy do not spend as much as the less wealthy when given a tax break.

I like the flat tax concept, everyone pays, but link it directly to spending.  It's like your tax day election plan.  We agree there needs to be direct accountability.  We agree that there should be big cuts in spending but I see the value in putting of the spending cuts until the economy is firmly headed in the right direction.  I think we differ in where the cuts should be.  I don't think we should be spending money on the very wealthy or industries that poison us.  I think there should be a minimum standard of living guaranteed for the super poor, illegal immigrants or even the unwilling to work.  They may have to live in small public housing and denied the highest end healthcare but basic healthcare is provided.   A low but humane standard of living is a basic human right that a country like ours can provide. 

I had a fascinating conversation with a friends parents - good mid-western values Christian upper middle class farmer types.  We were talking about illegals and medical care.  They were anti.  I said, "As good Christians, if an illegal showed up at our door, bleeding to death, should we help her or turn her away?"  The mom said, half joking I think, "I'd turn her away".  Dad didn't say anything.  What would you do?