This will be a short diary, but I'm hoping most of you (and perhaps the Obama campaign) can use this tomorrow, and for the rest of the campaign, to drive a stake into the heart of the McFail/Prevaricator Ticket!
Like Sen. Biden, I ride the train to work, and often sit at the table seats in the center of the cars. This gives me a chance to converse with strangers (oft sharing my passion for Obama/Biden!), play cards, or write e-mails. It really is the only way to commute!
On this morning's trip in, I was sitting with an erudite gentleman I often ride with nicknamed "The Prof," who is also an Obama/Biden supporter (I think he actually is a professor, but he will never say). One of the women sharing a table was politely asking us both questions about our support for Obama (she is apparently for McFail), when she asked the "redistribution" question.
The Prof's answer was a gem...
"Look, we all dislike taxes, but the 16th Amendment created a progressive tax to "spread the wealth." (He used JSMIII's air quotes here.) I don't hear Johnny Mac agitating to overturn the 16th Amendment, but he wants an amendment to ban abortion? What a piece of work!
Seriously, tell me, how does a 3% change in the top tax rate move us from capitalism to socialism?"
She didn't say a thing, then reluctantly conceded, "I guess it doesn't."
We went on to talk about a lot of other things, and I think we pretty much convinced the table that voting for Obama/Biden was the honorable, smart, and safe choice (even the McCainiacs seemed to loathe Palin!)
I walked off the train with The Prof and told him I liked his answer. He told me, "Hey, I got it off the intertubes. Read Electoral Vote dot Com!"
I logged into their site as soon as I got into the office, and sure enough, there it was:
Many Republicans have bitterly opposed the federal income tax since the 16th amendment was passed in 1913. Is McCain going to repeal the federal income tax? If so, how does he plan to finance the government? Or does he mean that the difference between the top rate of 39.6% under Bill Clinton and the top rate of 36% under George Bush is the difference between communism and capitalism? The purpose of the progressive federal income tax is to spread the wealth.
Have fun with friends and family!
See you on commuter rail, where McCainiacs Ride to get an education, and Obama Mamas and Papas are happy to instruct!