Out of many great moments, from one great speech, this one spoke most to me ...
Barack Obama:
“Anybody who says we can’t change the tax code to correct that, anyone who has signed some pledge to protect every single tax loophole so long as they live, they should be called out. They should have to defend that unfairness,” he added. “If their pledge [is] to keep that kind of unfairness in place, they should remember the last time I checked, the only pledge that really matters is the pledge we make to uphold the Constitution.”
Obama: ‘This is not class warfare; it’s math’ (with video)
by David Edwards, rawstory.com -- 09/19/2011
The unfairness of "signing some pledge to protect every single tax loophole so long as they live" ...
"They should be called out" for making a pledge to man Lobbyist, instead of "upholding their pledge to the the Constitution".
For more on that GOP ringleader, who harangues all of his Pledgers to stand tough, or else -- just skip right by that "dotted line" ...
Meet the GOP pledge-wrangler ... one of their chief obstructionists -- and he's not even elected!
Who is Grover Norquist?
Grover G. Norquist, a native of Massachusetts, has been one of most effective issues management strategists in Washington for over two decades.
Mr. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a taxpayer advocacy group he founded in 1985 at President Reagan’s request. ATR is a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal, state and local levels.
ATR organizes the TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. In the 112th Congress, 236 House members and 41 Senators have taken the pledge.
Here is the Unfairness, that all GOP Pledgers "should have to defend" ...
What is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge?
In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate's constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.
... "considered binding" by whom? ... the authorities of ATR? (aka Front Group)
SO, Who exactly has 'solemnly bound' themselves to this Pledge, and to their dismantle govt philosophy 'for which it stands' ?
List of Pledge Signers in the 112th Congress (pdf)
What exactly, have the undersigned 'Pledged' to the ATR?
Americans for Tax Reform [from previous link]
Taxpayer Protection Pledge:
I, ____, pledge to the taxpayers of the (____ district of the) state of _____ and to the American people that I will:
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and
TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.
Just put your 'John Hancock' on the dotted line, GOP Lackeys. You're one of the Government-haters, now. Let those Schools crumble; let those bridges fall down. let those roads return back to gravel.
Here is what OUR Representatives in Congress are supposed to be pledging to -- The Constitution.
That's Simple too. Just read it. Just follow it, Congress persons.
Our Constitution instructs our Representatives to actually 'Collect Taxes'.
Our Constitution instructs our Representatives to actually 'to pay the Debts'.
The Constitution of the United States -- Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
Congress is supposed to Raise Taxes --
To provide for the general Welfare.
Congress is supposed to Honor our Debts
To provide for the common Defense.
Congress is supposed to borrow Money on the credit of our Nation
To regulate Commerce -- both Foreign and Domestic.
[and Import Commerce too, as we shall see shortly ...]
That's all in the Constitution!
Grover's magic marker to those Constitutional mandates -- not so much.
OK, that's all well and good, but Pssst! What is an Imposts?
or an Excise, what are Duties?
Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises
by Library Answer Person, Duke University -- Oct 4, 2004
What are the respective differences between taxes, duties, imposts and excises? [...]
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: This is from Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States…”.
The glossary from the U.S. Treasury Dept’s International Trade Data System defines
-- duty as “a tax levied by a government on the import or export of goods,”
-- imposts as “a tax, especially an import duty,” and
-- excise taxes as “taxes on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of goods, or upon licenses to pursue certain occupations, or upon corporate privileges,”
which, they explain, in current usage covers about everything besides income taxes. It seems like the writers of the Constitution were throwing in all sorts of synonyms to cover the bases, although in the usage of the 18th century the words may have had other subtle differences. [...]
OK so Congress has many, many routes for Raising Revenues 'Constitutionally speaking' --
including Import and Export Fees;
including Business Licensing Fees.
including levying taxes 'upon Corporate Privileges'.
So, one Question left: Why Don't they?
The Answer: They have 'Pledged their Allegiance' to Grover Norquist
-- and NOT to the American Constitution!
The writers of the Constitution were covering all sorts of Revenue Angles.
They were envisioning a truly exceptional and a very empowered Country.
The writers and signers of the Norquist No Tax Pledge are envisioning a Country were each person would 'sink or swim' on their own.
To the GOP: your your your own. Good luck if you lose your job, or get sick.
The writers of the Constitution, seem to be saying 'were all in this together' with those sweeping goals to "provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States".
Reaching and Meeting those Goals is WHY the United States should incur National Debt, as needed. Like to fix Bridges BEFORE they fall down!
It's extremely easy to say NO to everything -- two and three-year olds do it all the time -- exercise their One Word Vocabulary -- NO!
It's takes a national consensus of thoughtful, reasonable adults, to find ways to 'Say Yes' ...
to find ways of actually Meeting the Goals , of exercising the Mission, of our 'exceptional' Country, that the Founders had envisioned.
It takes the American People, saying No to GOP Obstruction.
It takes the American People, asking the GOP "to defend that unfairness" ... of pledging their governing allegiance, to a Lobbyist named Norquist.