The Soulless Shell of a Once Great Nation

Republicans have hatched a grand scheme to shrink the size of government and destroy the social safety net. Their plan is simple: make raising the debt ceiling a big deal by tying it to deficit reduction and then House Republicans will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless deadly cuts are made to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.

Historically raising the debt has been perfunctory, a matter of housekeeping because no new obligations are incurred by raising the debt ceiling. The ability to continue to make payments on obligations already incurred is affected. The failure to raise the debt ceiling would cause a fiscal crisis for the United States and the world.  The United States would no longer be the greatest nation on Earth.

Are Republicans crazy enough to carry out their scheme?  Yes.  Even the sane among Republicans approve the strategy because they believe the President and Democrats are sane and responsible.   The sane Republicans (I am beginning to doubt there are any) believe the President and Democrats will give in to demands by the Republicans to destroy the safety net because the President and Democrats do not want to drive this nation off the cliff. The irony will be that in trying to save us now, the Democrats kill our future.

The scheme has turned into a grand game for Republicans aimed at destroying Medicare (so insurance companies can drain senior's pockets), Social Security (make people work until they die) and Medicaid (without health care the disabled and frail elderly die and are not a drain on society). Republicans are enjoying themselves.   Sadly, some Democrats have joined the game as co-conspirators. 

Republicans believe the fewer with jobs the better because eventually people will take any job at any wage to live.  Hence, no job creation bills.  Republicans aim to create an underclass to serve the rich.  Only those who are strong and healthy will survive to spend their lives toiling at work paying the minimum wage. (\Republicans will do away with the minimum wage as soon as possible and see that only subsistence wages are paid.)  The United States of America will be the soulless shell of a once great nation.  August 2, 2011 will be the anniversary of the beginning of the end.  

Tax Cuts for Small Business

Much economic discussion in the last few weeks has centered on tax cuts and the stimulus package. Conservatives have decried the tax cuts for people who pay no taxes; even though, low income wage earners pay into Social Security. This tax cut would also help the small business person, especially, sole proprietors.

I am a sole proprietor. Many years I owe no income tax, but always have to pay the full amount of my Social Security contribution, both the employer's contribution and the employee's. In a bad year, this is a real burden. If the Congress wanted to really help the smallest of businesses, then they would do more than give a $500 dollar tax rebate.

For any sole proprietor paying no income tax, but incurring a Social Security contribution over $1000.00, a rebate of half their Social Security tax would be a boost. This money would not be saved, but put immediately into the economy. In my case, I would buy a new computer.

If Republics really wanted to help small business, they would support this rebate. If someone starting a small business knew that the Social Security contribution would not be any worse than that of a wage earner if they had large expenses or a bad year, then more might venture into business. Those small businesses suffering by the downturn would also find relief, perhaps enough to survive this bad economy. All in all, this would be a real tax cut for small business.

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