12:37 pm - The two false choices in America

The two false choices in America Broadly put, politics in America is a clash between two ideological camps --- conservatives and progressives. While there are varying positions on numerous social and economic issues, people and parties are forced into of one these two groups (on all issues). These two ideologies respectively, are now supported by the two main parties: Republican and Democratic. "Tax and spend liberals" make the Democratic party of "big government". "Fiscal conservatives" make the Republican party of "small government". This classification, in my opinion, is utterly false. A recent exchange between Barack Obama and "Joe the Plumber" exemplifies this myth. Let me not pick on Joe, but he is clearly representative of the Republican party's ardent supporters. He uses talking points like "redistribution of wealth", and "Obama is a socialist". Now, to my actual point. Obama and "Joe the Plumber" are discussing Obama's tax plan where he proposes to increase the tax rate for individuals and small businesses making above $ 250,000 from 36% to 39%. 39% was the rate during Bill Clinton (D), and Bush (R) cut it down. (It is a different story that national debt grew during Bush, and all Republicans were carrying his water.) In the video, they are pretty much haggling over the merits of a 3% rate increase on additional profit above $ 250,000. Somehow, a 36% tax rate is not "socialist" but a 39% rate is. What the role of government should be, is an important discussion to have. It is however disingenuous (or plain stupid) to support Republicans because they are fiscal conservatives. There is hardly any ideological difference between the two parties when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

