Sections'Hypocritical dream-crushers' will save us from their ideals
J.D. Garretson
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Opinion
If you were to look at a picture of Tom Daschle, the former senator from South Dakota with the curiously flamboyant eyewear, you might see a tinge of sorrow in his face. He's a man crushed by circumstance, pining through rose-colored glasses at the receding figure of his dreams on the horizon.
One can only imagine that, the day he withdrew his name from consideration as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, just as the sun set behind our iconic Capitol skyline, he might have caught a glimpse of our memorialized founders and stopped to reflect on their sacrifice. And maybe he raised his head to Heaven that night, the evening wind playfully rustling his hair as he closed his eyes slowly and screamed "F--- taxes!"
If I understand this right, Republicans are against taxes, right? They're always bitching about them, at least. The way they tell it, taxes destroy all small business, and raising taxes inevitably leads to an economic depression. I once heard that, as a child, John Boehner actually witnessed taxes murder his parents.
But when someone Obama wants in his cabinet just so happens to have forgotten to pay some taxes - evil taxes - suddenly the GOP is up in arms. And, honestly, who hasn't forgotten to pay over $100,000 in taxes at least once or twice in their life? Why can't we forgive a simple mistake?
No, a better question - why don't Republicans champion Daschle as the revolutionary he is? They could have accepted him with open, bipartisan arms as their taxation Rosa Parks, but instead they hounded him out of his potential office. What if this was his life's dream? This is empirical evidence Republicans are hypocritical dream-crushers.
Yes, hypocritical. And Springfield is a great example. If you haven't read the News-Leader in the past couple of years, there's a bit of a crisis threatening the fate of retired police and firefighters. It seems there isn't any money to pay their pensions, and making up for the massive shortfall would require a 1-cent tax-hike.
One can only imagine that, the day he withdrew his name from consideration as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, just as the sun set behind our iconic Capitol skyline, he might have caught a glimpse of our memorialized founders and stopped to reflect on their sacrifice. And maybe he raised his head to Heaven that night, the evening wind playfully rustling his hair as he closed his eyes slowly and screamed "F--- taxes!"
If I understand this right, Republicans are against taxes, right? They're always bitching about them, at least. The way they tell it, taxes destroy all small business, and raising taxes inevitably leads to an economic depression. I once heard that, as a child, John Boehner actually witnessed taxes murder his parents.
But when someone Obama wants in his cabinet just so happens to have forgotten to pay some taxes - evil taxes - suddenly the GOP is up in arms. And, honestly, who hasn't forgotten to pay over $100,000 in taxes at least once or twice in their life? Why can't we forgive a simple mistake?
No, a better question - why don't Republicans champion Daschle as the revolutionary he is? They could have accepted him with open, bipartisan arms as their taxation Rosa Parks, but instead they hounded him out of his potential office. What if this was his life's dream? This is empirical evidence Republicans are hypocritical dream-crushers.
Yes, hypocritical. And Springfield is a great example. If you haven't read the News-Leader in the past couple of years, there's a bit of a crisis threatening the fate of retired police and firefighters. It seems there isn't any money to pay their pensions, and making up for the massive shortfall would require a 1-cent tax-hike.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Foreign Born Patriot
posted 2/06/09 @ 4:10 PM CST
Garretson: Republicans don't like taxes, because the more you get taxed the less you get from your government, what doesn't have strings attached. All of the businesses that received money, remember the old bailout package? they are now required to pay their executives no more than $500K. (Continued…)
trey
posted 2/08/09 @ 2:14 PM CST
as a libertarian, I certainly denounce taxation but youre right, we have an obligation to the local firefighters of this county. I would rather see funds diverted from the "dog park" and gave to the pension plan. (Continued…)
Andrew Simpson
posted 2/08/09 @ 9:43 PM CST
As a worker in the Emergency Medical Services I'm really disappointed that there couldn't be more concern for Fire and Police retirees. These men give all for their service to us and this is the way tha tthey are rewarded?? I agree with Mr Trey, forget the "Dog Park" adn support your local lifesavers. (Continued…)
Post a Comment