Tax, or credit?
In a perfect world, the nation's best interest and the voter's best interest would be one in the same. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. We live in the United States, where the federal government is permitted to pass its expenses on to future generations.
Today, the federal government is attempting to do just that. As President George W. Bush stands on his GOP soap-box, lecturing Congress about fiscal responsibility regarding a $35 billion increase (over five years) for a children's health insurance plan, he is simultaneously asking them for a $200 billion increase (now) for his war in Iraq.
The fiscally irresponsible Democrats are proposing appropriations that amount to less than one quarter of what the fiscal conservative President is requesting.
This blatant hypocrisy aside, where is that money, if approved, going to come from? Well, if President Bush and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have their way, it will come from us. From every college-aged American in this country. And our children. And, due to interest, our grandchildren.
In the 2000 presidential election, only 36.1 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. Children can't vote, and our grandchildren certainly can't vote. So looking at it from a job security point of view, who's the best group to make pay for the war? The future.
Fortunately, there are some House Democrats whose districts are so secure that they can afford to tell the truth. Reps. David Obey (D-Wis.), John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) are three such representatives who have the security, the foolishness or simply the guts to do so. They have pledged to not move the $200 billion out of committee unless it is accompanied by a tax bill creating a war surtax.
As White House press secretary Dana Perino puts it, "We've always known that Democrats seem to revert to type, and they are willing to raise taxes on just about anything."
Yes, Ms. Perino. This war surtax is another liberal conspiracy to fund universal healthcare, federally funded abortions and mass flag burnings. It is certainly not a surtax to responsibly pay for a war that was untruthfully started, mismanaged from the beginning and that has gone on too long and cost too much in both lives and money.
Mr. Bush, Ms. Perino, Ms. Pelosi: put your money where your respective mouths are. Ms. Pelosi, you have admonished the President for failing "to learn that the war should require shared sacrifice" and for "adding hundreds of billions in debt for future generations to repay."
You are enabling him, Ms. Pelosi.
Push the war surtax, and force President Bush to either rescind his appropriations request, or to allow us all to share the sacrifice. Your voters will understand. So again I ask you: tax, or credit?
