You know, the ironic thing is, if ONLY people who pay federal income taxes could vote, McCain would win by a landslide. The 30% of Americans who don't pay federal income taxes are so overwhelmingly for Obama that it completely tilts the system. In 2004, for example, Kerry won net tax getters (i.e. people who not only don't pay taxes but get money back) 63 to 36.
So next time you get tempted of implying that Bush supporters or Republicans or conservatives are somehow brainwashed or stupid or whatever, let's bear in mind that when it comes to the people who actually pay the bills, they tend to vote Republican.
I'm sorry, Brad, but your argument (besides being a deliberately inaccurate use of statistics) is entire selfish and self-centered in the worst way. It also defines everything that's wrong the today's GOP and why I, and MANY others, have turned away. They've squeezed so much blood out of America that they've literally broken the middle class.
As a contrast, let me point out that the people who work for me earn six figure salaries to start. And they, and myself, are overwhelmingly pro-Obama. Sure a couple of them are Ayn Rand types, but I'm much more of a Warren Buffet person myself, in that I don't mind paying taxes. This country has been very good to me and as long as I see my money being spent wisely and for the common good, I don't have any problem chipping in my fair share.
But under this administration we have seen ALL of our dollars (rich and poor) drop to nearly 1/2 their value. You're beginning to see the delayed inflation of that right now, in everything you buy. We've seen the health care premiums we pay as employers go through the roof, while benefits have gone to utter shit - so we're eating more cost and losing morale...a very bad recipe indeed. We've watched the deficit under this "president" become higher than all of the previous Presidents combined. And we've seen 4,000+ of our troops die in a needless war for Cheney's graft while the real saboteurs of our nation, at home and abroad, lounge around unscathed and unpunished.
If this was the McCain of 2000, before he sold his soul for one last chance at the brass ring, you might have something. But he isn't that man anymore. Obama is the American Dream personified and that, as a businessman speaking, is what this country is sorely lacking right now.
The American Dream itself is in danger, Brad. And you, of all the businessmen I know, should be most wary of the current state of affairs. For your business is clearly a luxury item, not a necessity, to anyone..well except for me, I'd die without being able to work my way and you guys, bless you, make that possible.
But seriously, your products are on the frontline of the dispensible disposable income scale and I'd think that seeing consumer confidence return (and hence the stock market) might be higher on your list of priorities than a 1-2% income shift. After all, who cares if your taxes are cut yet again if you aren't making any money?
I'd rather make a LOT more money and pay a wee bit more in taxes. But then again, I never was a "penny wise, pound foolish" kind of person. Funny thing, only one of the billionaires I have worked with would disagree with me on this...and he inherited his money. Ahem.
Oh, and as always, I would die to protect your right to express the exact opposite opinion of myself and I respect you and your accomplishments. 