Spreading the Wealth

The Republicans are up to their usual tactics again. They're calling Obama "Barack the wealth spreader" yet they are the ones misrepresenting and distorting Obama's platform and speeches. And they're selling most Americans a lie, and it's that lie I want to focus on here.

Here's the dirty truth: most Americans don't -- and never will -- fall into the category where your "wealth" will be spread around. They talk to all of us "working class" people in the "pro-America" parts of the country and strike fear into our hearts that our "wealth" is going to be taken away. But that's simply not true. Obama's tax plan calls for the status quo or in many cases, tax reductions, on the bottom 95% of tax payers. The only increases will be for that top 5%, those earning $250k/year or more. They have wealth, yes. And some additional amount of their wealth would be "spread" (a.k.a taxed). But the important thing is the lie the Republicans are selling everyone on. It's statistically impossible for most of us working-class "Joes" to be in the situation where we'd be taxed more. They're trying to convince us that we have more than we do!

The truth is that while a very, very small portion of America will have tax increases under Obama, the vast majority of us (including nearly everyone reading this post) will not see a change in our taxes, and in many cases, we'll be taxed less.

If you distort something long enough, eventually people will believe you. Most people's view of politics is on perceived reality, not actuality. And that's the only thing the Republicans have going for them.

You know the guy who goes into the voting booth and makes his decision based on stump speeches, campaign ads, and partisan blogs? Don't be that guy...