tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post7467150134582408365..comments2023-10-28T10:12:35.184-04:00Comments on Big Tent: For What It is WorthStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14620478836945715498noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-16891784536168721772008-10-05T22:16:00.000-04:002008-10-05T22:16:00.000-04:00I want to second Tom's last comment. I think he's ...I want to second Tom's last comment. I think he's butt-naked wrong on this one, but the idea that someone would come in and purport to speak for Tom's Dad, whose presence here only comes through Tom's invocation of him, is slimy, unfair, sort of creepy, and given the anonymity, particularly cowardly even in the world of anonymous commenting, which I believe to be cowardly to begin with. <BR/><BR/dcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09921385244556780254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-38812771142081217582008-10-04T01:46:00.000-04:002008-10-04T01:46:00.000-04:00To all of our readers:As you all know, we will hap...To all of our readers:<BR/><BR/>As you all know, we will happily discuss issues with mature thoughtful readers like Jeff and Robert C., even if we disagree with them, because that is what intellectual honesty is all about. (And I will get back to Robert C.'s points later.) <BR/><BR/>We have much more of a problem having a serious discussion with folks who do not have the common courtesy or Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12616206952252181603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-38751293456239910112008-10-03T22:41:00.000-04:002008-10-03T22:41:00.000-04:00Since like 95% of small-business owners, I make le...Since like 95% of small-business owners, I make less than $250,000 per year, raising the tax rate on those who make more than that would make it harder for me to pocket the change rather than invest in capital or hire another employee. But what can I say? I hate expanding my business, growing the economy and decreasing unemployment. <BR/><BR/>So you're right, Robert. If I were smart, I would lookAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-40614249503626582842008-10-03T15:00:00.000-04:002008-10-03T15:00:00.000-04:00Tom, The idea that for "every dollar more that the...Tom, <BR/><BR/>The idea that for "every dollar more that they make, they cross some new threshold of duty, patriotism, or neighborliness to pay more taxes" is a common idea in progressive taxation, not a nefarious scheme dreamt up by Obama and Biden. Lots of mainstream conservatives and liberals support progressive taxation.<BR/><BR/>But of course you're right: your dad and the letter-writer's Robert C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13583475788321288405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-88913216170688735582008-10-03T10:25:00.000-04:002008-10-03T10:25:00.000-04:00I ignored the elimination of the capital gains tax...I ignored the elimination of the capital gains tax because it is so vague on who they define as small businesses that it has no meaning. Obama is going to raise the rate from 15% to 20% on families making more than $250,000, and keep it the same on families making less than that, but there are no specifics that I can find about what the small business claim means.<BR/><BR/>Read the <A HREF="httpTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12616206952252181603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-42961347838753277442008-10-03T08:52:00.000-04:002008-10-03T08:52:00.000-04:00Tom, I was not suggesting your dad is ignorant. ...Tom,<BR/> I was not suggesting your dad is ignorant. I merely posted the section of Obama's plans that should make it clear to small business owners that they need not fear him. It was a response to your comment "More to the point, whether or not any of these views are precisely accurate . . . the fact of the matter is that he appears to all sorts of business owners to be radical." Which Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-20066366397934296812008-10-02T19:51:00.000-04:002008-10-02T19:51:00.000-04:00Right, the problem is that my dad and other small ...Right, the problem is that my dad and other small business owners are ignorant of Senator Obama's plans. And if only they knew that Obama and Biden planned a $500 dollar tax credit for workers and incubators for start-ups in disadvantaged communities, then they wouldn't be so knee-jerk in their reactions. Exactly.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12616206952252181603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-58916539570593170132008-10-02T16:25:00.000-04:002008-10-02T16:25:00.000-04:00Perhaps small business owners should actually read...Perhaps small business owners should actually read Obama's economic plan, instead of just develop knee-jerk anti-liberals views. Here's the part, taken straight from Obama's website, that ought to assuage the fears of Tom's dad.<BR/>Z<BR/>Support Small Business:<BR/>1. Provide Tax Relief for Small Businesses and Start Up Companies: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will eliminate all capital gains Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-26372840147854689052008-09-29T20:56:00.000-04:002008-09-29T20:56:00.000-04:00Jeff,I know this is your standard response--that a...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>I know this is your standard response--that all of us need to have faith that our fellow Americans are not as bad as the caricatures make it seem. Agreed. There are plenty of Democrats who are reasonable to conservatives. There are plenty of Democrats who are less reasonable to conservatives, but are politicians enough to work with opposing parties (Senator Clinton falls into Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12616206952252181603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354819.post-75965941428555193742008-09-29T20:21:00.000-04:002008-09-29T20:21:00.000-04:00Tom:I would be the first to admit that the left wi...Tom:<BR/><BR/>I would be the first to admit that the left wing of the Dems are not friendly to business, but the Democratic establishment is comprised of thoroughgoing capitalists. Robert Rubin and Larry Summers along with Sam Nunn and David Boren (the fp establishment & conservative Dems) have all heartily endorsed Obama. Clinton, JFK, and even Carter were friendly to business. Will Obama Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com