President Obama at his press conference today on taxes and the debt ceiling again has called for an increase in taxes for the “wealthy”. The example that he used to justify why those evil rich people need to pay more was the tax break on corporate/private jets.

OK, just for a minute assume that this tax break is rescinded, how much money is this going to bring into the government’s coffers? Well your Mandarin figures that the amount of money “recovered” would be spent in less time than it took your Mandarin to type this sentence.

Are the Democrats and the President really concerned with solving our fiscal crisis or prolonging it to further their liberal/progressive agenda? Your Mandarin fears it is the latter. And to answer the question you are asking as to why your Mandarin has come to this conclusion:

1. If you listen to the President’s press conference today and the rhetoric that we have heard from the Democrats over the last couple of decades, the message boils down to this – it is the poor (that being you) against the evil rich that have stolen all of “your” money or are too stingy to share their wealth with “you.” The President and the Democrats don’t seem to understand that the evil rich do share their wealth through the creation of jobs either directly by being the owners of business that employ those willing to work, or through the purchase of goods and services – although they do at times pay lip-service to the concept.

2. The President and the Democrats believe that “your” money really belongs to the government. We have seen this in the numerous efforts by the Democrats to get their hands on your 401k plans since you are taking their money away from them.

3. The President and the Democrats have not proposed a meaningful change to the tax system. And by change, your Mandarin does not mean an increase in the tax rates. A uniform flat tax should be levied against every eligible tax payer. The problem with this idea is that if everyone pays the same percentage amount, then the Democrats lose their argument that the rich are not paying their fair share. In addition, we currently have a situation where we are quickly approaching the point where those who do not pay income taxes – and in a lot of cases get additional money in the form of an earned tax credit – are going to outnumber those who do pay income taxes. The Democrats again benefit from this situation by creating a class of people that depend on the government not only for services but for additional “earned” income. Your Mandarin doesn’t care if the Democrats want to buy votes, he just wishes they were not doing it with his money.

4. The President and the Democrats refuse to cut unnecessary federal spending and subsidies to organizations like the EPA and the Department of Education that have either stifled the economy through onerous regulations or have not produced any discernable results in improved performance.

The truth of the matter is the failing economy serves the ultimate political ends of the President and the Democrats. Until we can break the back of the welfare and regulatory state the fiscal health of the government and the overall health of the economy will continue to suffer.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.