Those Borrow-and-Spend Republicans Just Don't Quit

First they passed a huge tax cut to benefit the richest Americans, then started a war with Iraq that will cost US taxpayers untold billions while making companies like Halliburton and Bechtel richer, and now they want another round of tax cuts for the superrich. And in the face of growing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, they refuse to back down from their elitist tax cut policies. And if they have to lie to get what they want, no problem. Last week, Bush declared that tax cuts of "at least" $550 billion are needed to stimulate the economy and promote jobs growth.

Promote jobs growth? Sure, if you work for Halliburton or Bechtel, or are some Republican corporate pig looking to feed at the trough. Talk about class warfare - the Republicans couldn't care less about poor and middle-class Americans!

Its about time we faced the truth - Americans need to pay more taxes. Compared to other First World countries, we just don't pay that much.

  • In 2001, total federal, state and local taxes in the United States were 29.0% of our gross domestic product, ranking 27th among the 30 OECD countries. Only Korea (27.5%), Japan (27.1%) and Mexico (18.3%) had lower taxes.
  • In 2001, total taxes in the 26 OECD nations with higher taxes than ours ranged from 29.2% of GDP in Ireland to 53.4% in Sweden.
  • In 2002, total U.S. taxes fell to only 26.3% of GDP.
I know it sounds crazy, but there is some good news in all of this - there is a better than 90% chance that I'm not talking to you! Unless you're a corporation, or as rich as Dick Cheney, you're already paying your fair share. In fact, you're probably paying too much. Does it make any sense that Dick Cheney, who made $4.3 million in 2001, including income from his tenure as CEO of Halliburton Co., will receive a tax cut of $327,000 if the Bush tax plan were passed intact? It may just be 7.6 percent of his income, but his 7.6 percent will go a whole lot further to paying for defense, schools, etc than yours or mine.

Find out how much these rich Republicans stand to steal with the latest Bush Tax Scam by taking the quiz at: www.democrats.org