Tom McClintock vs. Charlie Brown. Cost of Government Day.
"This is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on... And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in it's train wretchedness and oppression." - Thomas Jefferson
There's an old joke among politicians. "You know, a few hundred million here, a few hundred million there, sooner or later it starts to feel like real money." Now the joke's been upgraded to "a few hundred billion here..." What are they counting on? That it doesn't actually feel like real money. That these numbers are so huge we can't wrap our heads around them, in any way that feels real.
Above all, they count on us forgetting that it's our money. You know why the government takes money out of your paycheck before you get your hands on it? That decision wasn't made on a coin toss. It started in 1943 (after Americans had universally and successfully opposed the idea for almost three decades), under Democratic President FDR. At the time the Wall Street Journal called it "the most ambitious bait-and-switch plan in America's history."
Man, they weren't kidding.
I'm writing this for all Americans, but especially for voters in California's 4th Congressional District. In seven days, we are going to decide whether we will send Tom McClintock or Charlie Brown to represent us in Washington, D.C.
Never in our lifetime has our vote for Congressman been so important, or carried such far-reaching implications. Quite literally, a vote for Charlie Brown is a vote for a partisan realignment, a vote for a Democratic super-majority. I've already outlined the dangers in this, in "America, Be Careful What You Wish For." To summarize, if you have no affection for the Bill of Rights, vote for Charlie Brown.
I'm about to share a fantasy with you. As you read about it, imagine how each of our candidates would react to my idea...
...Tom McClintock, the legendary fiscal conservative who has fought and won battles for American taxpayers for over two decades, known and respected nationwide as an economics expert and successful crusader against government waste. McClintock, who adamantly opposed the $700 billion bailout, and has been endorsed by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, National Tax Limitation Committee, National Taxpayers Union PAC, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the California Taxpayer Protection Committee.
...Charlie Brown, the far-left-wing liberal Democrat whose support of the $700 billion bailout came as no surprise (though it was a revealing sneak preview of his servitude to Nancy Pelosi). Charlie's tax-and-spend "economic plan" for America reveals all the financial expertise that a degree in aviation management can provide. Picture a drunken sailor on leave, and this sailor's got all of your money.
Here's my fantasy. Imagine our nation with a different system. Every American citizen actually receives all the money they earn, every penny. At the end of the year, each American has to write a check and pay the government what they owe in taxes, for the entire year.
Imagine enacting this system today. Pull out your last paycheck and do the math. Now picture America 366 days from now. Are you seeing a revolt in this great nation that would make the Boston Tea Party look like an actual tea party? Me too.
Americans For Tax Reform (ATR) has a different way of bringing it home, and they send it to you every year if you're on their email list. It's always depressing, and it always has the same ironic title: "Happy Cost of Government Day!"
ATR: "Cost of Government Day (COGD) is the date of the calendar year on which the average American worker has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government on the federal, state and local levels.
Cost of Government Day for 2008 is July 16. Working people must toil on average 197 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government. In other words, the cost of government consumes 53.9 percent of national income."
Americans for Tax Reform also ranks Cost of Government Day by state. Ranked in order from best to worst, this year California came in 47th. ATR: "...California follows up in fourth worst place, with a COGD of July 23. Dramatically worsening fiscal conditions in this state will lead it to soon challenge the top three for worst state for taxpayers."
I've occasionally wondered how far down the calendar year the $700 billion bailout will move the COGD dates. It's in those moments I'm suddenly grateful that math is my worst subject.
How good does Tom McClintock look to you right now?
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Winston -- kudos for an outstanding letter. Especially the references when the government formally began withholding taxes from paychecks. I actually did a paper about this very subject in college, and am glad to see that someone remembers. While voters will debate the merits of both candidates, clearly Mr. McClintock's record as a fiscal conservative, tax fighter and reformer makes him the logical choice next week. A neighbor friend of mine, who is a Democrat candidly admitted to me the other day that Congress needs to get its fiscal house in order, and electing solid conservatives such as McClintock and Dan Lungren would actually do well in the next Congress primarily because their fiscal ideas simply make sense during this nation's most dire time financially.
While I applaud Mr. Brown's military service, you're summation above is correct: Mr. McClintock is the logical choice for voters on Nov. 4.
How does McClintock look to me right now? He looks like a right wing idealogue who has never had a real job in his life and has such as weak moral compass that he feels no shame in attacking the military record of his opponent.
And for you information, Every April 15th, I do write a check. I have been self employed for 30 years. By my calculation, last Spring I bought a Hummer for the Feds and a Harley Davidson for the State. Call me crazy, but I would rather pay taxes and live in a safe country protected by the Bill of Rights and with roads and schools than to live in a third world country where the only tax would be an annual bribe to the Chief of Police. I don't get it. Do Republicans think that government is free? Or that like George Bush, we can just pay for government by borrowing from China?
The above blog is a press release written under a psuedonym named after a character in a Curt Vonnegut novel, by one of McClintock's campaign spokespeople.
I write a honking big check every year to the Federal and state government too and am tired of people like McClintock abusing the system with taking a third of a million dollars in TAX FREE PER DIEM and free gas and car just to live 14 miles away from their work while they use another address in So Cal so they can get it.
I'm also tired of them scamming the middle class.
The EXACT same thing will happen to the district that happenned before -- NO REPRESENTATION AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY because the Republican Representative is just using the address to give his richest lobbyist friends more tax breaks. And themselves the big bucks and wonderful free bennies.
I went to see Tom McClintock last night trying to scam more little old ladies out of their social security checks and Medicare, and trying to get more old guys to go to the casinos, (MAJOR source of McClintock's money, SoCal casinos and he just took some Abramoff scandal related casino money ! ) but they weren't letting Democrats in the door. Gee, I wonder what the BIG SECRET IS ? I'm a local taxpayer and voter. THIS IS YOUR DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY WITH REPUBLICANS.
Fiscal House in Order ? MCCLINTOCK CAMPAIGN ALREADY IN DEBT.
Vote YES ON CHARLIE BROWN this year.
And note the typical use of scary data that misrepresents reality.
"Cost of Government Day for 2008 is July 16. Working people must toil on average 197 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government."
Always watch out for statistics that use AVERAGE instead of MEDIAN. So if Joe Billionaire (the Plumber's uncle) pay's $400 million in taxes that number gets included in the denominator in this charlatan's calculation along with whatever us real Joe's pay. It brings the AVERAGE way up when the median is more like $12,000 and the MEDIAN tax freedom day is actually in February or March.
Lies, damn lies, statisticians and Republicans.
Do I vote for the professional lifetime machine politician, the absentee carpetbagger from Los Angeles, from the party that gave us two wars, a recession, a shredded constitution, who turned a record surplus into a staggering deficit, bible-based immorality, massive indebtedness to communist China, and who is the anointed heir of the disgraced soon-to-be-ex-Rep. John Doolittle?
Or do I vote for the local guy, a former Republican cop, teacher and war hero who comes to politics with a new vision, fresh energy and no political baggage?
Wow, that's a tough one.
Actually Miuwtant; It is you who are using statistics to lie.
Median, average..they are both relevant numbers. Just because you prefer to negate the impact upon the upper middle class by citing "Joe Billionaire" as if his tax burden has any impact upon our government, and ignore "Joe Deadbeat" who works three months of the year and collects unemployment the rest of the time... lets face it, statistics are deceptive in both directions.
The fact is, "progressive" taxation is a bane upon society because it operates upon the notion that some people deserve to pay a disproportionate share of the taxes, while others receive a disproportionate amount from government.
You can argue all day about corporate welfare vs deadbeat welfare..but the fact is, WELFARE is UNFAIR.
Lets stop giving corporations big breaks, and stop giving deadbeats breaks. How about that??
You won't support it. You want a system that pays people to depend on government because it makes government bigger and that is the Democrat way.
The real solution is to stop corporations and unions and PACs from having any more influence on our politicians, but the Democrats don't want that. They badmouth corporations while sucking up to them.
NBC, a corporation, just received a huge check from Obama in exchange for the generous treatment they gave him. Are you complaining that GE/NBC is getting Obama's money? Do you think he will put the screws to them if he is elected? Not! He will go after Joe the Plumber, Sue the hairdresser, and Charlie the Tire Store Owner.
Skeptic,
First of all, Charlie Brown was NEVER a cop. He was a records clerk for 8 years in the Roseville PD. He was NEVER a teacher. He ostensibly got a teaching certificate, but for some reason never became a teacher.
As for your attack on Tom McClintock - you've got to be kidding. There is not a manipulation machine in the world big enough to achieve what you just tried. It's actually comical to hear you attempt to link Tom McClintock to the very things he has spent his entire career fighting: a recession, turning a record surplus into a staggering deficit, a "shredded constitution", massive indebtedness to communist China.
There is much room for healthy debate and intellectual discourse about the decision to invade Iraq. But your line..."from the party that gave us two wars..." makes me remember (the former Democrat) Jeane Kirkpatrick's "Blame America First" speech to the Republican National Convention, many years ago. Interesting how many times she named San Francisco Democrats in that speech.
I notice you don't list murderous Islamic Fundamentalists or 9/11 in your rant against "the party that gave us two wars."
Some things never change. Not even watching Americans jumping out of windows of the Twin Towers will rock you from your resolve to Blame America First.
Niles, thank you for reminding us of 9/11. 2 questions. How long will 9/11 justify our actions around the world? And who was standing watch as Commander-in-Chief on 9/11?
Niles, it amazes me how many people addressing your blog have ADD! And they appear to be Democrats. Can't these people address the issue(s)? They seem to prefer to start mud slinging and so ruin their credibility as a rational voice (and they waste my time as I read them). Your point on the need for tax reform is spot on. In my entire life of over 50 years I've never felt a fair tax from either the Federal or State government. What I like about McClintock is that he's been "in the fight" for the past 22 years in the California Legislature and has been heralded by both sides of the isle as a fiscal conservative who predicted (and fore warned about) the current budget crisis in California. I don't see anyone showing me Bown's experience in any such matters. If you bloggers know of anything, please inform me! In fact, Charlie has never been elected to any public office nor been in charge of any public budget. Should I expect he knows more about taxes or fiscal matters? Also, Niles, I like your fantasy/idea about hanging on to my coin until 15 April instead of giving my money to Uncle Sam or the Golden State throughout the year -- interest free. That has always chapped my butt! They use our money all year and give us nothing back in interest. Your illustration of "Happy Cost of Government Day" puts things in perspective, too. I believe taxes are necessary, but I also believe everyone should pay their fair share. I'm actually in favor of a flat tax, similar to God's revenue plan stated in the bible, meaning one tenth of your income (say 7% to the feds and 3% to the state). But everyone above the poverty line pays 10% (no more, no less) after deductions, and even those below the poverty line must pay something, even just 1% because they use government protection, services, and infrastructure the same as everyone else. No free lunch, Americans! Everyone antes up! This way, even the rich pay their 10% (with no loop holes). Niles, thanks for your blog. Chesty
Gulliver, Republicans don't have problems with paying taxes for roads, law enforcement, firefighters, and such things. Also, Republicans have no problem paying for schools with taxes, though funding isn't always the answer just as more federal control isn't always the answer either.
Republicans take issue with being taxed to "spread the wealth" -- social security, medicare, welfare, ssi, and other programs are all examples of things that may not need to be abolished, but they definitely need heavy reform.
CanyonRat, any evidence whatsoever to back up your repeated claim that Niles works for the McClintock campaign? If not, I could claim you work for the Brown campaign up and down. You breathlessly post everywhere that will accept comments.
Mr. Niles, I like your blog, this one in particular. Keep it up.
I voted for Charlie in 2006 against Doolittle because I was led to believe that he stood for something. Then I hear a radio spot yesterday where Charlie says we need to win in Iraq. Damn near hit a signpost when I heard that. Is this the same Charlie Brown that denounced the "Bush war?" Then I hear that Charlie believes life begins "at birth," as if to try and have it both ways on the abortion issue. Sheesh. What does he take voters for, a bunch of dummies? Now I hear that the Oroville Mercury and Sacramento News and Review have endorsed him. Liberal newspapers, to be sure. Nope. Thing is, Tom McClintock is a known quantity, and his record in the state legislature is well-known. Charlie Brown is simply to radical and too left-wing.
winston_niles - Where on earth did you study logic? You are fully aware no one is "blaming America first." But I am blaming the Bush Republicans. Or do you also hold with the "l'etat, c'est moi?" philosophy of presidential authority?
Evoking those old chestnuts Jeane Kirkpatrick, San Francisco, bad Islam, 9-11 & the Twin Towers (all in one sentence - it must be a record!) is a red herring; a clumsy straw man not germane to the facts I presented. If you cannot restrict your arguments to the issues at hand, you just may have no argument.
Are you honestly asserting that the 9-11 hijackers caused the US military to occupy Iraq and invade Afghanistan?
When used by politicians and malicious individuals, the straw man can be a deliberate way to misrepresent an opponent's views, to demonize an opponent, to ridicule and to give the appearance of having won an argument, when in fact the real issues have not been addressed. I thought you more astute.
Docas990 --- Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to hear that your Democrat friend is considering a conservative vote. I'm concerned that not nearly enough Americans understand the dangers of an Obama/Pelosi Democrat super-majority... Do you have a blog, Docas?
Americans now certainly understand the dangers from a Bush (Cheney) / Frist / Hastert Republican supermajority. Aren't these the people who brought us two badly run wars, a recession and many other very bad things? I say the best solution right now for Republicans is to spend a little time in the wilderness to reflect. Once they have sorted out the root causes of their failures and can come back as responsible members of society then they should get a chance at divided government.
If the Democrats blow it - let the chips fall where they may. But give the Republicans another chance right now? Very bad idea. They need to earn it.
Miuwtant, please STOP LYING on this site. President Bush has NEVER had a Republican supermajority. I know you've read "America, Be Careful What You Wish For", therefore you know the difference between a majority and a supermajority.
You and the other Brown supporters are desperately hoping that voters will somehow overlook the fact that your beloved Democrat party has enjoyed a majority in both the House and the Senate for the last two years, and Congress currently has a 16% approval rating (substantially lower than the President's approval rating).