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War tax would enable shared sacrifice
Fergus Falls Daily Journal ^

Posted on 10/15/2007 10:57:34 AM PDT by mnehring

Would those who say the war in Iraq is an essential part of the global war on terror be willing to put up the money for what they believe is an important endeavor?

"Some people are being asked to pay with their lives or their faces or their hands or their arms or their legs," Wisconsin Congressman David Obey said. "If you're going to ask for that, it doesn't seem too much to ask an average taxpayer to pay thirty bucks or so for the cost of the war so we don't have to shove it off on our kids."

In case you didn’t know, Congress is passing what it calls “supplemental” bills for the war in Iraq — outside the normal federal budget process.

“The mentality in Washington is simple,” Ron Paul said. “Avoid hard choices at all costs, spend money at will, ignore deficits, inflate the money supply as needed and trust that the whole mess somehow will be taken care of by unprecedented economic growth in the future.”

Under the current policy, Fergus Falls National Guard soldiers who served in Iraq not only put their lives on the line — but they’ll also be expected to help pick up the tab for war costs — down the road. Older generations, like me, currently get a free pass. Is this fair to our local Guard members and others like them?

The Obey surtax envisions a sliding scale of roughly two percent on the taxes paid by lower-income Americans and up to 15 percent on upper-income Americans. I’m among those who propose exempting — from the tax — soldiers who have served in Iraq.

They’ve more than paid their fair share.

“Since wars are waged, in principle, on behalf of the entire country, this proposal doesn’t put the entire burden of taxation on the wealthy,” Rep. Obey said.

The plan does not ask for a tax to cover the $45 billion in President Bush's supplemental request to pay for the war in Afghanistan.

“There are legitimate expenditures on which we don't mind sharing the costs with future generations," Obey said, noting that there is a broad consensus that the fight in Afghanistan is in the long-term interest of the country.

Should we ever go to war unless all of us are willing to share the sacrifice?

That question was asked earlier this year by CBS Sunday morning Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer, an Air Force veteran and former Pentagon correspondent for CBS.

Schieffer vividly recalls, as a kid, World War II when food, gasoline and clothing items were rationed. Americans also paid increased taxes to help fund the war and purchased war bonds to support the troops overseas.

Schieffer said that during World War II almost everyone had a father, uncle, cousin or neighbor who was in the war.

“When food, gasoline and clothing were rationed — and when Americans paid higher taxes — every day brought something to remind us that we were at war,” Schieffer said. “These days, some Americans may not even know anyone in the military, or have a connection to the war.”

One retired general told Schieffer, “Soldiers are at war. America is at the mall.”

Historian William Strauss said it may take another dramatic event such as 9-11 before the country is truly galvanized — and therefore capable of true sacrifice.

For me personally, I’d rather pay my fair share right now. I take comfort that many other Americans — unlike Congress — feel the same way.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: 110th; obey; ronpaul; taxincrease; wartax
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Obey and Ron Paul, what a team. //sarc
1 posted on 10/15/2007 10:57:36 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: mnehrling

Get a Congressional Declaration of War first.


2 posted on 10/15/2007 10:59:26 AM PDT by RightWhale (50 years later we're still sitting on the ground)
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To: mnehrling

“Would those who say the war in Iraq is an essential part of the global war on terror be willing to put up the money for what they believe is an important endeavor?”

I also think a lot of social programs are a complete waste of money so using your logic, I’ll just stop paying tax towards those...ok?


3 posted on 10/15/2007 10:59:28 AM PDT by Slapshot68
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To: mnehrling

How about making the war on poverty an individual choice as well? I don’t mind paying for a constitutional duty of the Federal government, however an unconstitutional one I could do without.


4 posted on 10/15/2007 10:59:49 AM PDT by Jigajog
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To: Slapshot68
We already put up money for our military - and yes - that includes the War. David Obey is an idiot.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

5 posted on 10/15/2007 11:00:31 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: mnehrling

Shared sacrifice, shared responsibility, all in the name of the greater good?


6 posted on 10/15/2007 11:02:40 AM PDT by wastedyears (I don't wanna grow up, help : /)
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To: mnehrling

Nah. It’s a lot easier to put the war on the tab and send it to the next generation who can’t vote yet.


7 posted on 10/15/2007 11:02:42 AM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: mnehrling

It’s just a mop up operation, Al Quacka is finished in Iraq.


8 posted on 10/15/2007 11:02:56 AM PDT by Rodm (Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings)
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To: RightWhale
Get a Congressional Declaration of War first.

Agreed. Worth repeating.

9 posted on 10/15/2007 11:03:39 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (The color blue tastes like the square root of 0?)
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To: RightWhale

I thought “the Iraqi oil will pay for the war” was the selling point.

Since we’re over there because of the oil.... we already HAVE a WAR TAX.... we pay it at the pump.


10 posted on 10/15/2007 11:04:00 AM PDT by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: Rodm

There’s still time to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.


11 posted on 10/15/2007 11:04:17 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (The color blue tastes like the square root of 0?)
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To: mnehrling

The answer: raise taxes.

Now what was the question?


12 posted on 10/15/2007 11:04:39 AM PDT by NKStarr
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To: Slapshot68

Yep. We can start with NPR, PBS and the NEA.
But to answer your question, Obey, yes I would. In fact if you took once of your precious “polls,” you’d find many of us are already doing a great deal for the troops, so maybe YOUR side which claims to support them so much can follow suit.


13 posted on 10/15/2007 11:04:56 AM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Remember Billy Dale!!!)
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To: mnehrling

How much are we going to bill Americans for the War on Poverty this year?

And why DON’T we have war bonds?


14 posted on 10/15/2007 11:05:27 AM PDT by weegee (NO THIRD TERM. America does not need another unconstitutional Clinton co-presidency.)
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To: taxed2death
Yep. The liberal moonbats are all strangely silent about that after screaming "no blood for oil." If we've seen us not paying for what is going on in Iraq, its yet to be evident at your local gas station pump.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

15 posted on 10/15/2007 11:06:20 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: mnehrling

How about a shared special tax to make up for the trillions of $$ that are going to have to be spend for medical care and SS payments for ILLEGAL ALIENS? Wanna compare the welfare taxes to the amounts that will be needed for the war, oh number-impaired dhimmicrats??


16 posted on 10/15/2007 11:06:37 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: ctdonath2
re: # 11

The demos are working as hard as they can to do just that.

17 posted on 10/15/2007 11:06:51 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20 (.... when you really start to pay attention, you automatically become a conservative.)
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To: mnehrling

Instead of mouthing words; these Congresspeople should start emptying out their own pockets especially the money they regularly steal from the taxpayer.


18 posted on 10/15/2007 11:07:37 AM PDT by freekitty ((May the eagles long fly our beautiful and free American sky.))
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To: mnehrling
Would those who say the war in Iraq is an essential part of the global war on terror be willing to put up the money for what they believe is an important endeavor?

Would those who say the war on poverty is essential be willing to put up the money for what they believe is an important endeavor?

Liberals. Disgusting!

19 posted on 10/15/2007 11:08:02 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: Allegra; ejonesie22; wideawake; lormand

Ping


20 posted on 10/15/2007 11:08:43 AM PDT by mnehring (Ron Paul is as much of a Constitutionalist as Fred Phelps is a Christian.)
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