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Democrats Finally Have A Good Idea For The Iraq Occupation

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3 2007 9:00 AM

Submitted by FearTheReaper. Edited By FearTheReaper.

TAGS: Democrats, Iraq War

The Democrats have finally come up with a good idea for the occupation: A war tax. Yeah, you heard me, you libertarian bitches. I said a war tax. Because right now we can�t afford this occupation and our debt is so out of control that we look insane. I believe you should pay for things as you go, so we may as well suffer a little for our beloved occupation.

Three senior House Democrats proposed an income tax surcharge Tuesday to finance the approximately $150 billion annual cost of operations in Iraq, saying it is unfair to pass the cost of the war onto future generations.

And they are right. Representatives David Obey, John Murtha and Jim McGovern want low and middle income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill and rich fuckers like me would add a 12 to 15 percent. Or we could just keep acting like this war is not destroying our future and continue to not make any sacrifices here at home.

Obey said "there is no sense of shared sacrifice in this country on the war since the federal government continues to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars in order to fund the military campaign in Iraq while also covering domestic needs.�

"The only families being asked to sacrifice are military families, and they are being asked to sacrifice again and again and again.�

Can�t argue with that.

But the three lawmakers don�t think the tax will pass, because Democrats don�t want to be known as the party that raises taxes. Republicans would, of course, hammer the point home, even though Republican Presidents seem to be retarded when it comes to the economy. Also, the Republican Congress was throwing money around the past six years like they were on a NAMBLA tour in Bangkok.

Democrats are attempting to drive home the fact that the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan will cost $190 billion. At the same time Bush is crying like a cunt about Democratic domestic budget increases that total $23 billion. He has threatened a veto of the domestic spending bills.

Obey explained his position.

The war will cost future generations billions of dollars in taxes that we're shoving off on them and it is devouring money that could be used to expand their educational opportunities, expand their job training possibilities, attack our long-term energy problems and build stronger communities.

The tax would be similar to policies that were put in place to pay for the Vietnam War and World War II, back when Republicans actually had smart economic plans. The Republicans have been preaching economic responsibility while taking our country into the shitter, so now is their chance to step up and do what is right.

"George Bush compared the war in Iraq to the Revolutionary War," McGovern added. "If he really believes that, he should be asking everybody to sacrifice. For those of us who are against this war, who think it's a tragedy, the only thing that makes this tragedy worse is that the cost of this war falls on the backs of my kids and grandkids. If you don't like this war, and you don't want to pay taxes, then fight doubly hard against this war."

Too bad the Democrats are also too big of pussies to do what is right. But, hey, it�s a fun idea!

80 Comments

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Zombox5000

Abingdon, VA

July 2005

OCT 03, 2007 09:08 AM

That would make sense if most of us wanted troops in Iraq at this point. However, we do not. Unfortunately our representatives do not care what citizens want. They do not represent us. Democrat or Republican. They do not represent you. They do not represent me. They represent their party line.

shapeshifter23

San Francisco, CA

September 2005

OCT 03, 2007 09:13 AM

Hey, "Freedom isn't free" [snort]...

If such a bill were to pass (I'm thinking it wouldn't), I'd look at it as a way for those of us opposed to the war to actually stick our necks out and take a stand as 'tax resisters': It's not our war, we didn't vote for it, we refuse to pay for it. Of course, that wouldn't happen, because, as you have astutely observed, we live in a nation of lazy complainers.

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

OCT 03, 2007 09:15 AM

You nailed it.

It would be nice to see the republicans try to cover the cost on their own. They could actually get away with it more easily. Just say it's to protect the homeland or whatever it is they're saying now-a-days and it'd go down a lot smoother to their voters. But the democrats? No, they'd be torn apart by the opposition because the opposition knows they're unable to fight back (which is pretty much their own fault.)

loosecannon

Gurnee, IL

May 2005

OCT 03, 2007 09:16 AM

Democrats AREN'T known to raise taxes? Since when?

Chriztian

Tallahassee, FL

September 2004

OCT 03, 2007 09:31 AM

2% increase on most of us...we're talking under a hundred dollars for lots of people. The only people who would really feel this are the rich people. While we may not want to continue to be in Iraq, at this point if we pull out all we're going to do is make the people who we have won over hate us as we leave them to fend for themselves. The people who don't want us there are going to hate us even if we leave for being there in the first place.
I'd rather rich old people pay for this now than me pay for it when I'm a rich old person.

Zarth

Seattle, WA

December 2004

OCT 03, 2007 09:33 AM

FearTheReaper said:
. . . the Republican Congress was throwing money around the past six years like they were on a NAMBLA tour in Bangkok.

I just felt this bore repetition.

DhD_No_Pants

Katy, TX

May 2006

OCT 03, 2007 09:38 AM

As sad as it is, some people in this country might actually stand up and take more notice and demand more accountability from the government once they reach their hands into our pocketbooks to pay for this war.

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD

June 2004

OCT 03, 2007 09:40 AM

Chriztian said:
2% increase on most of us...we're talking under a hundred dollars for lots of people. The only people who would really feel this are the rich people. While we may not want to continue to be in Iraq, at this point if we pull out all we're going to do is make the people who we have won over hate us as we leave them to fend for themselves. The people who don't want us there are going to hate us even if we leave for being there in the first place.
I'd rather rich old people pay for this now than me pay for it when I'm a rich old person.

That's exactly the point. If people have to pay for the war, it will serve to end the artificial lowering of the perceived cost of the war for Americans.

I think that taxes specifically for military operations is a great thing as a libertarian, because it's a sectioned off part of the budget that people realize is an actual cost, and thus efforts can be made to reduce that specific part of the budget. Or alternatively, we can start charging other nations who free-ride off of our world police force.

Edit: It would be awesome if they provided an itemized breakdown of government expenditures on your withholding form.

Also, other libertarians have suggested eliminating witholding so that the American people feel the weight of taxes when they have to shell out 30-50 percent of their income at once

mingol

Singapore

July 2005

OCT 03, 2007 09:43 AM

Zarth said:

FearTheReaper said:
. . . the Republican Congress was throwing money around the past six years like they were on a NAMBLA tour in Bangkok.

I just felt this bore repetition.

Agreed.

They could save a lot of money if they threw money around like they were on a NAMBLA tour in Phnom Penh instead. The U.S. dollar goes farther there.

Veloxmortis

Wichita, KS

February 2006

OCT 03, 2007 09:43 AM

Since we are clearly not leaving this war anytime soon, and I will probably have to go back to it several times more, I think we should be taxing the damn Iraqi Government. This is an occupation after all.

As for additional taxes for the American people, this will probably happen. No big shock or surprise with that. I just hope that should the tax increase happen, they actully spend the money on what they claim it is for.