RightWave

Quote of the day, from a so-called “Blue Dog Democrat” regarding the Dems proposal to add an income tax “surcharge” to couples who earn a million dollars or more a year (or individuals who earn $500,000 or more):

“What we’re talking about is a one-half percent income tax surcharge on incomes above $1 million,” said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of the Blue Dog group. “So someone who earns $2 million a year would pay $5,000. … They’re not going to miss it.”

They’re not going to miss it?  Are you kidding me? 

Hmm.  Apparently, it’s a bad time to be a high-achiever in America - and it’s just going to get worse. 

Why, indeed, would we want to incentivise people to work harder and earn more?  And, shall we discuss why this is called an “income tax surcharge?”  Surcharge?  Like when you buy a ticket from Ticketmaster?  So I guess we should think about this like a Ticketmaster charge for your ticket to the millionaires club.  Because, of course, if you’re a millionaire, you’re not already paying enough. 

If, perchance, you happen to be a millionaire who doesn’t feel like you’re paying your fair share, I’d direct you to support Congressman John Campbell’s “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” legislation.

This kind of thing is just silly more than anything else, to be sure - a ridiculous attempt to “enforce” their “pay-go” rules.  Aw, shucks, we have to raise taxes…

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it’s just not funny.

Jonah Goldberg over at The Corner has a great depressing/revealing point on Senator Obama and class warfare and the capital gains tax.

To find out more about the capital gains tax, see Americans for Prosperity Policy Director Phil Kerpen’s work on the issue - and particularly this great op-ed from the WSJ.

 Obama denounces big corporate pay packages

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama denounced huge pay packages for U.S. corporate chiefs on Friday in a drive to convert middle-class anger about the U.S. economy into votes. 

“Some CEOs make more in one day than their workers make in one year,” Obama said, jockeying for position against rival Democrat Hillary Clinton in Indiana, which votes on May 6.

…

Clinton and Republican presidential candidate John McCain also have criticized big payouts for chief executive officers who benefit hugely even when their companies are struggling.

“We’ve seen what happens when CEOs are paid for doing a job no matter how bad a job they’re doing,” Obama said. “We can’t afford to postpone reform any longer.”

I’m not sure where in the Constitution it says that the United States Government should regulate pay for anyone other than employees of the government.  Last time I checked, it’s the job of the shareholders and boards of corporations to make hiring, firing and compensation decisions.  This is nothing more than ugly class warfare rhetoric from the Left (though, sadly, it seems Senator McCain has co-opted it as well), and it’s disgraceful.