What is the difference between "selfishness" and just trying to keep what I have rightfully earned?

You have to look at actual results. If Obama were to turn the tax brackets back to that of the Clinton years, logically that should give us a thriving economy as we had then. If McCain continues the Bush tax cuts, logically that will give us the ruined economy we have now.

If the economy is screwed up right now, why would we want to continue the policies that made it this way?

You do know there are different economic theories, right? The one pushed most often by the right is trickle-down economics. Trickle-down economics has never worked and will never worked. Even daddy Bush called it "voodoo economics."

Democrats, on the other hand, generally believe in buttressing the middle class because that is the engine that drives our society. And BTW, the rich do not always put their money back into the market--they often stash it in off-shore or Swiss bank accounts. The middle class, on the other hand, always spends their money, which pumps up the economy.

Both parties redistribute wealth. The Repubs take from the middle class and give to the wealthy (as Bush has done for eight years, with the results we are seeing now) and the Dems take from the very wealthy and give to the middle class. I guess you have to decide which one of those theories works best for you.

95% of Americans will get tax CUTS. Only the very wealthy will see a tax increase. Please do not fall for the lies that he will raise everyone's taxes. It is simply not true, because he has a firm belief that our country needs a thriving middle class.

Furthermore, if tax cuts for the wealthy have brought us the recession, would it make sense to go ahead with more of the same, as McCain is proposing?

Meanwhile, Obama has promised to close the "Enron loophole." Oil industry analysts estimate that would bring the cost of gas down by as much as 60%. He has excellent ideas to address the failing banks, the mortgage crisis, etc., bring down college tuition, and those solutions, again, would help all Americans, not just the very rich.

In the big picture, he wants to rid Washington of the influence of the corporate lobbyists. This would mean that you and I and all other Americans would have more power instead of the corporations. It would mean the legislators would not be beholden to these lobbyists who contribute to their campaigns, and therefore the corporations would no longer get to write the legislation as they have been under the Bush administration. The oil companies wrote the energy bill, the pharmaceutical companies wrote the Medicare bill, the banks wrote the bankruptcy bill, etc. When that is no longer happening, we will all benefit.

Hmmm...This is a tricky thing, really. It's not really right to call it selfish, because it IS your money. But it seems fairly selfish to me, that you wouldn't be willing to contribute a little bit more to make this country a better place.

No one is questioning or threatening your ability to make your own investments. It's an issue of whether or not you're willing to pay a small amount more in taxes, in order to make this country better for everyone here.

Is it really such a strain for those making six figures, to pay an additional $12 a year in taxes, so that those who work two jobs and still only make $40K a year, can have their tax burden reduced by $1000?

IMO, that $12 is something that most will barely notice, when compared to what is almost an additional $100 a month to keep, for those who really need it.

Without that $12, you'll still be able to invest. Hopefully, with the extra $1000 a year, so can those who currently can't. If everyone in this country can be putting money into the system, won't we all be better off?

I see it as an issue of patriotism. I hate paying taxes...but if that's what it takes to make our country the great nation that it once was, then send me a bill. With Obama's current plan, I stand to have my tax bill reduced by about $1200...I'd give all of that up, and continue paying what I have been paying, if it meant that even one American family could make their house payment, or get the medical treatment that they need.

Does anyone that continues to rant about their earnings even meet the $250,000 threshold? There are people earning minimum wage complaining as if they could ever generate income to be taxed. People are so stupid. Why don't you compare the current tax policy to his proposed policy prior to judging and base your comments on facts?

A person earning $250,000 or more would only be taxed the additional 4% for the amount that exceeds the $250,000. For example, if you make $275,000 you will pay what you are accustomed to paying for the $250,000 and an additional 4% only on the $25,000. Also, the tax calculations vary based on the circumstances of each individual and their itemized deductions, capital losses, etc. Know the facts and do the research, don't just assume you know what you are talking about because you make yourself look stupid!

We need another kind of a world besides "selfishness" or "unselfishness" What we need is something more like, "cooperative" or "obligation". For example, if you lived in a simple farmland community with a bad water supply problem, and everyone decided to pull together to build a project to bring water to the community so that everyone can benefit, then it behooves everyone that will benefit from the water supply to put something back in return. Otherwise, there's something tremendously unfair about it when a farmer takes advantage of water bring brought to him through efforts of others, but none of his.

The radical libertarian ideal is for everyone to be totally self sufficient, so that there IS no society or cooperative (and therefore no taxes!). But that has not ever worked in practice, in all history of trying. America is strong totday because it taxes people (as fairly as it can), and uses the taxes to not only fund the armed forces protecting its interests, but to build and maintain its valuable infrastructure (yes, including water supply). Maybe what we can do for the natural born libertarians like you is that you can sign an agreement to be completely independent, and not use any of the public facilities, get no police attention, and that you buy all your needs directly, including education for your children. Believe me, I know lots of families that like that idea, but most prefer to enjoy the public stuff.

First, "Romare" the good economy was from the technology boom in the 1990's; Clinton didn't do much.

Okay, it's right from Karle Marx, "the rich will protest at first...it will be a bloody revolution...everyone happy", and poor?(guess he forgot that)

It's not a direct quote, but it's the essence.

I think you should keep what your earned because you worked for it.

You are not selfish. You worked hard for what you have. We, as a nation, realize that we have to pay to help those who are in need. We realize that we all have to chip in a certain amount to the pot for the things that we share in common (roads...schools...libraries...law enforcement). What is NOT fair, though, is the thinking that just because someone is successful and has made more money than another entitles the government to take fifty percent of what he has! (That's right...I pay 50% of my income in taxes and I'm sick of it.) I don't mind contributing to the pot, but I don't think it's fair that someone else's kid gets his tuition paid with my money while I have to pay for MY kid's college tuition in full. I could go on and on, but what would be the use? People's minds are made up and that's that.

Do you honestly think that the same 'strategy' we've had for the past 8 years is going to better our country? McCain is feeding you what you want to hear because of one reason and one reason only: He wants to be president. He doesn't want what is best for our country... all he cares about is his presidency.

Selfishness creates great things. Don't apologize for success and wanting to keep what you have earned.

Tax deductions.

a 3% tax increase for the nations wealthiest 6% means that they will still get to keep their wealth.