When Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) praised the selection of Paul
Ryan (R-Wisconsin) as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential selection on Saturday,
what Cantor had in mind was a presidential one-two punch callous enough to
further erode America’s middle class for the benefit of the super wealthy.[1]
Cantor stated that Ryan’s selection as vice presidential
candidate “underscores the kind of bold vision and leadership we need – and we
will get – from a Romney administration.” A bold vision indeed.
According to Matthew O’Brien, “Under Paul Ryan’s plan, Mitt
Romney wouldn’t pay any taxes for the next ten years – or any of the years
after that.”[2] Actually,
O’Brien says, “Romney would have paid an effective
tax rate of around 0.82
percent under the Ryan plan.”
Under Ryan’s plan, all taxes on capital gains, interest and
dividends would be eliminated.[3]
Can you guess who will benefit the most from this tax elimination?
Furthermore, Ryan’s budget plan would “simplify” America’s
tax code, a Republican Party keyword for pulling the rug out from under the
middle class a little further.
Is this the type of “bold” vision and leadership that Eric
Cantor was referring to, a vision akin to Cantor’s own suggestion about raising
taxes on the poor?[4]
Americans should know by now that Republicans like Eric
Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Mitt Romney are overwhelmingly concerned with one group
of Americans, the super wealthy, or households with a rough net worth of $1
million or more.
I don’t begrudge America’s super wealthy. Many worked hard
to get where they are today financially. What I cannot abide by is the idea
that those who have benefited handsomely from America’s economic system should somehow
have to pay close to or, in the case of Mitt Romney[5],
even less in taxes than your middle or working class American.
We can talk about reasonable budget reform, but what Paul
Ryan’s budget plan calls for is a radical revision that will only lead to
further stratification of America’s socioeconomic classes.
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