Frankly, I’ve often thought of this as a double-edged sword.  Taxes are important for the government services that we want (demand) and yet almost everyone I know, at one time or another, complains about how much they pay in taxes.  What I never hear people complaining about is how those tax dollars are being spent.  Very few average, Joe six-pack Americans scream as loudly about waste, pork-barrel spending, and economics as they do about how much they’re paying into the system.  Stop that waste and it’s likely that taxes wouldn’t have to increase.

At the same time, our two main candidates have significantly different tax plans, and depending on who you believe Obama could significantly raise taxes for a significant number of people and small businesses.  The Republicans are up in arms about this potential increase, although that they’re not saying is that this is simply a 2% adjustment in the tax bracked for people making more than $250,000 annually – 2% of $250,000, with no deducations, is exactly $5,000.  Shitty problem to have, but I’d think those people can bear it.  Especially considering that most of the people we’re talking about are making well over $250,000 annually before deductions.

So, yes, I believe that Obama will raise taxes on the people that can afford it most.  McCain on the other hand will horde his money and protect the rich from having to open their wallets.  McCain actually favors tax cuts for corporate income tax and capital gains.  At the same time, it’s hard to believe, with his legacy, that McCain won’t take strides to bring spending in line with revenues and reduce the amount of waste and pork-barrel spending out there.  Obama just doesn’t have a track record – although it’s likely that he will make the same efforts.

At the end of today – only time will tell.

Ranter