Amy, my point exactly! The GOP just flat-out lies and their followers suck it up.

That's exactly right, Ursula and Amy B- earlier this year, I heard Hannity saying "people are getting sick and tired of their taxes going up and up and up..." when that was not the case at all. BUT- how you gonna stop 'em? You can't.

Despite massive gains by corporations over the past quarter, and the stock market climbing to record highs, we still don't see corporations creating jobs, despite their relatively low taxation. Don't be fooled by GOP lies.

Cygnus_X-1

we still don't see corporations creating jobs, despite their relatively low taxation

you bring up 2 points:

1) apparently tax cuts don't create jobs - they would have worked during the Bush's presidency, and

2) This is a clear sabotage of America by the of corporate America.

Yet, Republicans will jump into the fire still believing that the Big Business is for the American people.

Hey fine posters - are you really saying that none of your taxes have gone up in the last couple of years? Really? You are soooooo lucky.

See that's just not the case here in California [and gosh Fiesty, don't you live in Ill.?]. State, local and sales taxes, just to mentin a few have gone up a lot.

And golly no bayllie we all know that the government is for the American people.

Back to trickle down economy for our jobs. Pawlenty that did not work because we still have trickle down with tax cuts so where are the jobs they are supposed to create??????????????

Spanky,

Those are state, local and sales taxes, not federal taxes which is what the federal government can control. If you don't like your local pols vote them out, don't like your state move, but don't suggest that President Obama should have done something with the taxes you mentioned.

Elsie,SF how is that TRICKLE UP working for you. I know my State has gotten multiple stimulus monies and then spent them somewhere else.

Spanky,

Let me just say that I live in California. I live in Modesto, a hot bed of conservative politics. My sales taxes have been raised by conservatives. On the contrary, Obama has cut taxes on business 16 times. So, I guess the conservative politicians in the San Joaquin Valley are Communist Socialist Hypocrates. You, my friend, are ignorant of the facts.

Spanky - While California's government may have raised taxes, we are paying the lowest FEDERAL inconme taxes in years. Quit blaming President Obama for this.

David Thomas........ Can you name 3 or 4 of the taxes Obama has cut for businesses?

Please?

WOW to many far lefties in this stream. Must get some of that blue drink to comment. Follow the blue light. LOL. Pawlenty is the real deal. Honest, hard working, and he actual has moral standards. I know that scares the heck out of the left, as it should. He got elected in one of the bluest states in the country, states a lot towards his character. Remember MN, we were the only state that voted for Mondale against Reagan.

Pawlenty will straighten this country out. He is not the standard blowhard that is in Washington now. We gave Obummer a chance at change and got a whole lot of the same old crap, plus a huge deficit. It is time we give an honest American citizen the chance to serve this country. NOT it serving him and his buddies.

Independent and voting for Tim in 2012

Tim will also bring back dadt. Maybe he is a bit confused.

Spanky-

Illinois, even with the recent income tax increase from 3% to 5%, is now about average compared to the states that have state income taxes. You also mentioned local income taxes. There are no local/municipality income taxes anywhere in Illinois, unlike many other states.

Old Fat Guy-

This should get you started . . . http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/10/fact-sheet-president-obama-has-signed-eight-small-business-tax-cuts-law-

Spanky, I live in AR and we have a Gov that is a Democrat that just won re-election by a very wide margin. We had the Huskster for 10 years.... that WAS 10 YEARS SPANKY. this is what we got he raised the Game and Fishing license (in a hunting state), and not one time did he offer any thing to lower our grocery tax. Gov Mike Beebe who is a Democrat was in office 90 days and lowers our grocery tax. 10 years spanky Huckabee ZERO, Mike Beebe TWICE has lowered our grocery tax. 10 years spanky all we got out of Huck is seeing his name and face on the front page of our newspapers for ethics violations.

Here are some other inconvenient facts for you memebers of the lunatic fringe called liberals:

Two years ago today, Barack Obama was inaugurated as president of the United States. Are you better off today than you were two years ago? Numbers don't lie, and here are the data on the impact he has had on the lives of Americans:

January 2009

TODAY

% chg

^Source

Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S.

$1.83

$3.104

69.6%

¹

Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)

$43.48

$99.02

127.7%

²

Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)

$38.74

$91.38

135.9%

²

Gold: London (per troy oz.)

$853.25

$1,369.50

60.5%

²

Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL

$3.56

$6.33

78.1%

²

Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL

$9.66

$13.75

42.3%

²

Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob

$13.37

$35.39

164.7%

²

Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall

7.6%

9.4%

23.7%

³

Unemployment rate, blacks

12.6%

15.8%

25.4%

³

Number of unemployed

11,616,000

14,485,000

24.7%

³

Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim)

2,779,000

2,840,000

2.2%

³

Real median household income (2008 v 2009)

$50,112

$49,777

-0.7%

⁴

Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10)

31,983,716

43,200,878

35.1%

⁵

Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10)

7,526,598

9,193,838

22.2%

⁶

Number of long-term unemployed

2,600,000

6,400,000

146.2%

³

Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009)

13.2%

14.3%

8.3%

⁴

People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009)

39,800,000

43,600,000

9.5%

⁴

U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings

5

9

n/a

¹⁰

Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10)

29.9

23.5

-21.4%

¹¹

Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date)

140

164

17.1%

¹²

U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate

89.76

82.03

-8.6%

²

U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)

1,575.1

1,865.7

18.4%

¹³

U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)

8,310.9

8,852.3

6.5%

¹³

National debt, in trillions

$10.627

$14.052

32.2%

¹⁴

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history. Over 27 times as fast!

Sources:

(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury

Lots of big talk and distorted "facts" typical of a republican.

Gas prices crashed along with everything else in 2008, They are still lower than they were during most of the Bush administration

same goes for crude oil

gold's been steadily on the rise for over a decade. Except for fall 2008

unemployment remains high it's true. Obviously this has much to do with the crash of 2008. It's still considerably lower than it was during the Great Depression and (little acknowledged fact) not much higher than it reached during the Reagan administration (1983). Now conservatives blame this on Carter, despite his being out of office for several years. Not the current situation though, that's the current prez's fault.

The debt is the best example of the Republican Excuse Machine. Bush ran up a HUGE 10 trillion dollar debt in RELATIVELY GOOD FINANCIAL TIMES. Now, that $10 trillion does not include Bush's bailouts. It does include the stimulus package. You might argue that the stimulus package did nothing to help the economy, to which I would reply taht you don't have any idea how screwed we were. You see how all the states are on the verge of bankruptcy now? Yeah, that would have happened 2 years ago if not for the stimulus package.

Much of the "facts" you point out are a direct result of the WORST financial disaster in this country's history since the GD which occured after 8 years of REPUBLICAN control of the WH. Obama took office while we were still reeling form the effects. Times are tough, there's no doubt. But remember who put us here. Your GOP that's who. And calling liberals names will never change that FACT.

You libs do a great job of taking sound bites or doing a drive by against the GOP. Now get your heads out of your butts and examine the effects of the democratic administration against the economy. Corporations are finally sitting on a lot of money...and the jobs will be created when:

• there is a demand for services
• there is a demand for goods
• when there is certainty in tax policy
• there is certainty in energy policy

We have very likely just gone through a systemic change in our economy. Many of the lost jobs will not be comming back. Through efficiencies and technologies and globalization of the work force they are gone. WE all need to look at how to grow our economy and not sit on our ASSES and wait for what once WAS to BE again.

Or you can keep blaming GOP, corporations, FOX and Palin. This doesn't seem to hold out much hope for systemic change to me. What we do know, is that government and a growing government adds burdensome costs on our economy. We do know that our congress and this administration is on a spending binge that is absolutely unsustainable. How about admitting to that and working with the rest of us to try to rein in a government gone amuck rather than just throw bricks and call names. Is this too much to ask or are you so addicted to the kool aid that you would rather have the country sink rather than accept responsibility and fix the problem?

I'm sorry-I think I forgot to call you a bunch of names and make a bunch of general assumptions. Bad form on my part-but you will just have to live with it!

Ternan,

The President and his policies have nothing to do with those prices. Have you looked at corporate financial reports lately--- they are making record profits! Not just good profits--RECORD PROFITS, and you and everyone else are paying for it. Does it ever occur to you that excessive profit taking is a form of taxation paid to an entity with NO OBLIGATION to spend the money, unlike the government, for the public good! When are conservatives going to wake up to this fact. Their Corporate Sponsors are screwing the same American people that they have pledged to protect and defend.

"Ladies and gentleman: Barack Obama is not behaving like Ronald Reagan!" he exclaimed. "He’s behaving like Jimmy Carter!

That's a good strategy, painting Obama as weak and incompetent.

I see a lot of comments about how "taxes are low under Obama", but guess what - The tax rates are the same as what Bush put into effect, and Obama tried to raise them, but failed. And we have virtually the highest corporate tax rates in the World, along with the most onerous regulations. Here's a brief economics lesson for people;

Companies don't pay taxes, people do. If a company is forced to pay higher costs for taxes and regulations, they have to add that to the price of their goods and services. If that makes them unable to compete with foreign companies, the company closes down, and the jobs move to foreign countries. This has been going on for generations, but is accelerating recently with anti-business policies like higher health care costs (HCR), higher borrowing costs (Finance 'Reform'), more costly regulations for employers (less jobs), high tax rates, sue-happy lawyers, etc. That's the REAL reason we're not adding jobs, and more jobs are being 'outsourced' to foreigners. We're slowly but surely killing "the goose that lays the golden eggs). The fastest growing economies in the World are those that have REDEUCED taxes and regulations on businesses.

And what is a liberal's answer to the problem? More taxes and regulations on business. They are 'clueless'.

Here is an example of our wonderful tax structure on corporations;

The top tax rate on corporations is about 35% (actually 39% for a few), and when the remaining profits are distributed as regular dividends, the top tax rate is another 35% (Obama wants it raised to almost 40%), and if they live in a high tax state like California, they pay another 10% income tax on pre-tax income, and another 10% income tax on dividends. Anything left over and spent has another 10% sales tax added (these taxes don't even count any property taxes or employment taxes the corporation or stockholders pay). If the stockholder is fortunate enough to save any money and invest it, they pay another 35% in income taxes on the interest earned, plus another 10% to the state. And when the 'rich' person finally dies, the government taxes another roughly 35% of the 'wealth' the person has accumulated during their lifetime.

Yet liberals still complain about how "the rich don't pay their fair share of taxes". Of course, they have no problem with about 47% of people paying NO income taxes whatsoever, and actually getting 'refunds' with 'tax credits' for NOT contributing anything to economic growth, and they constantly pressure government to give even more 'freebies' to our 'less fortunate', and of course, expect the 'rich' to pay for it (called income redistribution).

After 8 years of the Bushwhacker all I can say is "Thank you Lord! Most of the mess we are in comes from the total de-regulations of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Wall Street and Big Insurance that went on for 8 years of republicans. We are climbing out as long as the voters don't give them and some of you guys a second chance to ruin our economy!

Gil-2621393 "Most of the mess we are in comes from the total de-regulations of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Wall Street and Big Insurance that went on for 8 years of republicans"

Your timeline is off - most of the 'de-regulation' occured under Clinton.

Under Clinton with a republican house and senate.

For everyone that doesn't think taxes have gone up, take a look at your paycheck. Federal withholdings for payroll taxes increased January 2011, most of the sheep didn't notice because Social Security withholdings decreased by 2%, but seniors did. Congress and Obama pulled a nice bait and switch at the end of the year.....When you do your taxes, compare the tax tables for 2009 with 2010 and see if they changed, if they increased there is an other hidden tax.....

Chipperdave: Have you been living under the Geico Rock ? You said to Ternan that gas prices were about the same as most of the Bush administration. The only time I can recall that they were close was during and a few months after Katrina, when it ballooned to over $4.00. There may have been a high spike a couple other times but you're way off the facts, which is why I didn't bother reading the rest of your comments. Try googling the gas prices for Jan. in the last few years, you might learn something, if you can bring yourself to believe reports made by professionals who do it every day for a living, like Consumer Reports. I don't know how well Ternan's other "facts" hold up so I won't defend them, but I wasn't letting this one by. P.S. None of this is any President's fault. Congress some, GREED mostly.

Even if some of you are correct about Obama cutting taxes, it doesn't matter. Someone is going to have to pay the trillions that our fearless leader has added to the debt. How does it get paid if not from taxes? I wish you were right, and we could just keep printing the stuff up, but at some point it's going to bite us.

Actually, imnotlost, average gas prices were last at this level in April, 2008. They continued to climb up steeply, reaching an all time high of $4.11, right after Katrina. Then they plummeted down to $1.61, right around the presidential election. From there, they have gradually climbed up again. They were at around $3.19 in April of 2007, also.

http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

I suspect that the spike around the time of Katrina represented the oil companies' desire to profiteer, and the plummet was because Congress was threatening to investigate them. The timing is rather suspicious. I agree with you that little of this has anything to do with the president, any president.

imnotlost - Greed is at the core. I so agree. Sometimes the people of America, my people, our nation remind me bunch of toddlers in front of a plate of cookies, with instructions to take only one. I wish we would all take only one, and even cut them in half if we find there is not enough. Greed is a sad, sad state of affairs. I don't even have to state my party, but instead my values: honesty, hard work, education, charity for others, humility, equality, justice..... sigh. Are we lost as a nation? Will we have to march in the streets in order to resume sanity of government? Do you really feel one man, or two, or three, can represent you and your voice? Too much power has been taken from the individual. And too many have lost their direction, ideals and simply become blind followers. We must open our eyes, realize our ideals and choose our direction. Bring this country back to the power, discernment and choices of the people. With a government that listens and follows us, not one that tells us they know better and then takes the lead.

LOL.. love his line: "We’ve had enough of the hype and speeches filled with rhetoric that soars....This is about rolling up our sleeves, plowing forward, standing tall, and getting the job done"

I don't know much about this guy, but I saw his speech and it seemed very contrived; hopefully he will actually have some good plans instead of this "hype and speeches filled with rhetoric that soars".

What's also funny to see on these boards is all the "you liberal nuts" and "far left" chatter... I'm a registered Independent, however I have leaned left in recent years since the Rs don't seem to field anyone worth a damn... guess that makes me a far left liberal to some on this board.

Ternan-

You're pretty good at retyping some commonly available economic data. Now can you actually do any real analysis? Start by filtering out irrelevant data like commodity prices which generally are market driven. Next, denote which figures already had an upward trend from the Bush era (most of your data points). Then adjust the national debt by about $250B since Bush did not include the costs of Iraq or Afghanistan. Obama added them back in as soon as he took office. I could go on and on but I'm not sure you would eventually get it.

See, it's really understanding what's behind the numbers rather than just the numbers themselves.

Lets not forget all of the tax increases in the health care bill. There are a lot of them. The tax on medical procedures, lab work, medical devices.

"Lets tax grandma for her artificial hip. She's on social security, she can afford it. We'll tax grandpa for his motorized wheel chair. But he can't buy one unless he rents one for thirteen months, first. And when he dies, we'll pick his pockets for more. Screw our seniors, we have lazy bums to pay for."

These taxes only push the cost of care up. Don't forget the added 10% tax on tanning. the tax that discriminates against white women and gay men.

I can see why Pawlenty is confused over what planet Obama is from.

I mean, for eight years, he was serving a president from the Planet of the Apes.

Couldn't agree more. Yesterday 3 of my clients lost their jobs at a major U.S. firm due to outsourcing to Pakistan. That f ing trickle down has cost me 3 valuable clients. Guess I'll go order some of that there cake! Yummy

drk: Thanks for pointing that out. I had not remembered that the 2008 spike you brought up lasted as long as it did. I looked into it a little more and the charts show that it fell dramatically into 2009 and in 2010 it began to slowly creep back up and it most probably will never go down again significantly. Chipperdave implied this was the case several years prior. Politicking. I guess we all do it now and then. Regardless, inspite of all the moronic comments, some First Read and News Vine posters have some useful info.

Nice one Jon-2730330 ;)

Adams-lian

Will we have to march in the streets in order to resume sanity of government? Do you really feel one man, or two, or three, can represent you and your voice? Too much power has been taken from the individual. And too many have lost their direction, ideals and simply become blind followers. We must open our eyes, realize our ideals and choose our direction. Bring this country back to the power, discernment and choices of the people. With a government that listens and follows us, not one that tells us they know better and then takes the lead.

I agree with you whole heartedly! Our Corporate Government / Military Industrial Complex has taken control of our Country and WE THE PEOPLE! need to send them packing! Like Adams said, Not one person can do this on his/her own. We need to stand up and take back what’s ours. Someone mentioned that taxing the corporations and the rich is basically redistribution of income. So what!? I say it’s about time that our Corporate Government / Military Industrial Complex be taken down and their wealth be redistributed to the poor citizens of The United States of America IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION. Or, shall we forget our CONSTITUTION and move forward into the abyss which will surely be the end of civilization as we know it. Are WE going to be the followers of the blind and greedy! Not greedy for the opportunity to prove their ability, but, excessively desirous of acquiring or possessing, more than what one needs or deserves.

This is my opinion and it’s sole purposes are for education only.

Thank You!

Pawlenty and Barbour were the authors of "8 GOP Talking Points" that were complete lies. But they truly believe that if you tell a lie often enough, or loudly enough, or to ignorant enough people, they the lies will be believed. Here are the 8:

1) President Obama tripled the deficit.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first budget reduced that to $1.29 trillion.

2) President Obama raised taxes, which hurt the economy.
Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was spent on tax cuts with a disproportionate share going to the wealthy, which is one reason why it was less effective than it could have been.

3) President Obama bailed out the banks.
Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and began before the 2008 election of President Obama.

4) The stimulus didn't work.
Reality: The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.

5) Businesses will hire if they get tax cuts.
Reality: A business hires employees to meet demand. Having extra cash does not cause a business to hire, but a business that has a demand for what it does will find the money to hire. Businesses want customers, not tax cuts. Right now businesses are sitting on over $2 trillion in cash because of the lack of demand. Tax cuts increase profits, but not hiring.

6) Health care reform costs $1 trillion.
Reality: The health care reform reduces government deficits by $138 billion. I purposefully did not include any savings for electronic medical records because I personally think the savings will be tiny, but if you believe, say, half of the CBO projections, you can add another $50 - $150 billion.

7) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, is "going broke," people live longer, fewer workers per retiree, etc.
Reality: Social Security has run a surplus since it began, has a trust fund in the trillions, is completely sound for at least 25 more years and cannot legally borrow so cannot contribute to the deficit (compare that to the military budget!) Life expectancy primarily longer because fewer babies die; people who reach 65 live about the same number of years as they did 100 years ago. And lifespan has not changed much since Biblical days when the "number of man's years" was 70. The problem is that the Social Security, Highway, Airport and other trust funds were looted in the Reagan years, primarily to support the phony-baloney Star Wars (SDI) that spent over #1.3 trillion and achieved nothing except debt, potholes, and canceled flights.

8) Government spending takes money out of the economy.
Reality: Government is We, the People and the money it spends is on We, the People. Many people do not know that it is government that builds the roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that are the soil in which business thrives. Many people think that all government spending is on "welfare" and "foreign aid" when that is only a small part of the government's budget. This is especially true of infrastructure spending. If the government spends $20 million on a new federal building, it ends up 10 years later as a $40 million piece of property owned by the taxpayers.

Chris-537131 "Pawlenty and Barbour were the authors of "8 GOP Talking Points" that were complete lies. 1) President Obama tripled the deficit.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit."

Bush's last budget was for 2008, with a deficit of $549 Billion. Bush's PROPOSED budget for 2009 was for a deficit of $407 Billion, but it was ignored by the Democrats controlling Congress until Obama took office and passed the $862 Billion 'stimulus' bill, and only then did the Democrats in Congress pass a 2009 budget, which Obama signed in mid-March of 2009.

Your feeble attempts to blame Bush for the 2009 deficit defy logic, as well as reality.

PS - The President can only propose a budget, but only Congress can actually pass one, and for the last 4 years of out-of-control spending, the Democrats have controlled Congress.

Sorry, my fingers slipped - The last deficit under Bush was $459 Billion, not $549 Billion.

Do you conservatives know why Bush and Obama bailed out big businesses and Banks? Because they hire more employees than small businesses. Banks also write the loans for small business and working citizens, and people who work at big businesses shop on main street. Things would have been much worse if only 'main street' survived. Conservatives need to stop bragging about wanting to work, and get out and do it. There is still opportunity when there is 'supply and demand'. Quit lying to the public conservatives, I'm happy I have lower taxes and can buy more with the money corporations pay me. Maybe I'll shop on main street?

I am so glad that Sarah is not in the White House. When the Bush economy was collaspeing all the gop canidates disappeared and left John hanging. They were scared someone would aske them "whats your plan. How in the world can anyone fix the mess that was here 2 years ago, anyone remember? Yes capitalism has to have capital circulate and since business did not the government had to. When Carter left office in 1981 unemployment was 7.2% 20 months later it was 10.7%, but the right corner the market on pointing the finger. Has anyone noticed that George is not responsible for any of his mistakes?

Ternan,

Yes, but now we are more equal.

David Thomas.... I am still waiting for even one of Obama's 16 tax cuts.

Rapture... Your link to such answers has no answers.

Chris... Your Social Security Trust Fund was invested with people less honorable than Bernie Madoff. Yes Chris Social Security is in trouble because the money has been spent. You see it is gone.............ain't possible to pay it back.

It is gone.

A business is not going to hire unless the new labor is needed. I work as a commercial lender and if I had a customer tell me he was hiring because he had "excess" money and not because he needed the workers I would call his notes due and send him somewhere else. That is not how business works. Demand stimulates jobs because demand causes employers to have to hire more to be able to keep up with the demand but only if that increased demand is profitable. All this crap about corporations making so much in profits and still not hiring bla bla...is a non logical argument. If I can make better profits with 3 employees making 10000 widgets then I can with 6 employees making 20000 widgets, then why would I hire the additional people and make more widgets?

It is not the government's job to create jobs. They are supposed to govern this country, not make it work. It is not corporation's job to create jobs. They are supposed to make money for their stockholders not hire needlessly. No group can make or create jobs. That is up to us as individual consumers and the only way that happens is if we have disposable income to spend. That happens in two ways. One, we get paid more at our jobs so we have money to spend. Two, the government takes less of what we are paid so that we have more to spend. I am fine with either option. What I am not ok with is option three in which the government taxes and redistributes wealth to those that neither work or spend (because spending is just being done in the form of food stamps, subsidized housing, free health care, etc). If that is the country we are moving towards you will see many many tax payers leave this country and then what will happen to all the rest? Social programs should be designed and funded via charities, churches, donations, etc. Not the federal government through taxation and redistribution.

I have been a liberal health care worker for many years. All my life I voted for Democrats and went to work in places with highest poverty rates. What I see now is masses of new immigrants, legal and not, aggressively and deliberately scamming the daylight out of our Medicaid system. I see bullying of health care providers for large numbers of unnecessary prescriptions, often for over the counter medications, which Medicaid pays for. Demanding expensive diagnostic test and specialist referrals, reporting anyone who tells them such tests and specialists are unnecessary. These folks are dressed very nicely, and have all the latest Iphones and cars. Coming with large numbers of their relatives, they bully health care staff with an angry attitude of entitlement. Many questionable requests for 3 and 4 humidifiers, replacement of "lost or spilled" medicine.

I am so sorry to feel this way, but our free health care system is being abused and exploited.

Amy go smoke some more of that "Legal" stuff. Taxes are lower now than in the 50's. LOL

What kind of a hospital lets nut cases use computers? Amy's kind.

Pawlenty in 2012. A vote for the real deal.

Independent and voting for Tim in 2012.

Mark, Fox News cannot report the actual news. They don't know what facts are.

Did you guys know that there are other channels? I have been imploring folks around here for some time: please stop watching Fox, watch MSNBC - they really really need your viewership.

They are not doing so well. Also buy a book or two by Olbermann and co. They need more sales.

MSNBC has a far greater viewing audience than does FOX. And Glenn Beck ( the nutball) is losing more of his watchers every day....look it up and Praise the Lord... keep us from the lunitics

Awww Barbra did you just go scoreboard on me?

So where can I find the rating information you rely - the one that shows MSNBC has more viewers?

And just how many millions of viewers would Beckster have to lose to start getting MSNBC level ratings?

Barbara? Are you at Happy Hour already? No fair starting without the rest of us.

While many commentators and analysts on Fox news distort the issues and in some cases, out and out lie, some commentators and analysts on MSNBC leave out some important facts about the issues. While it is fine to listen to commentators that share our opinions, we also need to use other resources to research the issues.

Thank you Mary! I've been preaching that myself especially to those who wave the Constitution, Bill of Rights & Declaration of Independence as supporting their views. I doubt very few have ever read any of those documents for themselves unless it was back in school, most of which I'd bet they've long forgotten. With the resource to do so right at their finger tips they'd rather let someone else tell them what the documents say and the distortions fly. This information age is only good if you use it properly, you still have to use the brain God gave you instead of letting someone else think for you.

Those of you who have nothing to say on the topic at hand please leave for another blog.

Excellent Job Tim. You have my vote in 2012. I hope the Righties put you on the ballet. You do what you say, That alone will get you elected over Obummer. Great down to earth politician. He will be a refreshing change from the standard Washington idiots on both sides. Someone you can trust, someone with true international experience and an actual morale code he stands by, lives by, and works towards.

Independent and voting for Tim 2012.

Tim does ballet? What is morale code? I think you mean Morales' code. Is he a legal immigrant?

But if you ask HE might show you his birth certificate!

Roy that is an outright LIE. Tim's budget was balanced 100%. He had to do it himself because the left would not balance it as stated in our states laws. Just keep making things up, you look good with that foot in your mouth.

6.2 Billion is what we have this fiscal session/2 year period, Dayton is Gov now, not Pawlenty. Shocker Dayton is proposing much higher taxes and more spending. A true right of passage for the ultimate lefty.

Your Sex offender comment is so far out of bounds it is laughable. Just keep drinking that blue stuff.

Excellent Job Tim. You have my vote in 2012. I hope the Righties put you on the ballet. Great down to earth politician. He will be a refreshing change from the standard Washington idiots on both sides. Someone you can trust, someone with true international experience and an actual morale code he stands by, lives by, and works towards.

Independent and voting for Tim in 2012

Pawlenty's record has multiple instances of "creative accounting" to burnish his record and Minnesota currently has a substantial deficit to deal with, despite his attempts to suspend reality. His inability to negotiate in difficult circumstances hardly qualifies him for the office he now seeks. He's a (mediocre) politician - not a leader and certainly not a visionary; an underachiever of the first order.

Pawlenty is famous for producing budgets that allow the books to balance in the short run by creating larger deficits in the future. His "balanced" budget is reliant on Federal stimulus money.

Pawlenty is the worst kind of slime politician...he was elected as a moderate Republican in Minnesota, but has swung far to the right to further his political ambitions. He has obviously learned much from former senator Norm Coleman, who went from liberal Democrat to liberal Republican to moderate Republican to right-wing Repub & Bush's lapdog. Pawlenty will do and say whatever it takes to get elected. If he needs to swing to the left in the future, he will certainly do it. He is a self-serving phony.

Clueless Lefties. The facts show how wrong you are. Tim is the real deal.

Why is it that an honest man scares the heck out of the left. I guess it is strange for them to realize they actually exist. Go Tim You the Man.

2008 we voted for change, 2010 we screamed for change, 2012 we will finish the change. Independent and voting for Tim.

caradjt, you are the one that is clueless. The child molestation issue was on EVERY Mn t.v. station there is, no way around the fact he let this loser out of jail. The budget deficit was also on EVERY t.v. station in Mn. Just keep getting your news from Fox. It shows your mentality. Pawlenty wont make it out of the first round for Pres. He's a complete loser and a fraud. Start using your own head to think caradjt.

Caradjt: You know Enron and Worldcoms books were balenced very very well......How are they doing? Hell this week I balenced my checkbook by just writting down that I deposited a $300 check and now im 100% balenced. I just hope the bank lives in make believe land too.

Pawlenty talks like he has actually created a job in the frozen state. Here is an estimate of the number of jobs he's created....zero. Tiny Tim needs to crawl back into his frozen hole!

Caracjt, Do you realize you keep saying the same thing over and over? Okay, you are an independent who plans to vote for Pawlenty. Knock yourself out. You and who else will be voting along those lines. By the way, you saying the same thing 10 times still only counts and 1.

First the Demo's attack Tim's budget and state factually his budget is 6.2 billion in the hole. -- NOT

Now they state as a fact that it was creative budgeting that balanced the budget, the same budget that was not balanced to start with? -- NOT

Then they Hit on jobs by Pawlenty. Fact MN has one of the lowest UE # in the Nation -- Wrong Again As a matter of fact Mn did not receive the 99 week extension because its UE was so low.

Then in standard form they attack Tim's pardon of a Sex offender. A crime the offender did not commit. Unfortunately at the expense of a poor little girl. An independent panel found This man was framed and did not commit the crime he was put in prison for. -- WRONG AGAIN and shame on you for taking a cruel incident and trying through lying to get a political point from it. Yes the jerk commited the crime but not the one he was pardoned for. What is it about Demos and that nasty habit of trying to turn crimes and death into a political rallying points. First Wellstone dies in a Plane crash = political rally, 2nd AZ Congresswomen is shot = Political Rally, 3rd Poor kids is abused = political rallying point. It shouldn't be long now and the lefties will try the race card.

Now the personal attacks start since no facts can be found backing up ANYof the points that have been brought up. Just keep watching those TV shows in MN, by the way it is no secret Rachel is on cable in MN, you will get the truth, LOL. I live in MN and Never, Never, Never, have I heard anyone from MN state creative accounting was used by Tim to balance the budget. Keep the lies up you morons and the Tea Party just continues to grow in strength.

2008 we voted for change, 2010 we screamed for change, 2012 we will finish the change. Independent and voting for Tim.

Corp tax rates, just like personal tax rates need to have minimum levels where no loopholes will apply. IE. Personal tax rate at 15% which can be lowered to 10% if you contributed to Local non profits etc.

Same thing for Corp tax rates 20%, that can be lowered to 10% through job creation or green energy development etc. The %'s I used, are for example purposes only.

If every one paid their fair share we would destroy this deficit in no time. With the smaller loopholes for corp America their influence in Washington would be diminished as well.

I believe we badly need a truth in taxation policy implemented. Wow could you imagine that, we would actually know the who/what/where/why and when of our tax dollars. No more bait and switches, no more borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, no more smoke and mirrors taxation policies.

Just some thoughts from an independent mind. Go Tim in 2012

caradjt, your delusional. Get help fast. Your man Tiny Tim doesnt stand a chance in 2012. Stop kidding yourself.

Don't you love Pawlenty's 'armchair quarterbacking?' It comes in handy when running for office---ditto for like remarks from 'Ms. Sarah' and the infamous 'you're fired' Trump!

You would know about the cold David as you are from Kenosha, it's chilly up there especially with a 10-11% unemployment rate, or perhaps the frostbite on the brain can be attributed to spending too much time in the Woodman's frozen food section.

Most, if not all, politicians are nothing but a fancy catch phrase in a suit!

Dave somebody is suffering from Brain freeze, that fact is a reality.

Mn has one of the lowest UE in the nation, Thanks Tim.

Mn had a balanced budget under Tim, Thanks Tim. Just to name a few.

Dave if you quit eating the yellow snow your headache will go away. Not sure how the after taste will be.

Amy, may we assume that the change will have zero effect on you?

Tell us dear, how many times would you like that income taxed? Is once or in most cases twice not enough for you? Why do you feel that death is a taxable event? Do you find Obama culbable for the tax law changes - that benefit the "wealthy?"

Hey Spanky, would you give up part of your retirement so that some of those poor folks can have a little more tax break? They're really suffering ya know.

Oh and since the tax cuts were kept in place, where the hell are all the jobs?

Sparky,

The person originally responsible for the money was taxed. The person gaining that money in inheritance will be taxed as if they had personally earned it. It can only be counted twice if the government tries to tax the dead guy.

Big Tee - - Have'nt you seen where the Unemployment figures have come down from 9.8% to 9.0% in just the last few months. (Don't ask me how but that is what it shows)

That's ok- let 'em spout garbage. Look how normal people reacted to the 'Aqua Buddah' nonsese in the long run.

Another leftie spewing crap. Gib is talking about Obummer and his apology's to the world for the USA. Which was A joke in my opinion.

Go Pawlenty in 2012. A True American, that will do what he said he would. Hardworking, honest and he has moral standards, he stands by, works towards, and achieves. Not another blow hole politician that Washington is so famous for now.

Pawlenty in 2012

Hey drive by-Tim is a Republican Governor-not an evangelical. Get your facts straight and quit making crapy up because it stinks..You have some of that crap stuck to you-better go clean up!

What is the GOP going to do about the banks who created this mess?

Does anyone really think that cutting the federal government spending will fix anything?

States are still putting their hands out for funds (like NJ during the snow crisis they had).

If state and local governments were more fiscally responsible, the federal spending would decrease too.

So, what IS the GOP plan? That is, beyond cutting the feds budget.

A little racist don't you think, Vernon?

I didn't vote for Obama but I was open to see what changes he might make for the good. I liked one change to health care he made, keeping insurence companies from declining people with pre-existing conditions. I am still open to seeing some good things.

Obama appears to me to be more of an activist at heart. He is not presidental.

It would be nice if we all could get passed the name calling and have an actaul conversation.

Here's your typical, chronically unemplyoed, bitter, racist dem getting ahold of the laptop at the free clinic.

"Vern" Spewing crap just puts more people in the Tea parties pocket. Pawlenty is the real deal. He will do what he states, he is hard working, he has a clue on international issues, he is honest, imagine that honesty. He will not do thing just because the left or the right tell him to doit. He will act on what is in the best interest of this country, just like he did in MN.

An Independent from MN, and voting for true change and Tim......

Obama Lies! What a sick and demented mind you express on-line! I think it reflects the people you defend! Disgraceful

dem4ife,

Pawlenty is simply "producing" cheap, uneducated, oppressed labor of the future.

I would like to see someone actually follow the money trail. Where does the money really go? To the students, smaller class rooms, books? Or to teachers retirements, their health insurance during retirement, pension plans or the social programing of our kids which takes away the time they could be teaching math, science, reading etc.

As a parent and tax payer I would like to actually see real, quality changes made to the school systems. I don't think it is wise to continue handing money over without having some saw as to how it is used.

In my opinion we are in the mess we are in due to the liberal ideas that started years ago.

Dem4life, your name states it all. Being from MN myself and being an independent. I see thing a bit clearer that what those blue glasses allow you to do.

Pawlenty was forced by the Dem houses in this state to make the budget work. REMEMBER the Dems could not agree on anything other than more taxes and and more spending!!!!!!!! Pawlenty by LAW was forced into budget cuts to make our budget balanced. For goodness sake take that blue koolaid and throw it away. Get real and speak some facts. Turn off MSNBC and for that matter Fox and do some reseach before you stuff your foot in your mouth again.......................

Independent and voting for Tim in 2012

caradjt

Pawlenty was forced by the Dem houses in this state to make the budget work

if Pawlenty was forced to do anything then why did he exercise his right to veto the budget-balancing plan proposed by Democratic Party leaders in Minnesota?

Bay. It had tax hikes in it, along with increases in spending. I run a house hold and I agree 100% with no more spending, no more taxing, no more big Gov. It has failed miserably for Obama, why continue on a losing course. Pawlenty had publicly stated he would veto that kind of a bill, and he was backed by the populace. Instead the Demo's tried what the US House did and force the issue down our throats. Tim drew the line and held it. Just as we voter had wanted. Thank you TIM, you did what you promised and upheld why we voted for you.

caradjt

Pawlenty was forced by the Dem houses in this state to make the budget work.

your claim was that he was forced. your claim is false. to make budget work is in his (every governor's) job description. that is what he was hired for.

Bay you have not a clue what Mn laws and the legislation that occurred. I was straight forward with my first reply. If you do not want to deal in the truth then move on. By the way, Pawlenty ran on this issue, and as he always does, he did what he said he would, vetoed it. The House knew this and then tried to spin it another way. Thank goodness we still have some news channels that tell the truth and uncovered this as just another lie by the Demo congress. GO MN, GO TIM, GO AZ............

I don't think anyone wants to pay NO taxes or cut ALL services. What if we cut funding of unNECESSARY programs. And I am not talking about cutting srvices to the needy, the poor, disabled etc. But weall know there is a lot of abuse of the awesome and necessary services we offer. I jus think we all work hard for our money- money we need to survive, it should be used wisely.

Does anyone really know all of the programs we fund? Is it written anywhere?

Are there any programs you would like to see go away or are you ok with putting your money toward whatever the government chooses?

Cuts to programs and tax increases are both necessary to reduce the deficit. President Bush, Sr. and President Clinton understood this.

The post office could go away and I doubt it would be missed. My police and Fire are paid for with local taxes.

The conservatives are not against paying taxes, they are against conservatives paying taxes

Jim nice sound bite, please only comment when you have something intelligent to say.......

Follow the blue light, follow the blue light, follow the blue light.

Independent and voting for Tim.

How about Uranus? Dimness with slow orbit.

joann, I am paying attention to cpac and I will pay attention to the dems when there turn comes. It is the only way to get a grip on these politicians point of view. You as is your right in this country may choose to ignor one party or the other totally based on the color they wear. I choose based on who is best for the job. By the way Egypt will do what is best for Egypt. Tell all the politicians this is not a campaign stop and their comments are not welcome.........................

Independent and praying Tim is on the ticket for the Rep.....

I agree, Tom.. I applied for a Notary Public license during the previous administration.. $40 application fee to the Dept. of Commerce.. Fine.. $25 to register my signature in the County.. Fine.. Reapplyed during the "No New Taxes, just Fees" Pawlenty administration.. Same $40 to the D of C, fine.. $100 to register my signature with the County.. All I had to do to register, was sign my danged name on a 3 X 5 card, that got filed away somewhere.. Incredible..

"Tom" I am surprised you even know how to spell Tim's name. Your statements are so off they are laughable.

1.) Pawlenty won in one of the bluest states in the union, a great tribute to his Character.

2.) Pawlenty changed taxes that were being robbed by the left to pay for stuff that they were never intended for and had the duties and fees applied to the stuff they were intended for. Image that, a fee on auto's for autos.

3.) Pawlenty did exactly as he promised he would when he switched taxes being paid to the state for local services, to taxes paid directly to the counties/cities for county/city level services. Image that, paying for services at the level they are delivered. Truth in taxation I think it is called.........

4.) Your statement about the budget balancing is so far fetched it is funny. State Law clearly states. When the Houses can not agree on a budget, it is his responsibility to make the necessary budget changes to balance it for the fiscal period. 6.2 billion is for the new fiscal period and the new Gov's watch.

5.) Tom before you speak such nonsence, you better make sure their is no one around that will point out the truth.

Independent and voting for Tim 2012

A least it is not that crap MSNBC keeps pumping out of there well. Mn land of 10.000 lake and sky blue crystal clear water........

Go TIM you scare the heck out of the lefties.

Yes caradjit, it is something in the water....the wild rice, pond scum and bacterial meningitis really messes a person up over there...

Tim is a hard working, honest, moral, and follows his statements with actions. Something the left should try. Tim will straighten out this mess in Washington, that was created by both parties.

2012 go Tim. A breath of fresh air in a overly poluted Federal Gov.

There is no such thing as a hard working, honest, moral Republican. Where have you been?

Paying attention to the person not what party he belongs to. You should try it, it may uncloud your sight JBURNS.

Ram Rive

I remember how the USA was when GW was in office.

Unemployment was 6-7 not 9 and Defecit was less then it is now.

Jorge, your memory must be a bit impaired...our economy started declining in 2007. Last time I checked, GW was in office up until the beginning of 2009.

Jorge,

I remember when Clinton was in office. The unemployment was 4%. The budget was balanced and we had a surplus. Then came Hurricane George and took out all the positive numbers.

When GW left office the unemployment was climibing due to the financial market and the forclosures. We are still paying for that mess and we will continue to pay for that mess.

GW took 8 years to double the unemployment and leave us with a 10 trillion dollar debt, yet, you expect Obama to wave his magic wand and stop the runnaway train??

Ram Riva- ahh...no, the US is not highly respected anymore.

Bayllie, lets remember how the foreclosure problem started, group like ACORN insisted banks lend money to people who really did not have the means to pay it back- you know- social justice, ecnomic justice, whatever you want to call it. As I recall bama was a part of ACORN and the push for these laws.

If Obama can blame Bush for the crappy economy he walked into then Clinton should credit Bush Sr. for the great economy he walked into. Can't have it both ways.

:)

Go Tim, Your honesty, hard work and ethics should easily put you into office...

Tim in 2012

Liberals will never, ever admit when they are wrong! BO's invokes Reagan for votes but ACTS like Jimmy Carter in practice. BO never has cut taxes, but claims he did when he extended Bush's tax cuts! Pawlenty is wrong about wondering what planet BO came from... he and the rest of us knows that he came from Kenya! Just as we know he's a Muslim, pretending to be a Christian.

I will give him this... BO is a great politician... but as a leader he fails miserably! Politicians lie, leaders lead.

Please make him give up the teleprompter and the rhetoric and make him work for the country, we can't take two more years of this! It will be just that much harder in 2012 for the new President!

ArmyMom,

Bayllie, lets remember how the foreclosure problem started, group like ACORN insisted banks lend money to people who really did not have the means to pay it back

You are seriously going to blame the 2008 financial meltdown on ACORN??????

The global financial crisis was caused not just by the bankers' colossal mismanagement; it was also due also to the financial complexity offering up the opportunity for widespread, systemic fraud.

Banks offered loans that should never have been made –and there is no piece of legislature out there that forces ANY bank to give out a loan to anyone who does not meet the criteria.

Loans were given out to people without checking financials, credit scores or even IDs. Incomes were inflated to make the requirements. ACORN did not do this. Banks did this.

Your post shows how naive and easily influenced you are. "ACORN is responsible for the financial meltown" is the funiest thing I've ever heard. Where did you hear that? Beck, Hannity, Palin?

Baylle--

Exactly. Every time Repubs get into office we have : wars, scandals, slashing of services and therefore jobs, mean (I mean Mean) cuts to social services that help people climb out of poverty and misfortune--so Xtian of them) and DEBT. Oh, and pandering to rich people and lobbyists. We have prison/industrial/military --that's so democracy. Oh, yes, and escalated drug wars that wreck havoc on our country and plenty of others.

All they can do is spew their lies, and hate--let loose their fear mongering, conspiracy theorists who can make them robot-walk to the polls and vote against those "evil" liberals (while their own liberties are eroded by the RepuTeas)

Cpac just revs them up, like a WWE convention...

We're sick of them, sick of the culture wars, sick of their murderous talk, sick of their abortion crap, in other words Pawlenty:

You can leave any time. I think there is a planet out there that will take you. Just consult with your pal, Mitt--Mormons know all about those planets that Mormons go to after they die and take their twelve kids and their baptised dead people with them...

Just leave already...

LiberalLibrarian

We're sick of them, sick of the culture wars, sick of their murderous talk, sick of their abortion crap,

On top of that, I am sick of this country being hated by the rest of the world. We are seen as a bully. Some see it as a status but they don't see the consequences.

Bay are you here to just bi-ch. Nothing pleases you. Move to Iran or somewhere you will really be heard. Try being positive about something, anything. Whine baby........

Acorn had very little if anything to do with the melt down. It was greedy bankers and brokers that took the deregulation and ran it into the ground. They created monster companies that were to big to fail and then shoved it right up the middle classes a$$. Bush and Obama paid them off and put them back on their feet again. Where they are doing somewhat the same things again.

Acorn was involved with the faulty voter registrations, Mickey Mouse etc. They also rallied a lot of non-voters into becoming voters. They were almost exclusively a Demo propaganda machine and voter registra. Hope that helps

First of all the government health care sytem in Canada and the euopean countries is terrible. Is there anything...in the us... that is well run by the government?? I haven't seen it.

You should find a clip of Pawlenty on the view to hear first hand his view on out sourcing jobs. He says the reality is that we are living in a global economy- just a the left has wanted for a long time- but that he doesn't think we should be chumps.

I would like to see the US set the same rules for China and other countries as they have for US companies in their countries.

Really, check it out

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/01/31/steel_deal_reveals_pawlentys_priorities_on_security_jobs_108711.html

Here is some real news on Pawlenty. I do not know of any politician in Washington that would do this. He is the real deal, honest, hard working, ethical, and he will do what he promises.. A true breath of freah air in a very dirty Washington.

Independent and voting for Tim in 2012

what planet do you clowns that think he could make a decent president live on? He single handedly amassed a 6.5 billion, yes that is a b, debt on the people of Minnesota. Is that fiscal conservatism? Apparently so looking back on the 8 years of Bush and Minnesotas 8 years of T Paw. Good luck to his supporters.

Is there anything well run by the government (someone asked as a rhetorical question) answer: just about everything in the civilian government is run well--medicare, medicade, irs (yes even therm) --

and if you (R) quit putting the fox in charge of the henhouse in every department: park service, forest service, usgs, bls, --I could go on.

I was raised in a family who worked for the federal government: US Bureau of Mines (now gone) and the Park Service. I worked for the Park Service a while back as well. These are dedicated people who love their country and do a good job. They get paid less than "private sector" and there are no "perks" from lobbyists or others...the CEO (executive director) does not make 200 times what a GS9 makes.

My father literally gave his life to government civil service: he had a stroke caused by a kick from a horse while he was evaluating wilderness areas for their mineral content...he lived 34 years as a severely brain damaged person. He's gone now--in a better place than this I'm sure.

I hope my little story makes some "all government is bad" people pause and reflect on the myriad of things that our government does, if it isn't compromised by the nepotism, greed and dismantling crowd that the RRRWW puts into place to wreck it.

Have a nice day--I'm going to my county job as a public librarian and help people get computer access, find the right information and books, you know "small government stuff"

SO the right say obama raise taxes then why is the fed taxes at it lowest rate , going all the way back to the 50s and i check my pay role check stubs all the way back to the 2001 and i have to say my taxes are lower now than it was back then and i also made less than i do now,

CG, Tim did not create a 6.2 billion deficit for MN. That is the projected deficit for the next fiscal period (next 2 Years). Rachel must really have a following. I heard her say that almost word for word when I was channel surfing the other day. Lies Buddy Lies.

Wilpa, I thought you dems had something against mixing religion and politics. You obviously do not. You have nailed yourself up on the cross of victimhood so hard, all you are missing is a crown of thorns. Everybody is doing everything to you and your likeminded believers. Your life is a tragic series of events perpetrated by everything and everybody that has done anything you don't agree with. Glad I do not share in your grand delusion. I will adapt and do well no matter who is in the WH.

Excellent Job Tim. You have my vote in 2012. I hope the Righties put you on the ballet. You do what you say, That alone will get you elected over Obummer. Great down to earth politician. He will be a refreshing change from the standard Washington idiots on both sides. Someone you can trust, someone with true international experience and an actual morale code he stands by, lives by, and works towards.

Independent and voting for Tim.

I agree Dayton should have never been elected. He claims his mental issues have been resolved. Leave it to MN to give the guy another chance. It is a nice character reference for Tim to get elected twice from such a far left state. Tim is the real deal. He follows through on his promises, works hard, good family man. He will do what is best for all concerned not some special interest group.

The link is a good show of what Tim is really made of. Take a look and judge for yourself. www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/01/31/steel_deal_reveals_pawlentys_priorities_on_security_jobs_108711.html

Corp tax rates, just like personal tax rates need to have minimum levels where no loopholes will apply. IE. Personal tax rate at 15% which can be lowered to 10% if you contributed to Local non profits etc.

Same thing for Corp tax rates 20%, that can be lowered to 10% through job creation or green energy development etc. The %'s I used, are for example purposes only.

If every one paid their fair share we would destroy this deficit in no time. With the smaller loopholes for corp America their influence in Washington would be diminished as well.

I believe we badly need a truth in taxation policy implemented. Wow could you imagine that, we would actually know the who/what/where/why and when of our tax dollars. No more bait and switches, no more borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, no more smoke and mirrors taxation policies.

Just some thoughts from an independent mind. Go Tim in 2012