Time to debunk some myths

Re: Myth: Conservative equals fiscal sense

Letters mixing "facts" like brownies in a pan will bring true Conservatives to the table. Conservatives come out to play if provoked and in this case, the "prevailing myth" letter provokes just enough with attempted misdirection to get a response. Socialism, not fiscal sense, is the true subject of the "myth" letter.

Example: Increased military spending overseas and weapons research. In fact, adjusting for two war fronts and 9/11, our military spending is probably down from the year 2000; regardless, would bin Laden have been caught under a reduced spending program and would the super secret stealth "chopper" that got us in even have been developed? How would a Socialist use the "saved" money? ... Welfare.

Conservatives believe that the protection of our country is the most important job of government, not welfare. Military spending that saves lives is a force of law and in the big picture, a mandatory fiscal requirement that has to be budgeted ahead of paying unemployment to those not even seeking work. Does North Korea and Iran having nuclear capabilities even impress the Left?

Reducing taxes for the wealthy? First, let's get this income tax thing straight once and for all:

In plain language:

1. One half of all U.S. taxpayers pay little or no income taxes.*

2. The other half pay 97 percent of the total taxes collected by I.R.S.

3. The so called rich of our population, which includes virtually all small businesses, pay one third, 33 percent, of all tax revenues while representing only 1 percent of the taxpayer base.

(I.R.S. publications, rounded)

* Also, for the 50 percent who pay 3 percent or less, through the earned income credit plan (a contradiction in terms) additional money may be available. Potentially, half our entire population could qualify to get back more money in tax refunds than they pay in! A Left Wing Democratic Congress came up with this fiscal responsibility program.

Article 1 (Sections 7 and 8) of the Constitution: Presidents (e.g. Bush and Reagan) have some veto powers but only Congress can control income taxes and set brackets. Presidents can suggest budgets cuts and other measures, but the ultimate authority belongs to Congress. The myth letter is right about damage to our debt load, but wrong about the source. Redistribution of wealth (euphemism for welfare) is causing our deficit: paying out more than we take in. Socialists believe in blaming the rich or corporations or big oil when their social programs run out of money, but Fiscal Conservatives believe taking money from those who have earned it to give to those who don't even work is a violation of THEIR freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.

Medicare cost reductions and the drug war? Major social programs are headed by presidential appointments, governed by Congress. If Medicare is mismanaged, Congress is responsible for the lack of needed reforms and the President is responsible for his/her appointments.

Current social programs are unsustainable: The Office of Management and Budget, and Congressional Sub-Committees, agree that without reductions in benefits, change of retirement age, and/or raises in the tax brackets, current social programs can bankrupt our country. On Obama's watch, debt is increasing $1.6 trillion a year, $3.6 trillion alone in 27 months. The current Congress has spent 3 times more than the prior Congress, in the same time frame. We are headed for an 18 trillion dollar deficit disaster!! (one trillion = 1,000 billion.) Is this the "myth's" alternative to conservative fiscal responsibility ?

Big oil subsidies? That program stopped more than 20 years ago; it only continues now as a credit for small company explorations. Corporations, big oil and the "rich" are listed as the enemy by Socialists who consider them easy targets when their unsustainable social programs are short of cash.

Corporations as "entities." Most of the taxes paid from corporations comes from individual personnel and stockholders, not the corporation per se (e.g. payroll taxes, income taxes). The impact of U.S. business on Federal income is trillions because successful corporations invest a large portion of their gains back into the economy; this expansion creates new jobs and wealth for all income levels. The system works if Left Wing Socialists/unions don't tax American business "out of business" through social welfare and completely unsustainable retirement programs.

Our country needs more Conservatives. When Reagan took the 70 percent top income tax bracket and reduced it to 28 percent , the so-called "rich" started to invest again. Jimmy Carter's 70 percent tax bracket dried up available investment capital as the risk factor vs. returns was not justified. At Reagan's 28 percent, the investors re-entered the market with dramatic results! Corporate and personal spending increased! More sales, more jobs! More investment, more growth! Increasing taxes, which is the goal of the current administration, will take us back toward a Carter economy. This is not a fiscal falsehood.

Our Founders and Framers knew that Franklin's Democratic Republic could not be held without the establishment of Conservatism including the protection of God given rights and equality to all persons rich or poor. The Conservative's credo comes from a paraphrased Ronald Reagan gem: "lay to rest the MYTH that Conservatives are a small purist ideological group when in reality they are the cornerstone of our society."

Thanks to a good paper.

John Clark is a Coeur d'Alene resident.