Taxes, Entitlements, Fuel Prices, and Trouble

Well, regardless of who gets into the White House, taxes will go up. It's just a matter of when, how much, and who's most adept at avoiding them.

Increase taxes too fast and too high and you'll force a mass exodus, and I'd be right there with you. Perhaps some English, Portuguese, or Spanish-speaking country. Because I know only one word in Chinese.

Also, entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security (if they remain as they are) will bankrupt America long before taxes do, unless the war in Iraq bankrupts America first (see A Little Perspective on $87 billion).

No president or presidential-candidate since Reagan (the start of my political memory), in my opinion, has had or does have the political will to do what's needed*. Scrap the current system and enact a new system that doesn't rely on the current generation funding entitlements for the next generation. Instead build an internationally invested, mandated version of a 401K system. I don't blame the politicians either, because it ain't pretty (*Check out "The Coming Generational Storm" by Kotlikoff and Burns).

McCain? Poor guy. He could easily win this election if he were twenty years younger. Now he has to count on either Ronmey or Huckabee as Vice President. If McCain can only pretend not to seem so eager to build a base in Iraq and rock-and-roll (slang for a rifle on full automatic) in Iran, he'd have a pretty good shot. Perhaps, he could even make me an argument for his presidency. Unfortunately, he's not that disciplined (Huckabee is). His only hope? Scare the heck outta the country like Dubya and Karl Rove did in 2004. If he does that successfully...he's in.

However, whomever votes for him better pray their children never have to answer the following question, because it may be on the Iran test (It was on my Boot Camp test ). "What's the muzzle velocity of an M16A1[A2] rifle?"

Because once their teenagers are in Iran (or Iraq), taxes or the price of fuel won't be what keeps them up at night.

At least Obama will be around to vilify if it all goes to hell. Or, as my Army buddies would put it, you can't kick a dead guy's ass.