The current administration was elected by a small percentage majority of Americans who wanted change for a variety reasons.
The ideology they supported was far right on the political spectrum. Two of the primary tenants of that ideology are:
Individual Responsibility: There’s typically a strong emphasis on individual responsibility, self-reliance, and personal accountability. Less emphasis may be placed on societal factors contributing to individual circumstances.
Limited Government: Many right-wing ideologies advocate for limited government intervention in the economy and individual lives. They often favor free markets, lower taxes, and deregulation.
As you now know, that is the direction in which we are being pushed. However, I doubt the majority of Americans knew what they voted for, instead being swayed by fear and misinformation, primarily about their own government, crime, immigration and taxes.
Limited government, lower taxes and individual responsibility sound ideal – but for the great majority of Americans are naive and unrealistic.
What Americans voted for were people who would dismantle Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other social programs if they could. People who see fellow citizens who use social programs as shirkers, even parasites.
People who believe that they can cut so much waste and fantasy “fraud” it will reduce the deficit and enable lower taxes, but who create their own definition of fraud and ignore the consequences of cuts on tens of millions of Americans, likely more.
People who use “lefty” as a pejorative and align any social programs with socialism, if not communism thereby demonstrating they don’t know what either one means.
MAGA minions seem to believe the same thing.
Americans in the 18th and 19th century had to fend for themselves. For many it didn’t go well. It is estimated that the U.S. population in 1800 was 5,308,483. Now 340 million. In 1800, the life expectancy at birth in the United States was about 29 years – not much need for social programs. Now about 78.4
This is the 21st century, a much different world, a more complex, a more connected, interdependent world. Many more people, many different people.
We can’t even compare with the 1950s let alone the 1800s.
I have asked on several social media sites,
“Please explain how you think the Trump administration with make life better for you and your family and also benefit the long term interests of United States.”
I have yet to get an answer.
Now it’s your turn if you are so inclined.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
so, there was no surtax in the 1970’s – unlike your first note said there was and this new note says there wasn’t, that it ended in 1969.
Go ahead and pay all the taxes you think you should pay. I am already paying much more in taxes than I think I should pay.
what is the difference between today’s lower incomes among40+% of households when compared to 1970’s low income households who paid 14% on their first dollar of taxable income. Did the folks in the 1970’s get money from France or something?
I was there and I paid taxes on my first dollar of taxable income.
finally, even if you got your wish for say a 20% surtax, that would only exacerbate the issue because 20% of $0 is $0! Same 40+% pay no income taxes.
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“There is a reason we don’t tax the forty-some lowest percent. They don’t have any money. Many even receive subsidies rather than paying taxes, and rightly so.”
Tax me. Ten percent surcharge would be about 100$ a month. Well worth it if we could get out of debt in a few years. I would vote to increase your taxes too, nothing personal. Don’t tax my little sister. She is living on SS alone.
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What justification was there in taxing the lower 40% back in 1970? Why doesn’t that justification remain in effect today? My point is that part of the reason why we don’t garner enough revenue is because 40+% of American households are free riders on the taxes you and I pay.
Times change, sure. But the basics of Public Finance have not changed from when I studied that material in the 1970’s. The lack of accountability drives the ever increasing demand for new entitlements, regardless of the cost – whether we are talking about Medicare Part D (with no specific additional revenue source), Health Reform (with no specific additional revenue source other than bogus crap like the CLASS Act), or the Inflation Reduction Act (with no specific additional revenue source).
If we continue to do what we have previously done, we will continue to get what we already have – $1.5 – $2 Trillion a year in annual deficits, more national debt.
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Trump Says He Knows ‘Nothing About’ How AI Pope Photo Got Posted on His Social Media Page, but Claims Melania Found It ‘Cute’
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Reporter: “Who drew that sharpie line on the weather map?”
Trump: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know.”
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Unbelievable, literally.
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Obviously, you don’t know that “tax the rich” means taxing wealth. To do that, you would need a constitutional amendment. When you express it as a surtax, that confirms you have confused a tax on income with a tax on wealth.
I paid income taxes throughout the 1970’s – every year. I don’t recall any “surtax”. Perhaps you meant marginal income tax rates, where in 1970, single filers paid 14% of their 1st dollar of income? That would subject 40+% of American households who pay no income taxes today to shoulder some of the general revenue burden in 2026. Not even socialists like Bernie, Liz and AOC would vote for that.
Get serious.
Myself, I would be in favor of prospectively getting rid of all tax preferences, loopholes, deductions exemptions and taxing all individuals and corporate profits at 17% – starting with the 1st dollar. That, coupled with taking away Congress’ power to buy votes (let everything that is temporary expire, including the TCJA Trump changes, then curtail the federal government to something that has a semblance of a government of limited, enumerated powers) – which would put the federal budget into surplus in FY 2026. Then, on to making Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid sustainable for generations to come – not just old people like me.
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“The Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968 is a United States law that created a temporary 10 percent income tax surcharge for both individuals and corporations through June 30, 1969, to help pay for the Vietnam War.”
“As a result of the tax, the federal government had a budget surplus in 1969, which was its last surplus until 1998.”
Wikipedia
I said “Tax me”. My income is higher (slightly) than average, but not my wealth. And tax all those with higher income.
There is a reason we don’t tax the forty-some lowest percent. They don’t have any money. Many even receive subsidies rather than paying taxes, and rightly so.
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If I pay more in taxes what extra benefits do I receive? You pay more you get more isn’t that the American way?
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IF… It paid off the debt in a few years, it would save you thousands going forward. Plus the pride of patriotism.
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Al/Jack have presented well thought out responses and I can’t add much except to say that only Election Day I only had 2 choices, actually I could have stayed home, so I voted Trump. The other choice was a no go. No, I wasn’t voting to take us back to the 19th century. I didn’t vote to end The OASDI/HI program. I voted for what I thought would be a lack of foreign adventurism with the military and some semblance of controlling the borders and support of law and order. That Trump jumped out of the box with his program has disappointed me and his lack of control of spending is not my choice. I will hope things get better in the next few years. Am I sorry I didn’t vote for his opponent? Absolutely not.
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AL LINDQUIST
You echo my thoughts Jack–of course if you don’t agree with the left then you are misinformed–now, they themselves have excuses for the opening of the border–and failing to follow up on a president suffering from diminished capacity–those are big and heady forms of misinformation–of course if the goal is turn purple to blue they are perfectly happy, or hatred of Trump so great that they will do all they can to not report on it.
Where do budget cuts come from one would ask Mr. Quinn? Quinn’s philosophy seems to grow government at every stage of its operation. Something that is so obvious is that a program begins on sound footing and then all sorts of additional programs are added but to keep folks happy no additional revenue need be raised–then when the sh.. hits the fan we are told to pony up.
“Lefty” is lefty in my world. Now the left changes its name on occasion say from comrade to liberal to progressive and Bernie is still a self-described socialist. The idea of government dictating so many facets of life like Trump telling Harvard what to teach or who to hire–or Biden, his Progressives, and the New Green Deal. They both don’t do much for me other than make me angry.
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“Please explain how you think the Trump administration will make life better for you and your family and also benefit the long term interests of United States.”
Do Americans really know what they wanted and voted for and what it may mean to them?
I didn’t vote for Clinton, Obama 1, Obama 2, Trump 1, Biden or Trump 2. I didn’t vote for some of the other major party candidates in the same election. Nonetheless, Americans voted them in and they are my presidents as much as they are for those who voted for them.
Individual Responsibility: If more Americans become individually responsible, that will improve my family’s situation. I have been individually responsible all my life, partnering with others (military service, church, etc.) from time to time. Have been working full time since I was 19, now 55+ years (with unemployment for perhaps 4 months during that period). If Trump actions has even a small percentage of other Americans follow suit, that will improve life for many more Americans.
If we continue to do what we have most recently done, starting in the 21st Century, recently adding $1.5 – $2 Trillion a year to national debt, by buying votes either through excusing nearly half of Americans from shouldering the burden of funding government, or offering entitlements that they didn’t properly fund, how long before the current crisis of debt becomes a catastrophe – including underfunding of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?
Limited Government: What makes you think that larger, deficit-funded government is somehow superior to limited government? About 1/4th of today’s government spending is simply on the national credit card. That’s not how I run my household’s finances, why should I be comfortable letting government officials run others’ households in such a manner.
Tell me, what’s the alternative you believe would be superior? It surely cannot be continuation of precedents set by Bush 2, Obama, Trump 1, and Biden. Tell me you weren’t concerned about government waste, incompetence, crime, and immigration abuses.
“Limited government, lower taxes and individual responsibility sound ideal – but for the great majority of Americans are naive and unrealistic.” Yes, Yes. YES! The majority of Americans apparently believe in and vote for Santa Claus or Robin Hood federal government … continuation of our recent past practices, which added $26+ Trillion in national debt over the past 15 years.
There is a famous, not that long ago (1986) saying by economist Herb Stein (now called Stein’s Law): “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”
The time to stop is now, today.
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While comparing the management of household finances to the management of government finances is not accurate at all, I’ll carry on your analogy. If a household has significant debts to pay off, say 100% of annual household income, should it do as the US is currently doing, which is to drastically reduce spending and income simultaneously? If these cuts to government spending were coupled with increased government revenues I would see the sense in it, but that’s not what’s happening. It’s been shown over and over and over ad nauseum that the MAGA economic agenda will result in the highest deficit of all the proposed budget plans among the 2024 presidential candidates. Say what you want about conservatism or fiscal responsibility, the current administration’s actions are saying the dead opposite.
As for individual responsibility, that’s mostly a myth. We as individuals have limited control over our own successes, and a lot of successful people owe the lion’s share of their success to the hard work of their respective communities. As an example, if you find yourself well off due to stock investments, you didn’t work for a lot of that value somebody else did. Just because you made the initial investment does not in any way mean you individually earned all of that value. Americans would not survive if they had to become self-reliant, because we don’t live in that kind of world anymore.
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‘Someone’ said: One difference between a conservative and a liberal (leftie) is that the conservative says “I worked hard for what I have.”*And a liberal says: ” I worked hard for all I have, and I was lucky.”
“Individual Responsibility: If more Americans become individually responsible, that will improve my family’s situation. I have been individually responsible all my life, partnering with others (military service, church, etc.) from time to time. Have been working full time since I was 19, now 55+ years…”
“…buying votes either through excusing nearly half of Americans from shouldering the burden of funding government…”………………………I don’t know if this person realizes just how lucky he is, number one, to be born (assumption) in this country. I recall personal accounts of several people following the 2008-09 crisis who lost a lifetime of savings because their particular occupational field went low on demand. Humbling, for many.(I, myself, was ‘lucky’ as it were, because my hours/income were reduced by ten percent, but at the same time I turned 62, and was diagnosed with kidney cancer, so my pension/SS exceeded my pre retirement income.). Karma.
Curious, if you happen to live in a much less prosperous country, where employment is very scarce, is it ‘individually responsible’ to leave your home, family, and culture and apply for asylum in another country?………………………….”…excusing nearly half of Americans from shouldering the burden of funding government…”
My father paid very few taxes, having nine children and near minimum wage income his entire life. No one ever accused him of not working hard. The income/wealth disparity in this country is a failure of the economic/social system, full stop.
*We’re all proud of you, but so what?
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I agree, the past is the past. That is NOT what we are talking about. We are discussing whether the status quo under Bush 2, Obama 1, Obama 2, Trump 1, Biden should be allowed to continue, or should we make changes. Should we allow continuation of the status quo, adding $1.5 – $2 Trillion a year, as we have most every year since 2010, adding $26 Trillion to our national debt since then? Should we continue to promise folks stuff we are unwilling to fund – shifting the funding burden to those too young to vote and generations yet unborn?
Me vs. The Irresponsible, Unaccountable – Including Members of Congress and Past Presidents
My “luck” or “privilege” was primarily the result of the sacrifice of my parents, and the leadership of my older siblings, along with the support of my wife and children. Included in that “luck” or “privilege” was the decision by my grandmother to legally apply for herself and my mom, to and come over on the boat in July 1925. My mom became a naturalized citizen. They were sponsored. There was no support system – someone had to pay for her transportation, agree to finance the endeavor. My family went into debt to come here.
Have you ever taken the tour by the Park Service at Ellis Island? I recommend it. It wasn’t simply come on over – you had to have your application approved, then physically and medically examined, and sponsored. A modest percentage were turned away and sent back – including those whose applications had been approved.
I am a fiscal conservative, but a social moderate.
No, most Americans did not (and will never) work as hard as I have, nor as long as I have – 55+ years of full time employment and counting.
No, most Americans will have have contributed to Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid for 55 – 60 years.
No, most Americans did not and will not serve in the military – back then, in 1971 – 1973, there was the Vietnam war, and incomes of just over $100 a month. Assigned in the lower 48, I had to flip burgers in my spare time to make ends meet. But, yes, I had it better than 58,000+ other guys and gals, and another ~1,000,000 who were in the military at about the same time and served in Vietnam.
After the military, most Americans didn’t go to college for 11 years at night, full time, with weekly commutes that often included 500+ miles, while working full time during the day. Most recently, I commuted 900+ miles a week to complete my final college degree, in 2013, at the age of 60, going to class full time at night while working full time during the day.
I’ve lost jobs more than once (sometimes my fault, other times the opportunity was taken away). I’ve failed at college more than once – one time changing my draft status from 2 S to 1A, followed by two years in the Army.
Most recently, my hours were reduced to less than half time in March 2020, and that job was eliminated due to COVID in February 2021 – I was 68 at the time. Yes, I’ve been rejected without an interview for more than 250 applications I have submitted since 2010 for positions that I am well qualified – potentially because of my age.
I am sorry that everyone hasn’t been blessed with health as good at mine. But, leaving those folks in poor health out, the vast majority of Americans’ health HAS BEEN and STILL IS as good as or better than mine/ So, what is their excuse for not being responsible and accountable? Yes, I believe it is long past time for all Americans, themselves and for their children whom they brought into this world to be responsible and accountable. Don’t you?
I and my church regularly assist a 24 year old refugee from Afghanistan and his dependent mother. They came to America in 2022 – legally, after living in a Turkish refugee camp for 7 years, after having fled the war, and after being fully vetted by the state department. If this kid and his dependent mother could follow the laws, why can’t everyone else who seeks asylum also do the responsible thing and comply?
“Curious, if you happen to live in a much less prosperous country, where employment is very scarce, is it ‘individually responsible’ to leave your home, family, and culture and apply for asylum in another country?” NO! An economic migrant DOES NOT qualify for asylum – a low income and limited opportunity is not a qualifying status for asylum in America. Who told you that lie? Those who jumped the border claiming asylum in search of a better life have broken American laws by lying to immigration officials (or perhaps they were got-aways). They are attempting to jump the line in favor of migrants who follow the rules – like my mother did.
And, importantly, I have a distant cousin from Slovakia, her mom had met my mom in Slovakia, behind the Iron Curtain, in 1976. She was born behind the Iron Curtain. Later, she came to America on a student visa, and overstayed. She fell in love with a green card holder. She applied to stay. They have two American-born children. And, YES, she was deported about 11 years ago during the Obama Administration. She decided to take her two children with her, along with her spouse, back to Europe.
I don’t give a crap if you or anyone else is “proud of me”.
Your note offered no solutions to the current morass we are in. What do you recommend regarding America’s future. I think we need to make changes. What do you recommend?
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AL Lindquist
Great recount of a number of issues Jack–there are so many stories like yours where hard work and perseverance paid off. I’ve tied to instill those characteristics with my grandchildren and so far with success–check back in 10-years.
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Al Lindquist
Let’s ask you Liam if we cut government spending, as you say we are doing, doesn’t that actually increase our revenue? Reduce my personal spending and my revenue increases . If we were to have decreased revenue would that decrease spending, federal or personal?
Deficit is properly measured by what percentage of the GDP does it represent. Back in 1973 when we bought the house my mother thought our $251 monthly mortgage was outrageous–but she had no idea of my income. % of GDP tells all–get out your GOOGLE machine.
CBO 10-year estimates of almost anything are fraught with mistakes and I assume when you say MAGA economic policy has been shown over and over as a deficit creator of the highest level you use as a source the CBO projections as one of the sources and is used by Congress all the time.
Who predicted what would be our deficits based on: (1) 9/11 destruction and subsequent war– (2) 2008-09 economic collapse with high unemployment and large deficits–(3) COVID shuts down world economy in 2020— (4) stock and bond market collapse in same year. All had major impact on the economy–growth of revenue and deficits/debt. CBO predicted any of that?? Like investing
Sorry–successful people do have a measure of luck but you will find hard work is at the crux of their success and wealth. The best athletes put in the time–folks like Michael Jordan–LaBron James–Payton Manning–they all work their butt off. Folks all up and down the line work hard for what they have achieved.
When the Arab oil embargo of 1970’s my father built himself a log splitter and a crude wood stove–went out and chopped down trees–hauled the wood home–split it up–hauled it in and burned. Also he dug the shallow well that preceded the artesian well we ended up with in 1955. Self-reliance I grew up with–but we are a big community.
I have been investing since 1969 and have done quite well with just a few good funds and using time, patience, and discipline to my benefit. What we did was defer gratification–when there was extra money we bought shares–just like millions of other folks. Then 529 accounts for grandchildren and now ROTH IRA’s for summer jobs. Deferring gratification might solve some issues today.
Other folks worked for my value? Really!! Sounds like something out of the Karl Marx playbook later repeated by Barak O’Bama.
Of course we rely on others like Elon Musk , Warren Buffett, Jeff Bazos, and millions of others for their creativity to create so much of our wealth which includes jobs.
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“Your note offered no solutions to the current morass we are in. What do you recommend regarding America’s future.”
Same as always, tax the rich. For these purposes, that includes me, although barely. My income is higher than average, and net worth about median.
Simplest method would be a 1970s type surtax… 10%, later reduced to 5%. Give till it hurts. (I didn’t pay that tax because I was in a war zone at the time.)
“I don’t give a crap if you or anyone else is “proud of me”.”
That’s OK, I was being sardonic.
“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point, and you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended,” Trump said,
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