Our guest commentary today comes from Christopher Reed, candidate for U.S. Senate, who is challenging Sen. Tom Harkin.
January 31st, 2008
Senator Harkin – Out of touch with what is best for America.
Today I heard a quote by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Ia) on the radio.
The quote I heard was of Mr. Harkin bashing the new economic stimulus package. The AP reporter, of course, referred to Mr. Harkin as “an outspoken opponent” of the plan, implying that Mr. Harkin is some kind of heroic maverick or rebel.
Mr. Harkin says the stimulus plan is fundamentally flawed because it does not include any Food Stamp provisions or Welfare Rebates. He also stated that he thinks the income ceiling for rebates is too high. Let me take a moment of your time to emphatically rebut all of the opinions of Mr. Harkin today.
Food Stamp provision? Welfare rebates? This is an economic stimulus package meant to spur the economy, not a hand-out to the needy, not an increase to the already too big welfare program. These are rebates for people who actually paid taxes. If you don’t pay taxes into the government, how can you get a rebate? Mr. Harkin’s ideals are like me taking one hundred cans back for redemption and someone who had no cans to redeem getting some of my return money.
This stimulus package is meant to get more money into the hands of Americans who will go out and spend it, thereby stimulating or giving a jump-start to the economy. Using the trickle-down theory, this will give us a nice nudge in the right direction. By giving out more food stamps, we will not spur the economy, we will only end up creating a greater entitlement mentality.
Mr. Harkin thinks the income ceiling for the rebates is too high. That is his opinion and a popular Democratic ideology that these are “tax cuts for the rich”. This is preposterous, tax cuts are meant for those who paid taxes. Tax cuts are designed to put more money immediately out into the economy. Those who make more money are more likely to go out and spend their windfall. Those making less money are far more likely to save this money or even hold on to it longer, savoring it for a longer time and therefore not giving the economy the “jolt” it needs.
As for Mr. Harkin’s opinion of a ceiling of income for the rebates. I ask you, when is the last time a poor man gave you a job? Giving the “rich” tax cuts, breaks and incentives helps us all. The rich man with more of his money to spend freely is going to use this money to hire more people, pay higher wages and give these employees better benefits.
I ask you to join me in the fight to un-seat Mr. Harkin from the Senate this year. Please visit my website at www.ChristopherReed2008.com to contact me with your thoughts.
Thank you,
Christopher Reed
Iowa Values, Conservative Principles
Candidate, United States Senate
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