VOTE

I typically spend the campaign season canvassing for democratic candidates. I hate canvassing! But for years I would go door-to-door during the campaign season speaking to perfect strangers about the candidates I supported. These are highly organized functions so it is not as random as it sounds. Households "leaning Democratic" or "Democratic" are on the list so we get our people out to vote. Jim tires of hearing me repeat the story of spraining my ankle door knocking in 2004 for John Kerry. I couldn't walk on election day so I sat at the phones in a DFL field office in North Minneapolis calling people and reminding them to vote. Needless to say, there have been a lot of disappointments!

Admittedly, Democrats have been a tough sell in recent years: too touchy-feely, soft on crime and defense, tax-and-spend, big government, wind surfing, Dover sole eating, over-educated, east-coast LIBERALS.

George W. Bush, enter stage right. Eight years of an ever burgeoning budget deficit, irresponsible tax cuts and a poor fiscal policy that has bankrupt the national and world economy. War. Things are pretty bad but they seem salvageable. Finally, the American people seem ready to give the Democrats a chance.

I am not a fan of the cliche, but the country desperately need change.

Change from the fiscal policy that lacked proper oversight of the banks, change from the military-industrial complex taking our money (and our children's money) making defense contractors rich, change from the $10 billion a month we're spending in Iraq...while the Iraqi Government runs a surplus, change from the dependence on foreign oil and energy policy written by and for the oil company execs (did you happen to notice big oil is the only one making money in this economy?), change from an arrogant single-minded foreign policy that has damaged our standing in the world.

If I was out door knocking, I would be glad for people with questions or doubts:

Q. Barack Obama would raise my taxes.

A. Actually, independent analyses of the candidates' tax proposals show that those who make less than $250,000 a year would not see their taxes raised under Senator Obama's plan. Further, Obama's plan would CUT taxes more than would Senator John McCain for households with incomes less than $100,000. (The analyses were conducted independently by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center.)

To easily calculate your own taxes under the candidates' economic plans go to:

www.taxcut.barackobama.com

Q. Sure ok, maybe those of us making $100,00 or less, even those of us making up to $250,000,would benefit from Obama's plan, but wouldn't it really hurt small business, the foundation of the economy?

A. NO

A small business is an independent business with fewer than 500 employees.

By "independent" we mean sole proprietorship or limited partnership. Corporations are not included in this definition.

Payscale.com-The average small business owner reports a yearly salary of between $36,000 and $75,000 a year.

Careerbuilder.com reports the average small business owner salary is $36,266.

Doctors, lawyers, engineers, and sales managers show an average in range of $100,000-$150,000, but not near $250,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The average amount of self-employment income reported per taxpayer is $31,246. (U.S. Census site. The 2007 report of income by source of income.)

According to U.S. Census reports, just over 1.3 million Americans reported incomes above $250,000.

So who are these 1,324,000 people? Entertainers athletes, corporate CEOs, health Care professionals and attorneys. While the median doctor income is around $150,000, some earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. Investment Brokers and Speculators. (Research by Gary Enright.)

Q. Barack Obama believes in the re-distribution of wealth.

A. NO. Obama's economic plan includes tax cuts for the middle class and rolling back SOME of Bush's tax cuts.

As a counter-point-
Recall trickle-down economics, Reagan's economic policy that cut taxes for big business and the top percentage of income earners with the idea that investments made as a result of these policies would "trickle down" to the little guy.

Another name for this economic policy would be the DISTRIBUTION of WEALTH. Using economic policy to make the rich richer by distributing it to the upper tax brackets.

So Reagan was a wealth re-distributor??

Finally,

Q. Will Obama really paint the White House Black?

A. We all know this is preposterous. However, race is an issue in this campaign. The unknowns of Barack Obama are no different than of any other would-be first-term president. The bottom line is we've let old white guys run the country for 200+ years. After the the historic lows of the last eight years, why would continue in the same vein?

This election is about showing the world America is ready to move in a new direction. We can and should be proud.

VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN ON NOV. 4.