American Morning
Sound Off: Afghanistan war tax?
Washington (CNN) - President Obama will announce the U.S. troop strategy for Afghanistan in a speech at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/26/troops.afghanistan.art.jpg caption="President Obama will announce his U.S. troop strategy for Afghanistan on Tuesday."]
In the speech, Obama will explain why the United States is in Afghanistan, its interests there and his decision-making process, Gibbs said, but "the president does not see this as an open-ended engagement.
A leading congressional Democrat, who is the chief proponent of a new tax that would fund future military operations in Afghanistan, suggested Sunday that continuing to fight the Afghan war under current conditions is “a fool’s errand” and, at the same time, said that his tax proposal would create a sense of shared sacrifice that has been missing in the last eight years.
Rep. David Obey, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is expressing serious reservations about the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan – just days before President Obama is expected to announce a substantial increase in U.S. troops in the country.
“The problem is that you can have the best policy in the world, but if you don't have the tools to implement it, it isn't worth a beanbag,” Obey said on CNN’s State of the Union, “And I don't think we have the tools in the Pakistani government and I don't think we have the tools in the Afghan government. And until we do, I think much of what we do is a fool's errand.” Read more
What do you think of the idea of a war surtax to fund military operations in Afghanistan? Sound off below.
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hearing the report on how much wall street is spending after the people bailed them out and the amount of people i know that are losing their homes/jobs with not much(or none) help from the banks i don't think that the little guys should be asked to pay a war tax. I personally would be offended. Mr. Larson says that the American people came through during ww2/korea. I remember in elementary school in the early 50's we were asked to buy stamps for savings bonds to support our troops. At least we were loaning money that could be recouped with interest. So.......dah.....why not sell savings bonds. It wouldn't be so insulting if we could chose to help instead of being taxed.... Sometimes i wonder why our government doesn't look back to see what works.
already done. federail income tax was started to pay for war. when the war was over, it was to end! what happened? another war and another, and so on. we still pay the war tax, another war tax! why not tax the air i breath or how many times i flush my toilet. enough is enough already. i earn 630net weekly. know unemployed 316 weekly with eight grand children and another on the way. why not just confinscate my body and sell my organs !
I watched your interview with the senator, and wondered why you did not ask the hard questions of him? 1. senator, how much are you worth financially and will you be paying in your fair share of this tax as well as all your other fellow lawmakers? 2. Why go after the citizens of this country to give more into what our taxes should be used for, when it is not? 3. And senator if the money used out of the taxpayers pockets to fund free health care of all current and former lawmakers was used towards the war effort wouldn't that do? Why are we the taxpayers always getting fleeced by our lawmakers? It is time for all citizens to wake up and smell the toilet being flushed and we are all in it, going down! Its time to get rid of all the politicians that are sitting so lavishly on our taxes that are funding their opulent lifestyle and get real dedicated working people in there to run this country. People that could and would do the job for a fraction of what these so called servants of the people are hauling in right now.
And for the record I have served my country and have worked a full time job for almost 40 years paying into this mess and have struggled to survive without asking for handouts from anyone. And during this time I have not been able to save anything for when I should retire, which I will most likely being working till I take my last breath.
So lets get off our "Oh it will all work out before long" attitude and start standing up for what we should be!
Have a great day!
I can not believe these people have the nerve to suggest that there be a war tax. First of all, this war is not an American war. This is a Bush/Cheney war. I have no intention of paying for either of these wars.
Let the people who are making the money off of the wars pay for it. I'm sure they will have plenty left over. As far as the people who have gone to war making the only sacrifice, that is their choice. I would wager that most of the military are people who couldn't find jobs in the privite sector or people who drank the cool aid that Bush was handing out. The solution is get the Hell Out of both of these countries. We are not going to win either one as there is nothing to win. These people have lived like this for centuries and have not made a conscious choice to have their lives, country any different. They have to want things to change. America is not the police of the world and we are not the savior of the world, so take this tax and put it where the sun don't shine. Get out of the war business and we want need a tax.
War tax so we can pay private contractors for $28.00 meals and God knows ho\w much for mercinary "security guards"? Disgusting!
Since new taxes dont ofter go away, lets be honest and institute a National SalesTax of 2%. I we ever manage to get out of the war business lower ti to 1% and use it for aying off our debit.
No way!
Our government should have figured out how to pay for the unnecessary Iraq war before starting it. And while fighting a winning campaign in Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 might have been worth it then, fighting a war now, years later with no clear objective, seems of limited value for our national security, if any.
The Democrats are idiots for proposing this tax. They can't even pass a meaningful health care reform bill with their overwhelming majority, and now they propose this. Idiots.
I sorta agree with the politician that showed on the telly... However the reason people stepped up for WW2 was because everyone understood it was a necessary war. Innocent lives were at stake. I remember when Bin Laden claimed his was was a holy war. America is not suppose to be dragged into conflicts that have been going on for hundreds of years. Frankly if anyone pays for it, it ought to come out of Bush's pocket. He made an excuse to go into Iraq which force us to have to support a country that I hear is making more money off of us and STILL hasn't captured the bastard in Afghanistan. I lost someone in 9/11 but war wasn't the answer. He should have just had a special opt go in and pick him up. Bush's response was childish and irresponsible! But I agree with the tax only because I've been afraid of the next generation (including myself) having to pay for these pitiful wars... I wish he was charged for treason.
A war surtax will only increase the deficit and extend an unnecesary war. The government should concentrate on the issues at home: unemployment, health care and the economic crisis created by banks and insurance companies. It is now that we expect the government to make homeland issues a PRIORITY.
Congress reminds me of Nero, fiddling while Rome burns. Sen. Larson and his fellow Democrats must have lost their minds. If Sen. Larson wants to reach way back to WW2 to cite his case, need I need to remind him we (Americans) were fighting Nazis and total world domination. A totally different case. And remember the "Income Tax", to help fund WW1. It is still with us to this day. Seems like somebody forgot to tell someone or somebody the war was over. Give in to this "War Tax" concept, and there will be no end in what they will tax or take. Suggestion: how about taxing the Wall Street XO'S and big company CEO's for the war. i hear they are back to their big spending habits again.
There are two kinds of "Teabaggers" in Washington. One is the activists that think they are TEA – Taxed Enough Already. Then there is the Obama Administration and the big spend libs Democrats in power who are the other teabaggers and there TEA stands for – Tax Everyone AGAIN!
When is it going to stop? How can congress think about taxing the American people in times like this? This is not only an irresponsible but an incrediably stupid idea. First we are having to pay for the stimulus package that they supposedly gave out to "help" the economy by bailing out "troubled" coorporations( bonus' for CEO's), then Government healthcare. Instead of enforcing another senseless tax on the American people they should look into their own pockets and start paying their fair share, ie: Social Security, frivolous government spending or maybe sell one of their vacation homes that the American people paid for. It is time for the American people to stop paying for the governments mistakes.
The war in Afghanistan makes no sense because it is a classic cat chasing a mouse scenario whereby we are there and the leaders are most likely not in the vicinity but still calling the shots; as soon as we are gone, they will be back. The Taliban have held a lock on the nation for a long time and it is up to the people and culture there to change, not for us to impose a view like a lightning bolt onto them. There are bigger problems to worry about: 1) Our international reputation, 2) the recession, 3) Harbors of nuclear weapons like Korea and Iran, etc. We should not pay for a dead end "idea." Withdraw from Afghanistan and rebuild our broken nation then you might find more support from the democratic nation that is claimed to exist.
Eliminate the thought of a War Tax, by inserting a 20% cut in ALL ELECTED government officials, eliminated the plane that Ms. Pelosi utilized for her weekly travels. However this is just a start
I don't think that another tax will help things. We are already paying a lot of money that is being mis-handled by our government. I also disagree that Americans are not doing their part. I think our government needs to look with in their own ranks and see who is not helping and who is. I make decent money but with the economy such as it is, I find myself helping struggling family members. My own credit has suffered greatly because of this. I pay a large portion of my paycheck already to the government and I believe some of that money should be directed more toward helping our troops.
I think a "war tax" is a WONDERFUL idea (with the following provisions):
1. Members of congress and the president will pay X4 times the tax levied against private citizens. Their tax would be mandatory and not voluntary. Congressional and presidential support staff will be levied X2 times.
2. It would be a flat tax, and would be voluntary for private citizens other than members of congress (like the presidential campaign contribution). This way, those who support the wars can show it by their contributions, and those who oppose the wars won't have to pay the burden. This will let congress know exactly how the general public really feels.
3. Only businesses with major contracts with DoD would be taxed. Those businesses not involved with supplying goods and services in Iraq and/or Afghanistan will not have to pay the tax. Exemptions would be allowed for businesses suppling morale and welfare goods and services for the troops.
I oppose the surcharge tax to continue the military build-up .
Yes, I think the war tax is a good idea. The hidden cost of the war is taking money from the US budget that should be going towards internal issues. The GOP wants to see where the money for healthcare is coming from, well where is the money from the Bush's war coming from?
n extra war tax I don't think so the America people are hurting beyond what Washington could even imagine. We are really hurting to the point that a lot of us can't even pay bills that are essential for life. We just can't afford what our law makers are asking us to do. If I had my way about it I would make Bush pay for the Iraq war since he was hell bent about going at war along with Iraq when all the facts indicated that Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction.
I live in a state where its tax after tax and now the government wants more tax out of us to fund more troops. My health care has jumped 350%, as much as I would like to contribute to end this war, I just can't afford to.
I was just watching your show and heard an oxymoron......
Democrat and fiscal conservative
We would not be where we are if the Dems would stop throwing our money at all their "projects". Only take on what you can pay for and stop running us into debt.
And stop trying to justifing tax increases because of what Bush did in the past. Remember, the Dems had to agree, the Repubs didn't have control of Congress and Senate like the Dems have.
Man up, take the blame when it is your fault.
Thanks,
Fred
When will there be a responsible reporter that will issue the following question the next time some idiot democrat states that "tax cuts" wern't paid for, and that question is... "Tell me Congressman or Senator, what in the budget did you cut to offset the tax cuts"? When the Congressman or Senator starts to babble, ask them, when was the last time government did with less? We are all told we must have "skin in the game", we are told that the "war has to be paid for", well how were the tax cuts paid for by the offset with government doing with less and have those idiot politicians tell you what was done!
I am strongly against this new tax proposal. Our citizens are struggleing enough right now and most of us dont think we should be there in the first place. I have never heard at any time in the past that the governments of Afganistan or Iraq were paying us anything for THEIR PROTECTION. What about those countries stepping up and Paying for protection so our country does not have to go futher into what looks like our own Bankruptcy?
I think a temporary war tax would be ideal way to pay for the Afghanistan war. If our military and their families could sacrifice for the war, what is wrong for us at home to show our support by paying for the war?
Taxing family income over $150,000 will not hurt any family income in that tax bracket.
Ralph...
I am a divorced father of three. I have a good career and am an active citizen. I don't feel that I should be taxed more for something that I am already paying for. To me this would be double taxation! Do we not already pay the Federal Government for their support and protection? I can barely make my monthly bills as it is. Why don't we take a little out of the Congressional Retirement fund, maybe 2% anually, and use this as the means to pay the war bill. Let the leaders of our nation make a little sacrafice to show their support.
Absolutely not!! These reps have no qualms voting for huge pork-laden spending bills, then want the citizens to keep ponying up for every item they can think of. Government is laden with so much waste and fat that with a little trimming we could probably pay for several more wars.
Yes, I'm in favor of a war tax providing Afghanistan and Iraq pay for it. They have enough oil and heroin to pay for it. I'm sick and tired of spending my hard earned money saving the world. Let's get out of there and bring our troops home. It's long enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was just watching this and so I want to say, I do agree with his reference to this War Tax topic with the war bonds in World War II with getting the people involved. Just please keep in mind that if we do activate this tax in 2011, and we are still in finacial difficulty, we will need to expect hard times here in the Unites States just like the deep recovery of the US economy during that time as well.
I think the war tax should be on a volunteer bases, an option for the American people to give to the troops. As my mother would always say....you can catch more bees with honey. Also, my husband and I fall into the top 1% that would be required to pay the tax, we have already supported by giving the army the service of our two children. Both joined during war time. I would be offended if required to pay a tax on top of their service but would gladly volunteer assistance to the cause.
How about taxing and holding responsible the "politicians" that made huge profit on the war, have those people step up to the plate. Where are they now that the dust has settled from their "precision smart missiles and wmds? Thats the kind of news I want to hear in the morning when Im drinking my coffe.
Let the rich, who are getting richer from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, pay the tax. American families have already been taxed with the loss of over 5,000 valient young men. I have grandchildren over there. I'm "taxed" each time I hear "2 have been killed" etc. Last week you announced 2 were dead in my one of my grandson's outfits. The family waited. We finally got word from him. He was ok but he knew the two who were lost.
We're already taxed. Let someone else pay the money.
Let's make a deal. Line item veto for the president, a penalty tax for unnecessary "pork barrel" expenditures and then we talk about the "war tax"
Oh, by the by Larson, what have YOU done to "sacrifice" for the war?
Current information provided by historians, some generals, and experienced politicians tell us to accomplish a strategic complete withdrawal from the Afghanistan area.
I agree and therefore oppose a special tax to fund a military surge.
Uncle Sam
I totally agree. We need to pay for this war and any war the government decides to undertake for the security of our country. We would have been out of Iraq far quicker if there had been such a tax. Besides creating equality of sacrifice and shared pain, it brings the country together ... everybody has skin in the game. It becomes our war and not the administration's war. This tax should not be levied on only the top 5%, but all tax payers, including families who pay no federal tax because of tax credits. This will ensure that if politicians go against the wishes of the country, they do not have the privilege of serving us.
I am in the U.S. Army & I disagree with this tax. There are already many avenues of approach set in place in order for the government to pay for the current wars. Yes there is more than Afghanistan. One example is that all military personnel residing in on post housing will receive Basic Housing Allowance but will have pulled from there pay automatically. This is going happening on all military posts & annually it is billions of dollars going towards the military. Here's a question what about all the money we are receiving from other nations for our protection?
Can I afford a "war tax"? Heck no!
Is it a good idea? Heck yes!
As much as I detest more taxes, I believe in "pay as you go", and if we're "go"ing to war for more than a year, we need to "pay" extra for it.
Of course, this would require an impossible shift in the American "something for nothing" mind-set, as well as a 15-20% per taxpayer savings rate.
not a huge fan of another tax but i think that starting to pay for our expenditures now is responsible. I'm 22 and it would be nice for the current generation in power be more responsible both fiscally and environmentally. I disagree with the republicans who say that health care isn't an important issue... no top of being a moral concern, it's a vital economical problem for our entire country (including those who have yet to be dropped by their insurance, you just don't want to think about it as long as you think you will be covered).
Correction: Those funds need to come from dollars already appropriated.
As citizens of a country that is requiring enormous sacrifice from military personnel and their families, we should be required to share some of the burden. The citizens of this country expect to be protected by our military. The war tax would help finance this.
I wish our focus were to help the Afghanistan people find more attractive options than joining with the Taliban or terrorists. It's only because they have no hope in their lives, and blame whichever country is currently occupying their land for their ills.
If there were clear military objective identified in Afghanistan or Iraq for that matter, I don't think the American public would mind stepping up to the plate. We support our military 100%. However, this is unlike the war of the "Greatest Generation". We knew who our enemy was in WWII. In Afghanistan, we haven't even identified our true strategy. Yes, we know this is the "War on Terrorism", but what does that mean? This could go on for a lifetime if we do not begin to steer the ship. We have already destroyed any economic security for our children or our grandchildren. What will a war tax do at this point for the middle class? We need to focus on domestic issues to strengthen our homeland!
I support the War Tax, and don't mind paying for it some one has too do the right thing it's a little late but too many young men and women have paid the price.
I think that Former President George W. Bush, his administration, and those who continue to support this war should pay a double tax. Maybe then they will do something about getting our troops out of there!
We keep hearing about staying the course and success in Afganistan? After this is accomplished, what will it look like and
what will it take to maintain it?
Just one more way for the Obama administration to bilk more money out of the middle class household. I hope people realize their mistake and vote accordingly at their next elections.
I am not in favor of a "war tax", particularly if it is at the President's discretion at some point in the future to set the tax rate. Promises, promises, promises. At the start of the Iraq war, the American public was told that oil revenues from Iraq would pay for the war. Where is that income?
The best way to control costs associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is to end them both immediately. After spending 3 trillion dollars in Iraq, what have we gotten in return? NOTHING. The same is true for Afghanistan. We are throwing good money after bad in these quagmires, and sacrificing American lives for nothing.
Those legislators introducing this war surtax bill draw a comparison between this situation and WW II. There is no comparison. The US never chose to become involved in WW II.
Those who maintain that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are necessary to preserve national security are, in my opinion, barking up the wrong tree. The best way to preserve our national security will be to bring all troops currently deployed in these regions home and deploy them along our borders and in all major international ports and other entry points to defend our borders here at home.
We can't afford this anymore. Let's defend America IN America.
Absolutely NO to a war tax! And absolutely NO to a war! Think of what we could do in our own country with the money being spent on these two "going nowhere" wars. Why do you think other countries, our allies, have given little or nothing to these wars? Because they're smart! They realize these countries have been at war for years and years and they will be for years and years to come. They are internal, religious wars that will not go away. We need to spend our money on our crumbling infrastructure, our inefficient, outdated public transportation system, and our dismal education system – not on war!
WIth the amount of problems we are facing at home, I think our law makers should be thinking about bringing our troops back home instead of raising taxes on people who are worried if they'll have enough money to pay their mortgage next month! This is not to say that I don't support our troops, I do and I realize this takes money, but everyone is talking about fiscal responsibility, lets start with choosing the fights we could win!
I am willing to pay taxes to fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, who harbored al-Qaeda and might very well do that again, and are so repressive of their own women. However, I am not willing to pay taxes to fund large bonuses at companies that got us into this financial mess, for federal bailout of financial institutions that do not lend money to businesses at reasonable risk, for salaries and benefits for corrupt US elected officials (yes, we have corrupt officials here in the US), for medical care for prisoners when that care is better than what law-abiding citizens can get, for waste in large military procurements, etc, etc. Money is fungible; it can be used for anything. Cut the waste, improve the use of what’s currently collected, then talk about an additional tax.
If it ensures that our troops have access to the best equipment, food and shelter,etc., then I have no objection to a reasonable war tax. We have to help our sons and daughters stay as safe as possible. I would object if my dollars went to the enemy. Do not use it to "rebuild" war zones. Those finds need to come from dollars already appropriated.
This would be a double tax and it's not being "level" with the American people. This is defense for our Country, not some charitable effort. If this Mr Obey wanted to level with the American people he would point out all the pork spending being done and wasted tax payers money and fight to cut that. If he wants to point back to WWII people sharing the burden then he should point out that War Bonds where sold to help cover the cost.
too many taxes as it is. we are already paying taxes to wage war. we jjust need to addjust how the goverment is wasteing money lineing the pockets of the reps. and senitors who come up with this b.s. before you know it they will want to tax you for being a free nation
Last thing people want in this economy is additional tax as if charging back stimulus was not enough!
Go ahead apply Afgan War Tax on those who got executive bonus. Charge away 25% That should not be the problem right?
Thank God I do not make enough to pay the tax, but I do not support it. I am a Democrat, but I do not support it because I do not even support the war. Still lost on why we are there. If anything it should be a covert operation all over again, and I am on the side of Biden that drones would be more sufficient to me. Why send more troops somewhere where we do not have governments that are loyal partners? Afghanistan and Pakistan are not reliable partners and the only ones who should pay for this are people who got a piece of the Bush tax cuts that were not paid for. Those cuts only benefited the right, and never helped anyone making less than $100,000 a year. It clearly did not lead to more jobs, or proper management of those companies that got the cuts.
Tax the middle class to pay for Bush's illegal wars. Tax the middle class to bail out Wall Street. Tax the middle class to pay for health care. Bush's war on the middle class continues only now it is the Dems. I remind you Mr. Obama, it was your promises to the middle class that help put you in office.
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Hmmmm, let me think about this for a second; I get to pay the Government more money for a war I dont think should be fought in the first place. Great idea ! Where do I send the check? Maybe Congress needs to get a clue.
this congressman is unbelievable!he keeps using the term 'we'.we need to step up.we need to share responsibility.WRONG!.i didn't want either war.they(congress)did.i shouldn't have to pay any more taxes for their choices.tax the congress.when he say 'we',he must mean himself and the mouse in his pocket
No, I'm not willing to pay any more taxes. We worry about how to pay for wars and health care and our national debt, but nobody ever pays attention to the billions of dollars our state and national governments are wasting on senseless, selfish projects. If budgets were trimmed to reflect the hard times we're going through, and to show recognition for the need to pay for things that matter, we wouldn't be in such a bind.
Is this guy kidding? Before asking the rest of us to 'sacrifice', why don't they root out all of the billions of dollars of pork and waste that the government seems to love. Everyone's taxes are already going to go up to pay for health care.
Why doesn't Congress sacrifice and give up some of their perks such as not paying Social Security?
We need term limits for Congress.
I would not pay a war tax. I think this entire "war" is ridiculous and America. American Troops should NOT even be in Afghanistan or Iraq or "Anywhere" else! So many nations already hate America, ask yourselves, do you really want that hate? Do you want war spread here in America? You think 9/11 was bad? Think of what "will" and "can" happen here in the U.S.!!! Our own people kill out of fun and glory, innocent people are murdered, raped, slaughtered, etc. everyday, everywhere and hey, truth be told, it's OUR people doing it!! Our military and secret services, CIA, and the SOG army are the top ones involved! This war is not about 9/11, it's about "Oil" and "Religion"!!! Bush Jr. wanted to rid the world of all "Islam" thinking in his delusion that he was "God's avenging angel"! He was a nutcase, as is Sarah Palin, but here lies the fact that we should not send more troops to the middle east, we need to get out of foreign countries that our troops are in, including the U.N. troops who actually do nothing, NATO and other forces, etc. need to get out of dodge! A War Tax? Absolutely ridiculous! You will not see money from me to support that one way or another! The truths HAVE to be told!! Yet everyone in the world, mainly in the U.S. are so ignorant to see the truth!!! Wake Up people, this war will not end because it's not a war, it's a religious and economic battle! America wants world control, or at least their CIA does! It's time to wake up and smell the not so wonderful roses!
Our goverment needs it's head checked!!! I think it's safe to say the American people did not ask for banks to be baled out. We never asked for the Bush tax cuts. We never asked our goverment to over spend it's budget. Why should we pay for our goverments lack of responsebility.
I sopport the troops but to be asked to help pay for war by people that cannot balance the books is crazy!!!
I just listened to Larson. Sir... you are a moron (from the Greek word moros, which meant "dull"), it was YOU people that put us into this frigin mess, it was YOU people that gave our (We, the People...) monies away without certain SAFEGUARDS, Sir, go jump into a pot of boiling oil. I am a retired, disabled, combat vet. I also work for DHS. Am I going to get one of your tax breaks? You people on the Hill, need to get your head out of your 4th point of contact. We, the People... are SICK and TIRED of all your crap! Now, go boil yourself. You probably do not have the... ... to do so.
I think the addition of more troops is a waste of time, money, and resources. However, if we are going to send them, we need to pay for it. Republicans make me sick. They say we can't afford to insure everyone but if there is a war to fight, money is no object. I hope people remember where the Republican's priorities lie next election.
Protecting America is in the Constitution. This is what we all ready pay taxes for and if congress would stop the bailouts, bank taleovers, earmarks, cash for clunkers, etc, and the real budget buster (forced health care) we would have enought money to fund the war and provide free health care for all our veterans for life.
Once again Washington turns to the three words we all don't need to hear in our lives right now, or can afford, TAX TAX TAX ! They want us to help pay for the war that has gone on too long and has cost too much, in both soliders lives and the monetary cost. We have to ask now in the face of this, is this "war" worth it? They say they worry about the cost of war affecting future generations, what about the real cost? Families losing their loved ones overseas in a war we really don't understand.
Why don't they just take our paychecks outright ? They're taxing us to death here. What's next? TAX, TAX, TAX WHO ARE THEY GONNA TAX WHEN ALL OUR JOBS ARE GOING OVERSEAS TO CHEAPER LABOR? Why don't they impose a 10% war tax on all our so called representatives, congress men, senators etc. responsible for the mess we're in.
If we're going to continue this war – unfunded – then it's going to drive us to the poorhouse which we're almost there now. Let everyone share in this war burden if we're going to continue it. Most definitely there should be a war tax. There should also be a military draft. Let everybody share in the fun! I guarentee you if there was a war tax and a draft both Iraq and Afganistan would be over very quickly.
Thank You.
This morning I heard Larson blaming Bush (again) for the countries deficit and that's his rational for the tax. Sorry! You won't find GWB's pic hanging over our fireplace but when are the Dems going to stop blaming the worlds woes on the previous administration?
This War tax is a very bad idea. Most americans cannot afford it. I will not pay a tax for a war I do not believe in. We should not be there. We went after Bin Laden and that should be our only goal. It seems that the US should learn from Russia. How long were they in afganistan before they realized they could not win. As for Iraq, We should never have gone to war there at all. They had nothing to do with 9\11 and were not causing any trouble.
This is like a bad joke. How about these clowns pushing for a war-tax review the budgeet and strike a line through every item not among those 'enumerated powers" granted to Congress. I think we'll balance the budget and pay for the war along with a tax cut.
These pigs haven't got a clue, the problem isn't lack of revenue; it is simply too much spending.
Yes, Tax! Tax! Tax!
No I dont want to pay for a war based on the lies of the previous administration. Let Bush, Cheney and Haliburton pay for it.
Hmmmm, let me think about his for a second; I get to pay the Government more money for a war I dont think should be fought in the first place. Great idea ! Where do I send the check? Maybe Congress needs to get a clue.
I think it is a good idea, the war is expensive and our troops aren't being properly funded. I currently serve in the military and the equipment we have is good but not great. If people have a problem with paying for the Afghanistan war the answer is simple: get us out of Afghanistan.
Does this tax affect everyone? I really cannot afford to pay any more than I am right now, I barely break even each month. I don't support this war and really can't stand the idea of more of my hard earned money going towards war efforts. If they want to raise my taxes, then the money should go to education, healthcare, foreign aid, and alternative energy.
Bring home the troops. They've earned it.
These idiots in Washington DC have absolutely no clue on what is really happening in our economy! Add another tax? I am a middle aged, unemployed truck driver, working as a cab driver, making minimum wage. I haven't seen any benefits from the stimulus plan, I don't qualify for government assistance, I am one paycheck away from being homeless, and Congress wants to hike taxes to pay for the war effort or troop surge in Afganistan?! What do I tell my kids and grandkid's when I don't have any money to purchase Christmas gifts for them this year?
Get a clue Congress! You wont be going back to Washington next election if this keeps up!
Fed up in Phoenix!
I think a "war tax" is an excellent idea, then we will see how many of the "lets keep this foolish war going" supporters will step up and put their dollars where their mouths are!!
Is ths guy on heavey drugs or like every other politician he just will never get it because he has never had to live in the real world.
I am 35 and father of three i cannot support being forced to pay for a wa i dont even understand. i would give a good percent of my pay to fund more jobs coming into cities like mine Massillon, ohio
why don't they get hallaberton to pay for it. I'm sure they made billions off of iraq (and still are) And if we didn't want to go to war because there were no facts to take us to Iraq then make bush sr and jr pay for it they got it we don't.
i am from Michigan and NO we cant have any new taxes people hear cant pay the taxes they have now
i'll pay a war tax after congress give sup 100% of thier pay and princess pelosi gets her tax payer funded private jet taken away.
I'd gladly pay a 1 percent surtax for universal healthcare. But not for war.
If it was up to me, I would not pay the war tax. This war has already been something with which a lot of Americans disagree. The problem is that very few of us nag their representatives about it, and now here we are, going into another war. A war that a lot experts say shouldn't be handled with more troops. I don't want to pay for this.
I don't support a war surtax. Why would i ? I am not in favor for the war nor am I in favor of the wasted money being spent on the war and other projects around the country. The goverment needs to make some sacrifices like most other americans and cut spending in lower priority areas. The middle-class keeps suffering!
Another republican ploy in the days of our lives. They want to tax everyone but won't help Joe American live. We Americans will never change the way Middle Eastern people live. This is there culture to have tribes and whoever can do the most damage to the other ones are the ones in charge this month. We don't belong in those countries period. Lets get back to America helping the homeless the hungry and the elderly. Many forget that we have millions of needy people on these shores.
This is a stupid question. Unless each soldier is going to pay for deployment out of his/her own pocket citizens will be stuck with the tab, whether you call it a tax or not.
Yes make everyone pay a war tax. Then see how fast the American people say "STOP THE WAR".
I DO NOT want a war tax. I voted for Obama, but I do not want a war tax. I have watched my take home pay go down for the past years, and our family simply can't afford to pay more taxes. I would, however, be willing to buy war bonds or something similiar to pay for this. By the way, how long would the tax be in effect?
We should not be the policemen of the world. Get out of other countries unless they wish to pay us. NO WAR TAX
No I am not willing to pay a war surtax. I have served in both theaters and I think enough money has been spent on the wars so far. If we haven't done what we need to do by now its not going to happen. So why put our already bad economy in a worse state.
...unprecedented idiocy! ...no way!
Ha! No way, no how.
No to extra war taxes.
So, let me get this right..... we are being asked to pay for a War that most Americans understand cannot be won. We are being asked to do this to the tune of $68 billion yet Health Care went from Universal coverage to "reform" because it would cripple the profits of insurance companies. Nice values. When will we stop electing liars and thieves?
I live in NY. We have been taxed to death already. Tax me to help the homeless, to feed the poor, to cover the uninsured, but don't take my money and throw it away on an endless war.
I DO NOT
The "WAR TAX" is a Great, Great Move to Bring Some Sort of REALITY to This War + Other Wars Home to Americans.
What America Needs So Desperately is the Return of the "MILITARY DRAFT!"
"False Reality in War" is Like "Deflation Reality" in This "False Bubble Economy."
For Republicans, the Chickens are Just Starting to Come Home to ROOST!
Start taxing those industries and persons that benefit from war. Since the rich don't send their kids to war... they need to pay. Then watch how quick we get out of war.
I would rather we get out of afghanistan immediately instead of staying there until 2018 which will cost the taxpayers another 1 trillion dollars. However if obama wants to keep us there until 2018 then there should be a surcharge of 90% for millionaires like roosevelt had implemented to pay for world war II. We still have to pay for iraq and we will soon have to pay for iran if the crazies have their way.