American Patriotism

Let me be honest with you and state what may seem obvious to some: By American standards, I am not a wealthy man.

It’s shocking, isn’t it!?

I know that you were thinking that I am a filthy rich and own several houses and drive exotic cars and eat at posh restaurants, but that is quite simply not the case.

In fact, in comparison to the demographics of the county we live in, my wife and I live in a smaller house and earn less than our average neighbor.

And you know what?
We are happy.

Sure, we have hopes and dreams of being more financially stable in the coming decades, but we also realize that we are blessed with what we have and that what we have is way more than a lot of people around the world. We go to work at our jobs, pay our taxes and plan for a future that is yet unseen and could be far different than what we hope for.

We are living more comfortable than some and less extravagant than others, so I’d say that we are the epitome of middle class America.

However, according to Senator Joe Biden, I am in desperate need of help. In an interview with Good Morning America, the vice presidential candidate discussed the direction he would like to see our country head with regards to tax structure.



During that interview he stated the following:

“We want to take money and put it back in the pockets of middle class people.”

"It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

Now don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of having more money in my pocket and I like hearing that the government is going to put it there. I’m all for this plan. If you would allow me to have more money in my pocket by promoting a smaller government, which requires less tax-generated revenue to operate with, then I am all for this plan.

But this is not what the senator has in mind. Mr. Biden, in all his profound wisdom, has determined that the best way to help America is to tax the wealthy even more heavily and give that money back to the poor or middle class. In fact, the Senator even went so far as to state that it was the patriotic duty of wealthier Americans to do so.

Since I am a middle class American you might think that I would love to see this plan come to fruition because, in theory, I would be a direct beneficiary of it.

And you would be dead wrong!

First, I think there should be a flat tax for all Americans. Everybody should pay the same percent, regardless of their income.

Second, I believe that those who do make a lot money do not owe me anything.

Thirdly, it is my firm belief that if a person works hard, takes the necessary steps to either increase their knowledge or skills and applies themselves to the task presented to them, they can not only survive in America, but they can thrive.

Finally, I believe that a person’s patriotism is not tied to their income or how much they allow the government to steal from them. After all, even the poorest Americans can be incredibly patriotic. However, according to Mr. Biden’s premise, I am somehow not able to be as patriotic as some, because I do not make more than $250,000 a year and do not allow the government to tax me at a much higher rate.

My father touched on this issue on the family blog and I basically agree with him.

I also wholeheartedly agree with Dave Ramsey’s thoughts on this matter, which he proclaimed yesterday on his radio show (audio):

@ 4:45 - This is straight up socialism. I mean this is straight up class warfare, class envy. It is truly the politics of envy.

“We want to take money and put it back in the pockets of middle class people.”

@ 5:20 - They’ve pulled all of the sugar coating off of the socialism now, haven’t they?

Yes it is and yes they have!

As a hard working, tax paying, middle class American, I take offense to the idea that I am incapable of being as patriotic as the next guy due to my financial income.

As a patriotic American it frightens me that a man who is supposedly promoting patriotism is, in fact, promoting a form of government that thousands of people from this country have died opposing.

The redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor is not a solution for our government. It is the end of our country as we know it.

Perhaps if Mr. Biden and most other Americans understood the Constitution and our country's history we would not find ourselves at this place where evidently patriotism is directly tied to money and the redistribution of it.