Reply #40: The Europeans do quite well

[Nicholas_J]

The Germamsn and the Scandinavians, with 90 percent tax rates and far better social safety nets than the U.S.

THere are two ways to be fiscally responsible. One is to raise the top tax rate so that the rich pay a fairere share of the cost of government. Or cutting programs.

Dean cut taxes and cut programs, threatenend any attempt to raisse taxes on the riches Vermonters while hitting the porr with additional expenses for health care. Back to deciding whetther to eat or see te doctor.

Dean has no vision. The dmeocratic party's vision is to become more like the European models, in whihc the gap between the richand poor does not disappear, but shrinks to the point that the rich cannot use their wealth to comtrol government and legislation so that all laws and tax codes favor them.

Denas fiscal ideas are 19th century ideas, not much different than the Republicans ideas about cutting taxes and programs.

The U.S. needs a far more liberal vision. Not a conservative one. Conservatism since Reagan has gotten us into this shape. Raeal wages at their lowest in a half a century.

Deans ideas balance the budget on the backs of the neediest and the weakest, those with no political voice and little influence.