3 Facts That Could Change This Election (If We Share Them With Enough People)

[ihavenobias]

Here are 3 Stunning facts that could not only change the outcome of this election, but with regard to the first two points, they could change the results of every election for years to come *if* we make enough people aware of them.

I want to keep this as simple and short as possible, so that the people who need to read this actually do. And again, I encourage you to share this information with as many people as you can, either by recommending and commenting on this thread, by emailing these points out and or by posting a link to this thread on the appropriate websites.

1)-Over 70% of our National Debt was created by just 3 Republican presidents.

Go ahead, get out your calculator and add up debt by president/party. Apparently the party that claims fiscally responsibility thinks it's ok to borrow massive amounts of money from foreign countries like China. Consider that we spend hundreds of billions of dollars in interest payments on this debt each year. That means more and more of your hard earned money is going to make interest only payments on what is basically a Giant National Credit Card. Not to mention the fact our debt/deficits are largely behind the weakness of our dollar, which in turns makes gas more expensive and creates other serious problems.

If you want to learn more about the National Debt, check out these links:
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock /
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...
http://zfacts.com/p/447.html (A running clock with the cost of the war)
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/business...

2)-According to new research from Larry Bartels out of Princeton, real middle class wage growth is double when a Democrat is president compared to when a Republican is president.

"...Even more remarkable, the real incomes of working-poor families...grew six times as fast when Democrats held the White House. Only the incomes of affluent families were relatively impervious to partisan politics, growing robustly under Democrats and Republicans alike...": http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/magazine/27wwln-ideal...

Here is a short summary of this research: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008...

And here is a good, short audio interview with Larry Bartels: http://youngturks.wmod.llnwd.net/a591/o1/4-25-08Bartels...

3)-90% of Americans would pay less taxes under Obama's proposed tax plan compared to McCain's.

This is according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Institute as reported by CNN: http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates...

People making under $112,000 a year in individual (not household) income would pay less taxes under Obama's plan.

By contrast, John McCain's tax cuts mostly benefit the top 10% of Americans. Under McCain's plan, people making over 2.9 million dollars in individual annual income would get almost a million dollar tax break.


Conclusion: Countless millions of Americans vote Republican because they believe they'll pay less taxes and that they'll have their money spent more responsibly. As you can see, those beliefs are directly contradicted by the facts. Of course we can choose to ignore the facts and instead focus on which candidate is wearing a flag pin (you ever notice that Hillary and McCain don't wear them? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi5nbZvS9cg ) but I think we're a smarter country than that.

PS---If you're not sure how to respond to those laughably bad, factually inaccurate anti-Obama smear emails and or you want more information on John McCain, here is a nice resource guide of articles, videos and commentary: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[OhioChick]

1. Thanks for Posting.

I intend to email this to everyone I know.

Makes one wonder where the term "Fiscal Conservative Republican" ever came from.....

[ut oh]

49. Came from the same place as compassionate conservative

The Goebbel's School of Propaganda and Lies

Propaganda 101 - Call yourself or your party something that 'resonates' with the people, but is really not true.

[On the Road]

71. It Came from the Period Before 1981

Reagan changed everything.

[johnt66]

92. I wish someone

would send this to the Huffpost,Kos and C&L, because they are really getting off the mark, then we should send this to every news outlet there is.

[ihavenobias]

95. Someone did actually...

The only problem is, it was done over the Holiday weekend, so I'm not sure how much impact it will have. I imagine a lot of those emails are forgotten/deleted.

But who knows, I could be wrong.

[matthewf]

2. K&R. Good stuff, sir!

[Jack Rabbit]

3. K/R

!!

[Occam Bandage]

4. The last one especially is huge. Not sure why we aren't pushing that.

[gcomeau]

10. We're too busy being outraged...

...that Obama is campaigning in a General election instead of trying to get elected to be president of the United States of Democratic Political Activists.

You know... because we have our priorities so straight around here.

[CherylK]

5. I would give this 100 recs if I could!!!

This thing already has over 100 views so I do not understand why it only has 12 recommendations so far!

[Overseas]

6. K&R ! Very true and sadly still not broadly known. /nt

[n2doc]

7. Need to note McSame's tax plan benefits him and his wife hugely

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806270008

snip:

Last week, the Center for American Progress Action Fund released a new report by Michael Ettlinger estimating that under McCain's tax plan, he and his wife, Cindy, would save $373,429. That's nearly $400,000 -- per year, not over the course of their lifetimes. (Under Barack Obama's plan, the McCains would save less than $6,000. The Obamas would save nearly $50,000 under McCain's plan, and slightly more than $6,000 under Obama's plan own plan.)

By the standards the media applied to Edwards, the fact that McCain supports tax policies that would save him and his wife nearly $400,000 a year -- and require massive cuts to public services to pay for those tax breaks -- should surely be news. Unlike the media's focus on Edwards' wealth, which did nothing to help voters understand the substance of his proposals, McCain's potential savings under his tax plan actually would help illustrate how much the wealthy would benefit from the plan.

[ForeignSpectator]

8. K&R

[1Hippiechick]

9. I would like to add one link to your mix: one that has a running clock showing the cost of the war

http://zfacts.com/p/447.html

I must be the only working stiff in the bunch, according to all these posts! LOL
(Actually, don't know what time zones everyone else is in - haven't looked at profiles - just my feeble attempt at humor on a Monday from hell here at work!)

It is 2:45 p.m. and here I sit, furiously working away, when I get an e-mail alert.

"Ihavenobias" I have clicked very briefly on the links above and am requesting to add to it - I love this particular graphic because one can see the cost of the Iraqi war $ spinng out of control.
(ihavenobias, if you look at the 'who we are' on this link, one of the questions is "what are our biases?" I thought that particularly funny and thought of your DU name)

I can't wait to read the other links. Based on the e-mails that I receive from conservative friends, they seem to harp on the same three things:

gas will cost more under O
how we had GREATER individual income under Republican administration ("regimes" - my quotes
and probably something about how we are more subject to terrorist attack under O (I don't remember because I have long stopped reading)

Your posts are a treasure! Thank you!
D

[ihavenobias]

14. Request honored ;)

As you can see.

I know what I wrote isn't perfect and I wish the Edit time window was bigger for this very reason. (Hint to the people who control those sorts of things)

[1Hippiechick]

23. Not about perfection at all! There will be no way to measure the impact of your research. By

your compiling this data and making it so readily available and accessible, many of us will use this again and again. I, for one, would not have taken the time for a compilation such as this, so I am most grateful!

[lark]

78. What you wrote was excellent and to the point

I've emailed it to my distribution list so others can also use this important and over-looked by many information.

[grantcart]

11. 4) Declining US dollar robs all Americans

With the dollar declining 30% in the last 8 years that means that all of the assets in the United States has declined 30% as well, on the world scale.

If you had net assets of $100,000 at 2000 those same assets are now worth the equivalent of $ 70,000 in world terms.


In petro dollar terms your assets are worth about 40%.

[gateley]

21. I think the stat of the dollar losing 30% is pretty sobering. nt

[TahitiNut]

22. NOT "all of the assets"

Only the dollar-denominated assets ... like mutual funds, CDs, 401Ks, IRA's, money markets, savings - you know, the kind of assets that working class people have besides their homes. Did I say "homes"? Funny how THAT'S also the target of the right-wing devastation of the economy. Talk about a "war on the working class" ... it's total.

[grantcart]

29. yeah my leftover coins from living overseas are safe

also the little bit of property I have overseas for retirement is fine

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Now that I'm not answering phones

I can come back and rec and kick this. The third point is the one that will get most people, I think.

[futureliveshere]

13. Wow... thanks for posting this..K&R

[me b zola]

15. Excellent post!

I will be sure to circulate this.

[Barack_America]

16. Fantastic information. Recommended and bookmarked.

And I'll look into this further.

[ihavenobias]

17. Please do, look into it more I mean. I easily could've written a short essay on these topics

but I wanted to keep it short, knowing that readers will tune out medium-long writing.

Honestly I wish I could've made it even shorter than it is, but oh well.

[Coexist]

18. bookmarked!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. Have not disseminated all the information here yet...

Thanks for the info!

[gateley]

20. EXCELLENT points to help convert the masses. nt

[Abacus]

24. 4) The Dow historically performs better under Democrats than Republicans

Over a 4 year term beginning with oath of office, the average Dow improvement for Dems is 38% to the Repubs 32%. George's numbers will make that gulf even larger, but I have not included that projection here.

When Dems inherit office from Repubs, Dems on average turn a 2.5% 4 year Dow loss into a 74% 4 year Dow gain.

Repubs inheriting from Dems, on the other hand, can only manage to turn 4 year 19% gains into 27% gains.

Dem to Dem and Repub to Repub transitions have seen Dow performance decreases for both parties:
Repubs: 66% gains to 37% gains against previous term (-29%)
Dems: 54% gains to 14% gains (-40%)

However, if we examine only post WWII data, Dems beat Repubs in this category as well as continue to hold significant leads in the other categories.

Repubs: 46% gains to 37% gains against previous term (-9%)
Dems: 32% gains to 31% gains (-1%)

D to R
29% to 26% (-3%)

R to D
24% to 50% (+26%)

[KamaAina]

38. The difference is even more pronounced in the broader market

don't have the figures at present.

[progressoid]

25. Good info to rebut those awful RW spam emails.

[bvar22]

26. Fact #4....Republicans are raising taxes on your CHILDREN!

The bills for the Iraq War will come due.
Because the Republicans chose to put the WAR on the National Credit Card, our CHILDREN and their children will be picking up the tab.

Halliburton and the other WAR PROFITEERS get to pocket YOUR CHILDREN's money TODAY!

[ihavenobias]

28. Thank you for using the National Credit Card frame. I emailed that to Thom Hartmann last year

and won a signed copy of his awesome book Screwed, The Undeclared War On The Middle Class: http://www.buzzflash.com/store/reviews/305

My point was basically that Democrats have done a really poor job of framing issues, and as a result they often lose on issues they should win handily. The National Debt is just one of many examples.

Seriously, why not use the National Credit Card analogy constantly? Pound that easily understandable/relatable image into the mind of America until it becomes common knowledge that the Republicans are fiscally irresponsible.

Bring it up every time you hear about "tax and spend" liberals and "fiscal responsibility". Either our Dem representatives don't take their advice, or our leaders really need some new advisers.

[ProfessorPlum]

27. Excellent points K&R

[wryter2000]

30. When you say share

I gather it's okay with you to copy this post and send it to e-mail friends. There's one freeper on a list of mine. The next time he sends one of his idiotic forwards, I'd like to come back with this.

[ihavenobias]

32. Yes, that's exactly what I mean

Copy the post or send the link, etc.

[georgecolombo]

31. Great Post

Your subject message does not oversell this post a bit. Taken together, your three facts form a succinct, persuasive narrative. Nice job.

[crankychatter]

33. kicked

[MadrasT]

34. Thanks!

Thank you for posting this. Good stuff!

[volstork]

35. Bookmarked and printed!

Thanks for the ammo!

[tblue37]

36. K&R n/t

[KamaAina]

37. Class warfare! Class warfare!

That's what you hear from repukes every time inconvenient facts like #2 and #3 come up.

[Cha]

42. I'd say..Time to fight back..

I want a tax cut, too!

[Cha]

39. Thank you so much, ihavenobias!

I could have used the answers to the "smear Obama emails" earlier today at work and the 3 invaluble points 'cause I was talking to a Dem who was telling me about all these really stupid lies his wife and some friends had related to him regarding Obama.

I have already written this down and will refer to it everytime I need it in the future.

Especially now when so many are hurting from the economy and Oil men gas prices.

[AzDar]

40. Kick...

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

41. K, R and B'd

Woohoo! Godd stuff for the ammo folder!

[Whisp]

43. one of the best posts I've read here for a while. thank you.

rec'd

[catrose]

44. and if facts are not welcome...

how about a question?

Are you better off than you were 4 (or 8) years ago?

Thanks for these juicy facts, though?

[Forkboy]

45. A great post.

This is the kind of thing that should make the email rounds.

[flashl]

46. K/R nt

[nancyharris]

47. I understand where you are coming from

but in fact, every dime spent by the government is appropriated by Congress. The President suggests a budget, but Congress does all the actual spending (and borrowing). As I said, I understand your point but your point is simply not a "fact".

[ihavenobias]

51. You could take that semantic argument a step further...

and argue that it's not a "fact" that any president spends money, because it's not like they open up a checking account for the president with all of our tax dollars.

I understand your point but I don't see how it really changes anything in practical terms. And I highly doubt the average voter is going to bother with such a distinction.

But thank you for reading it carefully.

[JDPriestly]

61. The Democrats have a "majority" in Congress, but so many

of them are frightened Blue Dogs -- scaredy Dogs -- that real Democrats are merely a minority.

[Joe Chi Minh]

48. Wow! That's dynamite - though I believe that you do have SOME brain-dead, but

apparently sentient rednecks who would vote Republican as prisoners in GITMO under the Patriot Act, untried, unconvicted and totally incommunicado, but in their case, oh so deservedly! Read Joe Bageants' latest letter from a reader, headed, "Because killing is what we do!":

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2008/06/because-killing.h...

[EOTE]

50. Very good post, but something doesn't quite sound right.

You say this:

"By contrast, John McCain's tax cuts mostly benefit the top 10% of Americans. Under McCain's plan, people making over 2.9 million dollars in individual annual income would get almost a million dollar tax break."

I believe right now the top tax rate is 35%, meaning that people making 2.9 million a year would be paying around 1,015,000 annually in taxes. If those people were to receive close to a million dollar tax break, then they'd be paying next to nothing in taxes. What does the top tax rate change to under McCain's plan and at what income level does it begin? If you're referring to the average of people making over that amount, it would make more sense, but that statistic is almost meaningless as it is. I have no doubt that McCain's tax plan would favor the wealthy to a terrible extent, but I'm not sure if that particular nugget shouldn't be reworded somehow.

Otherwise, very powerful and convincing information. It needs to get out to as many people as possible.

[ihavenobias]

52. I guess didn't word it as well as I could have, but the point of the CNN link is to show...

the difference between what happens to tax rates if Obama is elected as opposed to McCain. Obama is going to raise taxes (or roll back Bush tax cuts, etc.) on people making over $227,000 a year (individual, not household income), including a $701,885 increase to those making over $2.9 million dollars individually:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates...

Here is part of the table showing the change in tax bills in 2009 compared to 2008:

McCain Obama
Income Average Tax Bill Average Tax Bill Tax bill Difference
(O-McC)
Over $2.9M -$269,364 +$701,885 +$971,249


So I was trying to say that there is almost a million dollar difference between what those earning over $2.9 million dollars a year would pay in taxes depending on who is elected president. Again, unfortunately the edit feature expires very quickly on threads.

[EOTE]

57. I think I was just confused by the phrasing.

There is no doubt that McCain's tax code is extremely regressive. Those fortunate enough to be in that bracket in these extremely tough economic times should be doing their part to get America out of the funk it's in now. McCain would take a country already drowning in debt and starve it further for the benefit of those who are the least effected by this terrible economy.

[Canuckistanian]

53. What? Tax breaks for the rich isn't working?

Well, I never saw THAT coming. I thought that all these rising tides would lift ALL boats.

Apparently, some boats are still anchored to the bottom.

[TBF]

56. And the smallest boats have the biggest anchors. Perhaps the boatbuilders

are given incentives to make them that way...

[Kermitt Gribble]

54. Great post! Extremely useful info!!!

[opihimoimoi]

55. k n r #91.....VOTE BLUE.....

[NYC_SKP]

58. Now I understand why Republicans are so prone to using Fear as a tool.

It's at least partly because the "we'll cost you less" perception is so very false.

"Countless millions of Americans vote Republican because they believe they'll pay less taxes and that they'll have their money spent more responsibly."

This belief seems to have been dominant for as long as I can remember.

Dirty politics to distract us all from dirty policies.

[Kaleko]

59. Excellent.

I posted your OP at another forum dedicated to Barack Obama

[jeff30997]

60. "real middle class wage growth is double when a Democrat is president "

IMHO this is what would really strike a nerve in the apathetic U.S population.

Edit:Stupid typo.

[Seldona]

62. That's what I love about you.

No bitching, just solid, concrete, brilliant, and effective action and the information to beat these clowns.

Another great post!

[ihavenobias]

85. I really appreciate those kind words, but I do my fair share of bitching too

I just like a balanced diet of bitching *and* action and information to beat the clowns.

[alfredo]

63. k&R

[Brigid]

64. Why isnt the Obama campaign using this?

K & R, BTW.

[DeepModem Mom]

65. K&R

[cui bono]

66. k & r

[LaStrega]

67. No brainer ~ insta-k&r n/t

[AntiFascist]

68. Another factor with respect to Point No. 3...

10% of the population may control over 10% of the vote by virtue of Republican-controlled voting machine companies. Certainly a relatively small percentage of the elite have control over what we see, hear or read over the MSM - some of it having to do with the accuracy of our supposed democracy. We may not have experienced a substantial amount of election fraud during the primaries, but we could still be in for a big surprise in the GE. Please keep this in mind.

[truthisfreedom]

69. knr!

[liberalla]

70. K&R

great info!

[BrklynLib at work]

72. K & R. Worth sending to everyone I know.

[nxylas]

73. The WSJ is scaring its readers with threats of "French-style tax rates"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121486776118517551.html...

Fine by me, if it means French-style public services (including healthcare), but unfortunately, as point number 3 shows, the "threat" is bollocks. Since most Americans probably don't agree with me on this, the truth needs to be shouted from the rooftops. Not that you'll ever hear it from the WSJ.

[George II]

74. Obama is going to win, why would we want to change the outcome of the election?????

[Major Hogwash]

75. It's strange in a way isn't it, we all know these facts to be true, but the Republicans we run into

live in some sort of misguided fantasy land about economics in this country.
It's weird, because if you tell them that more banks closed during Reagan's 8 years in office than during the Great Depression, they look at you like you're a ghost or something.

The media sure did a job of selling Reagan as the Great Communicator, but he sure went through the money while he was in the White House.

[rucognizant]

76. AND ONE soundbite to use.

"Drilling rhymes with killing."

[lark]

77. The MSM is pro-McCain and spinning the news wildly

I saw a spot on CNN where the topic was how can American's afford Obama's tax increases and heard lots of moaning about how his plan would take so many thousands out of each person's pocketbook and how they could keep all their money if McCain wins. It was 100% biased, nothing was said at all about people who would get tax cuts, nothing. All they did was talk about Dem = tax increases and Reepug = tax decreases.

[margotb822]

79. Definitely sent to all in address book!

Especially the Repubs in the family!!!

[uponit7771]

80. This should be a sticky...Kick

[ihavenobias]

81. Thanks

[hokies4ever]

82. Who are the 3 Republican Presidents responsible for 70% of the debt?

[ihavenobias]

83. Reagan, Bush, Bush

"...Prior to the Neo-Conservative takeover of the Republican Party there was not much difference between the two parties’ debt philosophy. They both worked together to minimize it. However the debt has been on a steady incline ever since the Reagan presidency. The only exception to the steep increase over the last 25 years was during the Clinton presidency, when he brought spending under control and the debt growth down to almost zero.


Comparing the borrowing habits of the two parties since 1981, when the Neo-Conservative movement really took hold and government spending raced out of control, it is extremely obvious that the big spenders in Washington are Republicans and their party’s presidents. The only Democratic president since then, Mr. Clinton raised the national debt an average of 4.3% per year. The Republican presidents (Reagan, Bush, and Bush II) raised the debt an average of 10.8% per year. That is, for every dollar a Democratic President has raised the national debt in the past 25 years, Republican presidents have raised the debt by $2.53<6>. Any way you look at it Neo-Conservative Republican presidents cannot or will not control government spending..."

http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm

Keep in mind this link is from 2007, so the debt has increased a good amount since then.

[yourguide]

84. KICK!

[CherylK]

86. Bump!

[axollot]

87. "ihavenobias" I too love reading your posts....

..and while we may not be able to rec after 24 hours, I would certainly K&R since this is important enough to be seen by all, repeatedly.

We as a community of activists really need to make sure we do not wait for the MSM to report this stuff, since we know damn well they won't! We need to 'swift boat' McSame except without the lies, with the sorry truth, hard numbers and those pesky hard facts!
Since that information isn't hidden or need requests to get - but readily available.

I do think that Obama is holding the 'big guns' till later this year. His fantastic, yet simple, introduction ad was great (for those that haven't seen it yet and if it's not on DU check out Obama's site, it 'should' be there). I don't doubt for a second that it hadn't added voters to his campaign.

I also find it sort of ironic and rather hilarious that Limpballs, ever so confident, prompted his listeners to 'vote' for Clinton so they don't get Obama in the GE and what do they end up with, but McLame (whom we all know the RW really hates/hated/holding their noses) for their 'team' as it were - the RW do treat this whole thing as 'my team against yours' rather than how important this election really is this time around.

SO, as I've mentioned many times, I live in the deep south here in NE FL - where racism is alive and kicking and when talking politics to the usually saner folks, still hear this a LOT "I'm not voting for a N*gg*er/black man" so with that I say, then don't 'vote' for Obama, but the people around him - the people that will end up on our Supreme Court, the people that will get us OUT of Iraq - etc. Because one thing everyone I have spoken with does say "I'm not voting for McCain"

Cheers
Sandy

[1Hippiechick]

88. A picture is worth a 1000 words - here are some additional phenomenal graphs....

These are all from the same site: zfacts.com
Check it out - great site!

National Debt Bar Graph by Administration
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

Annual Gross (Total) National Deficit (did Bush "cut the deficit in half"?)
http://zfacts.com/p/519.html

Presidents and the Federal Debt (graph of debt hisotory showing presidents)
http://zfacts.com/p/480.html

National Debt Clocks and Savings Clocks
http://zfacts.com/p/461.html


Current Gas Prices and Price History (with running cost price of addiction to foreign oil)
http://zfacts.com/p/35.html

[ihavenobias]

89. Of course the editing period has long since expired but thanks for posting these :) n/t

[CherylK]

90. Bump!

[uponit7771]

91. K & R

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

93. Excellent

Can we get this chain-mailed like all the republican garbage flying around? People need to see this!

[ihavenobias]

97. Right, that's the idea!

Instead of baseless smear emails we can send factual and truly informative ones.

[Ysabel]

94. thanks and kick (too late for me to rec or i would)...

[300warriors]

96. I doubt the media will spread the word

They take sides, and not in our favor.

[ihavenobias]

101. They don't want to, but if it gains enough steam they'll almost have no choice n/t

[pleah]

98. Bookmarked for reference. And, thanks!

We all can make a difference if we just talk to a few people and they talk to a few people....

[ihavenobias]

104. Thanks, glad you plan to share it

[liberalla]

99. kick and review!

[ihavenobias]

107. Thanks

[azmouse]

100. kick

[ihavenobias]

108. I appreciate it n/t

[CherylK]

102. Bump!

[OhioChick]

103. Kick

[1Hippiechick]

105. Kick! n/t

[senseandsensibility]

106. Too late to rec this so I'll kick instead

and just say that this is the kind of post I love to see on GDP. I hope it inspires others as well as it informs.