Reply #53: i don't see

[paulsbc]

the current occupants of the White House being "altruistic" in the least, but that doesn't change the fact that the Iraqi people are better off then they were before

On the poor and oppressed in this country, I agree many changes are required here, especially w.r.t. worker protection, welfare, race relations, etc., etc. But that doesn't mean that the Iraqis aren't better off, they are.

I feel that we can pay for all the above programs and Iraq (and other world oppression removal) by increasing our tax rates on the > $200,000/year income group, and by removing all tax loopholes that exist.

I don't see this as "help the world" or "help ourselves", I want our government to do both.