Why Are the Job Creators and Taxpayers the ONLY Ones You Can’t Afford to Help?
Who’s the Enemy Mr. Obama- The Taliban or America’s “Rich?”
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee
Ronald Reagan would have said, “There you go again Obama.” In last night’s state of the union President Obama offered gifts to everyone in America, except the job creators and taxpayers. He told the lie again and again- that he is a tax cutter. He said, “I gave tax cuts to 95% of Americans.” True. But he forgot to mention that the other 5% own all the businesses, create all the jobs and pay virtually all the taxes. He gave tax cuts to millions of people that never paid taxes in the first place. Smart move Mr. President. Screw the rich, and reward everyone else. No wonder we have an effective unemployment rate of almost 20%. How’s that “spread the wealth around” working for you?
Obama promised goodies for everyone on the planet- except those making over $250,000 a year. He made a point of saying just that- we have no room for tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. Hey that’s me! How lucky can a fellow get? Being a successful entrepreneur and small business owner under Obama is like winning the reverse lottery!
I studied hard; worked hard; never did drugs (unlike Obama); sacrificed while others were partying; graduated Valedictorian of my high school class; graduated Columbia University with honors (Deans List); and then went onto build businesses and create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. I did everything my parents and my country asked of me. They promised me if I did, I’d live the American Dream.
Today I work 16 to 18 hour days; I work well before 9 AM and well after 5 PM; I work weekends; I work holidays; I work on birthdays and anniversaries; I work full days while on vacation with my family; I pay huge taxes; I pay other people’s health insurance; I have often withheld my own paycheck during lean times, so that I can make payroll for others; I built companies so that all my employees could also live the American Dream.
And my reward for all of that work, and sacrifice, and playing by the rules, is to be singled out by Obama on national TV as the bad guy. I’m the enemy. NOT the Taliban. It’s me. I’m the guy with the bullseye on his chest. Everyone in the country gets a handout, a tax cut, an entitlement, and a tax break, but me. I get up at 5 AM and work 18 hours so that my reward is to be punished. Screwed. Taxed out of existence. There?s no room to reward me. Everyone else- there?s plenty of room for them. Me- I?m the lucky guy who has been singled out to pay for everyone else?s good times.
Obama’s claim that he is fighting for small business is a lie. I am a small businessman. My friends are all small businessmen. We feel singled out for punishment and retribution (as well as redistribution). Obama thinks our hard-earned money is his. Well I have news for him- we earned it. It belongs to us. It’s the taxpayers? money; it does not belong to the government.
Obama’s plan to help small business is typical Obama. It is all dressed up to sound powerful. But the reality is that beneath the beautiful bow is a huge pile of crap. Obama?s plan is an insult to all small business owners and investors. It is useless and meaningless.
We need tax cuts. We need to keep more of our own money. We need smaller government. We need for government to cut the taxes, rules, mandates and regulations that are strangling the lifeblood out of us. Instead he takes more of our money, yet tells us he’s doing us a favor. No thanks. With friends like Obama, who needs enemies?
And Obama wonders why there are no new jobs? Trust me…there won’t be any change in the unemployment rate anytime soon. Not with Obama as President. Not with that attitude. Small business is going on strike. Find your jobs and the taxes necessary to fund your welfare state somewhere else. We’re out to lunch Mr. President. We?ll be back around 2012.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book is entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” For more of Wayne’s views, commentaries, or to watch his many national media appearances, please visit his web site at: ROOTforAmerica.com
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Wow! Mr. Root a small businessman in a continent of huge business industry. I agree on some points lke most working people in America pay taxes even an income tax filers pay plenty of sales taxes of vaious sorts. However, I don’t like the way he proclaim his self-rightheousness as the “Mr. Clean” guy and the “I”, “Me”, “Myself” syndrome is pretty obvious.
Humility is not in his vocabulary. Giving criticism to the point of lifting up your own chair is far, far beyond in building the American Dream. Remember that a master must be a servant first, and big dreams comes from small beginnings.
cathysecretstaff.com
And how many small businessmen really make more than $250,000 anyway. I used to be in the real estate business and I knew very few who made anywhere near that kind of money. I’ve known lots of “mom-and-pop” businesses over the years and most of them made alot less. Does Root really think the typical pizza store or Chinese restaurant owner, unless it’s a money laundering operation, make that kind of money?
Depends, I’ve known plenty that made more and plenty that made less. Example:
Some of my extended family owned a diner in Philly. Legit income was 600-800k/year after expenses and before taxes.
Is that what you consider a small business or not?
If I had the cash to spend to go to St. Louis, I would send it to AntiWar.Com or the Future of Freedom Foundation rather than going to St. Louis. That way the money would go to good use in the advancement of freedom.
In fact, you would have to pay ME to listen to Wayne Root or Neal Boortz talk. I can turn on my radio and listen to Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity for free if I want to hear that sort of tripe.
On January 29, in an email to senior members of the LNC and others, and supplied to Liberty for America magazine, Mr Root stated that he is running for National Chair.
I would guess 50%+ would be in the ballpark.
You should ask him in Saint Louis. Are you going?
Taxes and spending, at least 50% or more.
But ask him.
I’d rather it be more, myself.
Just like all conservatives with their well-worn talking points, Root babbles on and on about tax cuts. Unlike many conservatives, he even talks about smaller government. But, I’d like to hear exactly how small. How much spending would Root cut? Is Root even aware that there can really be no tax cuts without spending cuts?
Would Root cut government spending by 50% or by 1%?
Like other conservatives, Root never gives any specifics about what he would cut. I’d wager that if he actually held office, his spending “cuts” would probably be in the same range as Obama’s spending freeze.
It’s unfortunate for the LP that their most opportunistic spokesman is a conservative and rarely deviates from typical talk radio talking points.
“It is my understanding that Wayne grew up in a “blue collar” family, so I’m sure he can relay some personal stories along those lines”
““the drugs part meant…i studied 24/7…i did not party…that[‘s] how [a] blue collar son of a butcher got into Ivy League college.”
So Wayne Root admits he’s an “SOB” (son of a butcher). Ha! Ha!
And what’s with this “blue collar” butcher stuff anyway. I know Root is jewish (as I am) and if his father made anything like the jewish butchers I’ve known personally I would hardly refer to them as “blue collar”. Kosher butchers especially tend to make tons of money for obvious reasons, and anybody who has frequented kosher shops as I have would know that. They are not “blue collar”. Root just sounds like those politicians who used to brag about being born in log cabins when in reality they were raised in comfortable middle-class circumstances.
And how many small businessmen really make more than $250,000 anyway. I used to be in the real estate business and I knew very few who made anywhere near that kind of money. I’ve known lots of “mom-and-pop” businesses over the years and most of them made alot less. Does Root really think the typical pizza store or Chinese restaurant owner, unless it’s a money laundering operation, make that kind of money?
And this drug reference cuts both ways. Implying that drug users deserve to suffer in reduced circumstances also provides ammunition to those who believe legalizing drugs will increase delinquency, addiction and dependence.
Root is an ultra-conceited blowhard who diminishes whatever credibility the LP has
left as the “Party Of Principle”.
@28, Good points. I might add that it may help to take a point from Obama that is positive and Wayne can agree with, like the advocacy for reforming the policy on homosexuals in the military, and give some credit where credit is due. It makes the rest of the complaints seem less like simple nay-saying.
Well put. In case my other comment was too long…I think the same principle applies to arguments against (excessive) taxation.
My pet name for Thomas – ‘fuzzy’ is a lot nicer than the things he has said about me.
I certainly won’t quit my day job and try to be a comedian, I concede to Brian.
I was referring more to the odd shot at Obama but point well taken.
Rob,
You write:
“Mr. Root may be friends with Mr. Kubby and, to be fair, Mr. Root has been excellent on the issue of legalization. Which is why the comment struck me as odd and a bit out of place. ”
I don’t think it’s out of place.
Wayne claims to be a health nut — no drugs, no booze, etc. — and I believe him.
There’s a case to be made that that’s precisely the kind of advocate needed to argue for drug legalization/decriminalization, because that kind of advocate is obviously not just wanting his or her own behaviors sanctioned.
“Fuzzipos”? Really?
0. Don’t call people names.
1. If you’re going to call people names, at least do it cleverly.
2. If you’re going to complain about people calling you names, refer to rule 0.
Since Wayne is responding to criticisms here, albeit indirectly through Bruce, I would counsel him to drop or adjust this talking point in the future:
Obama offered gifts to everyone in America, except the job creators and taxpayers. He told the lie again and again- that he is a tax cutter. He said, “I gave tax cuts to 95% of Americans.” True. But he forgot to mention that the other 5% own all the businesses, create all the jobs and pay virtually all the taxes.
I have run or been a partner in plenty of businesses that employed myself and other people during years when I made much less than the top 5% of income earners in the US. I know many others that have done the same.
As for taxes, I’ve paid plenty of all types of different taxes, even in years when I made next to nothing (and conversely, paid very little taxes a few years that I did very well, easily in the top 5% those years).
Most working people in the US pay more in FICA taxes than income taxes. Even non-income tax filers pay plenty of sales taxes, excise taxes and tariffs of various sorts. Those of us who travel for a living frequently get gouged by motel and restaurant taxes, taxes on gasoline and/or tickets, whether we are wealthy or not.
Some (but not all) very wealthy people pay little in the way of taxes because they enjoy custom-built loopholes, since they have the clout to create those for themselves.
Although Wayne makes some good points in this article, I believe he undercuts them with an inaccurate argument that can easily come off as top-down class warfare to many readers. And while I understand why a candidate would want to attract wealthy supporters, doing so the exclusion of perhaps 95% of Americans is, in my opinion, a bad approach.
I don’t mean to make my comments sound too much like exclusively negative nit picking, so I’ll say a few nice things too: the article stays on message throughout, as do most of Wayne’s articles. Repetition is often the key to successful communication. Also, I’ll echo Bruce’s point that being a cleanster makes Wayne more credible as a legalization advocate.
To bring the point back to my criticism, I think that anti-tax arguments are likewise more credible when they talk about the negative impact taxes have on poor and “working class”/blue collar people. Although Wayne does refer to this when he says the people Obama wants to gouge more create jobs, that point could use more elaboration.
It’s also my belief that a good way to undermine high tax arguments is to point out all the *bad* uses to which the money is put, and how the ostensibly good purposes for which some taxes are collected can be achieved better through private/voluntary means.
So long as most people believe that government is doing good things with their taxes – and that no other agency is likely to do those things other than through taxes – it will be very difficult or impossible to lower or end mandatory taxation.
I don’t think that it is bad to make arguments from a self-referenced view, but if possible, I would hope Wayne would talk more about how taxes may have held him or other people he knows back when they were first struggling to get their businesses off the ground, before they got into the top 5%.
It is my understanding that Wayne grew up in a “blue collar” family, so I’m sure he can relay some personal stories along those lines – and even if he can’t from his own life, I’d be surprised if he does not know people who he could use as examples.
My apologies for misreading your comments.
For Mister Fuzzipos:
Wayne Root Quote on the matter:
“You can let Sipios know that this was ONE business…ONE among many I run.
And that one business paid all employees health insurance. Every single full time employee for 9 years had their health insurance paid by me.
And that 3 posts by anonymous losers on sites I’ve never been to…or heard of…on “the wild west” Internet where anyone can say anything…don’t amount to much.
Except to a desperate person trying to slime and slander me.
My guess is that all 3 posts were written by competitors of mine…none even claim to be employees from what I can tell.
They are fabricated nonsense written all over the web by losers who anonymously slander others.
If that’s what he bases his opinions of me on…he is truly the star of “Amateur Hour.””
Here are Wayne’s words to me from a few minutes ago:
“the drugs part meant…i studied 24/7…i did not party…that[‘s] how [a] blue collar son of a butcher got into Ivy League college.
When my friends were partying dating drinking and smoking pot…I was studying”
Wayne makes the point everywhere he goes that he’s the perfect person to lead the fight precisely because he has never done drugs and is not a fan of drugs.
Only someone with his squeaky clean record can convince millions of anti-drug American mothers and fathers to legalize.
Rob, indeed you are not the hatemonger I refer to. I think your questions are fair and honorable, as well as nicely framed, without personal attacks.
I like your website suggestions too and have made the same ones myself.
Bruce Cohen: “Oh, and Wayne has more than one business. What one do you refer to, smartypants?”
I’m not referring to anything. I’m asking.
I’m trying to find out what Root is referring to, since it’s my understanding that his business went under.
Don’t you recognize a question when you see it?
Mr. Cohen, with all due respect, I fail to see how I have been hatemongering. I have doubts about Root’s ability to do better than Barr. But if you want suggestions, I would say make the website more user friendly with bigger type (your website is much more readable for example) and make it less busy and less focus on himself in press releases.
Art discussed that campaign with me at length over the years.
Art was shoved to the side and felt more like an opponent sometimes than a co-Candidate.
To a certain extent, Root faced this difficulty too, but was able to overcome that, and is certainly the very first LP VP Candidate to get any significant press.
I think, in fact, the press Root got rivaled Barr’s for both quantity and quality.
Wayne is very willing to learn and listen.
But when cranks attack him, what’s he going to do?
I would say suggestions are in order more than hatemongering.
No?
I’ll concede your point about the lack of charm on the 92 ticket. I always thought we would see more of Ms. Lord (and Art Olivier for that matter). Having said that, it was a step back after 1988. Mr. Root may have more charisma but I do not see how he improves on the showing that Barr made in 2008.
Andre’ Marrou and Nancy Lord.
I voted for them.
I campaigned for them.
I went to their events.
They were not very good promoters.
They were not telegenic.
Wayne does very well with audiences of all types.
His point, I think, that he sacrificed and worked instead of ‘having fun’ and being decadent.
Like Obama.
Mr. Cohen, with all due respect, I disagree. Mr. Root was trying to contrast himself with Obama:
“I studied hard; worked hard; never did drugs (unlike Obama); sacrificed while others were partying; graduated Valedictorian of my high school class; graduated Columbia University with honors (Deans List); and then went onto build businesses and create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. I did everything my parents and my country asked of me.”
Mr. Root may be friends with Mr. Kubby and, to be fair, Mr. Root has been excellent on the issue of legalization. Which is why the comment struck me as odd and a bit out of place. And that’s the thing. Mr. Root has been on the public stage for a while now. With over two years to go, I think it is fair to say that Mr. Root is the default front runner for the LP nod in 2012. I see nothing to indicate that Mr. Root will do anything to change the electoral success of the LP and libertarianism and I think we’ll be looking at 300-350k votes much like say Andre Mirraou and Nancy Lord pulled in 92.
No, Thomas.
At the Convention where Kevin ‘Obamanaga’ gave you the reins, I told you in front of Ted Brown and others what I thought would happen.
You denied you would do this.
And in fact, this has been discussed before on IPR.
You got the toy you wanted, California Freedom.
Then you and Kevin broke it, so you threw it away in search of a new toy.
Face it.
As far as your silly assertions about Wayne, they are very very old assertions and false.
Oh, and Wayne has more than one business.
What one do you refer to, smartypants?
I think Root was making a bigger point.
That he worked hard and saved and sacrificed, didn’t have a spendy lifestyle and then the statists want to punish him for success.
The ‘I didn’t do drugs’ is not a put down of anyone. He is a huge supporter of, and friend of, Steve Kubby.
This is a red herring.
Bruce Cohen: “Sipos is angry at me over my tough criticism of his ’stewardship’ of the now shuttered California Freedom Magazine.”
Prove it.
Prove that I’m angry over your “tough criticism,” rather than over your pro-war positions.
“he can’t take it when someone else calls him on his promises or lack of performance.”
What promises or lack of performance? I did everything I promised.
I promised I’d make war a flagship issue for CF, and I did.
I promised I’d introduce debate and discussion into CF and I did.
Hardly anyone in the LP respects you, or even likes you. Why should anyone care about your “tough criticism”?
The questions Sipos’ posts here are old news and have been discussed before here and elsewhere. I have addressed them before, here and elsewhere.
How can that be? This is a new press release from Root.
Please stop using your “tough criticism” as an excuse to avoid addressing my points.
Why is Root using present tense in this press release, when it’s my understanding that he’s long since closed his business?
That drug comment was a bit odd. Alright so doing drugs makes Obama worse than Mr. Root. So why does Mr. Root want to legalize them?
Well with this much focus on my me and I, I can clearly see that Wayne Root is the man to take the LP out of less than one-half of one percent territory. “We’ll be back around 2012” and, unless Mr. Root steps up his game, he’ll be even more irrelevant than Barr was.
The questions Sipos’ posts here are old news and have been discussed before here and elsewhere.
I have addressed them before, here and elsewhere.
Sipos is angry at me over my tough criticism of his ‘stewardship’ of the now shuttered California Freedom Magazine.
Mister Sipos portrays himself as a tough, thick-skinned activist, and he himself dishes out some very tough criticism.
But he can’t take it when someone else calls him on his promises or lack of performance.
People who have glass typewriters shouldn’t throw lies.
@8 “Obama did talk about getting the US military out of Iraq and repealing the policy on homosexuals in the military.
lol…yeah, I suppose that “talking” about issues is almost as good as doing something about an issue!”
Obama is doing something about those issues. There is a drawdown of troops from Iraq under way right now, and he put forward his position and intent on the military policy in a very public manner. That is a significant improvement from the previous administration.
“In fairness, he also talked about stopping childhood obesity. Nevermind that it is hardly a national issue. But he’ll probably get as far with that as he did with closing Guantanamo.”
At least it is not an issue that the federal government should be addressing directly, I would agree. While not all of his goals have been achieved yet, there are some positions of this administration that are much better than the previous. To ignore them and always focus on the negative is one thing that I think turns some people away from alternative political viewpoints.
I wonder if Bruce Cohen can respond to the points I raise, rather than change the subject to me?
Root: Today I work 16 to 18 hour days; I work well before 9 AM and well after 5 PM; I work weekends; I work holidays; I work on birthdays and anniversaries; I work full days while on vacation with my family; I pay huge taxes; I pay other people’s health insurance;
Is this true? I thought his business went under? Is he still, today, paying people’s health insurance?
Root makes it sound like he’s doing this today, rather than in the past.
And his former employees make Root’s operation sound like a boiler room: http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-talk/2303-i-worked-wayne-root-let-me-tell-you-about.html
http://therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=164179
http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-talk/23380-question-about-wayne-allyn-root.html
Not the sort of setup that would pay health insurance.
Root: I built companies so that all my employees could also live the American Dream
His former employees apparently disagree that Root gave them the American Dream.
I wonder how his former investors feel?
I wonder how much of this press release is for real?
Obama did talk about getting the US military out of Iraq and repealing the policy on homosexuals in the military.
lol…yeah, I suppose that “talking” about issues is almost as good as doing something about an issue!
In fairness, he also talked about stopping childhood obesity. Nevermind that it is hardly a national issue. But he’ll probably get as far with that as he did with closing Guantanamo.
PEACE
Good article, Wayne. Short and to the point. I wish those making less than $250,00o would understand what you just said. They just don’t seem to get it.
What about the good points of the SOTU? Obama did talk about getting the US military out of Iraq and repealing the policy on homosexuals in the military. He took a swipe at the Supreme Court, which was fun to watch. There may have been a couple other good points…
@4 Steven
I agree with you 100%
I also don’t like personal attacks like, “I never did drugs but you did!” It just sounds immature.
This response, while I agree with the sentiment, seems to be too self centered.
Mr Root is a candidate that should be appealing to the masses, or at least other libertarians. Instead, we see Mr Root several times referring to “me” or “I”.
That, and the piece is again waaay too long to be digested by the average American.
PEACE
Wow, self rightious, dude. It’s got to hurt that I’m only your second response. Luck with that strike.
Wayne. Please go. Please go, Wayne. Go, wayne. Wayne, go. Go, Wayne. Go. Go. Wayne. wayne. Wayne.
Go Wayne. This is beautiful.