What Bush did, and what McCain plans to do, is what is screwing the economy. One, Bush is fighting a war he cannot afford. He has to pay for it somehow, so how is he paying for it?He's borrowing the money from other countries. And they are willing to give it to him; but they know how badly he needs it and have hit him with extremely high interest rates. That is what is really costing us so much.This war should not even be costing us half of what it costs us, based on the size of the war. But the interest we are accruing on it has already more than doubled the cost of this war and sent the National Debt through the roof. And that has seriously undermined the value of the dollar. The dollar that is the very foundation of our economy.Then Bush took all the money away from the Middle Class and gave it to the Business Owners. Now in fairness to Bush, there was a logical reason behind what he did. He was trying trickle-down economics. The idea is that you give money to business owners, and they use it to create new businesses and expand old ones. Since they need people to run these businesses, a whole bunch of new jobs are created.Unfortunately, it doesn't work. Business owners want to hold onto that money, and do so by automating wherever they can. They also play workers off of each other to get the best minds, but not pay them what they are worth. So very few new jobs were created, and the ones that were don't pay anywhere near enough. So the money never actually trickled back down to the Middle Class.But the Middle Class makes up the vast majority of the customers for these businesses. Since no money ever came back down and Bush took what money they already had, the Middle Class now has very little money. So now they aren't buying any products made by the business owners, because they can't afford it.And that means a lower profit for the businesses, and sometimes out-and-out losses. Now if you were an investor, would you invest in a company barely making a profit? How about one that is the red and lost money?There is the problem with Wall Street as well. Bush's plan, which McCain intends to continue, failed miserably.What Obama's plan does is gives the money back to the Middle Class. He cuts taxes on the lower half, so they get money back. SOME of the upper half have to pay more, but that money is used to pay down the National Debt; which also quits growing when we leave the Iraq War. With Obama cutting the growth of the National Debt, and then paying down what we already owe, he is restoring the value of the dollar. The foundation of our economy become stronger.Then he gets the money back to the Middle Class so they can afford to buy the products of the Business Owners again. Now the Middle Class can get what they need to survive and thrive.And with the money coming in in sales, the businesses can afford to rehire their laid off workers. Jobs start being created again.And finally, with the raised profit levels of the businesses, investors are willing to invest in the businesses again.The pie is grown for EVERYONE (Rich, Poor, Middle Class); and Wall Street, and more importantly Main Street, are SAVED.Obama has established Middle Class as being below $250,000 a year.And I know for a fact that first answer is incorrect, you will be paying the same amount of taxes under Obama as you did Bush (and would under McCain) if you make between $150,000 and $250,000 a year; and less in taxes under Obama than you would McCain if you make less than $150,000 a year.I know, because I personally checked both.And as far as second answerer, healthcare costs go down if healthcare actually gets paid. The reason healthcare costs are so high is because too many people don't have healthcare, but the hospitals are required to stabilize them (still costly even if its only stabilize them) even if the patient cannot afford it.Obama's plan makes it to where the rich can keep their health care plan, the Middle Class has a choice, and the poor actually get some healthcare at all. McCain's plan fails to correct the problem of health insurance companies denying pre-existing conditions.To Harry:Bush did not take it away in terms of money, but in terms of value of that money. Our money is not currently worthless green paper, but its getting there.To DukeofDixie:Actually, that was rather my point. No one can make money in a business, because their customers have no money.We have to get the money back to the Middle Class, and we have to add value back to that money.That means paying DOWN the National Debt (its too big to pay off entirely, but we can drop it) to re-value the dollar, and then giving the money to the Middle Class.Taxes HAVE TO be raised, its the only way to afford what Bush did. But Obama gets it from people who have all the money, and sets things up in a way to where they can make more because their customers also are getting money.The rich do get their money, as you said. But after Obama has given money back to the Middle Class so they can afford to buy from the rich.And again, that brings back investors to the businesses as well.

Please define "middle class" as your whole argument hinges on those key words.I'm middle class, yet, McCains tax plan would provide greater tax credits to me and net about an extra $1,000 a year. Also, pease, explain, how Obama, or McCain for that matter, plan on paying down the national debt. Neither will be able to without RAISING taxes or cutting governement spending. We all know how much democrats, and Obama, want to do that...EDIT: I normally don't care enough to respond. But please, look into things before you go spouting off on who is correct/incorrect: http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/29/news/economy/candidates_tax_plans/index.htm?postversion=2008102912The above is just one example. If you actually crunch the numbers yourself you can get more finalized results (which I've done), for your particular situation. The chart on the left might open your eyes. For my situation, McCains tax bill provides a greater benefit to me. Obamas plan provide greater benefit to this with lower income. Again, the issue becomes one of defining the middle class. Even using Obamas standard of $250,000 McCain will provide greater tax relief to those people Obama defines as upper-middle class (100k-250k).

"What Bush did, and what McCain plans to do, is what is screwing the economy."Unemployment is skyrocketing now because Obama is not clear on costs to employers for health-care. That is why you are seeing layoffs announced in the last 60 days. Employers are cutting back on hiring out of this same fear. The DOW has plummeted as Obama has taken the lead in the polls and 6 years ago when democrats forced lenders to (spread the loans around) to unqualified people we are now paying for a 700 billion dollar bailout based on the bad sub-prime loans.You blathered on and on but were wrong all over the place and poorly informed.

Pie in the sky theory. Ask Carter!

So what is it that you don't get? It looks to me like you nailed it. But then, you weren't asking us rational people, were you?

I like your logic, but I must point out an error. Bush never took money away from the middle class. He didn't raise taxes on the middle class, he simply didn't cut their taxes the same way he did for corporations and the extra-wealthy. Plus, did you forget about the stimulus package? Do get me wrong, I hate Pres. Bush, but blaming the entire economic condition on him is incorrect. His fiscal policy concerning the war certainly hurt our country financially, but the recession we are in right now is a tragedy of our own making.

Where do I start? While the war isn't cheap, one has to ask what the alternative would cost us... particularly now. Also, the bailout alone cost as much as the war. And I don't know where you're getting this whole interest thing from... there's been nothing about it in the news. I can't prove it's not happening, but you really need to show some evidence (and not huffpo crap either) on that."Then Bush took all the money away from the Middle Class and gave it to the Business Owners." - Really? When did he do that? And how? He had the tax cuts, but that was giving money back to the middle class, who BTW made more money in 2006 (pre- Pelosi) then in 2000 (pre- Bush). Try making an assertion that's correct next time. With that struck down, the remainder of your Bush analysis (and most of the Obama analysis) is considered moot as well. "With Obama cutting the growth of the National Debt" - Read his plan again. With the amount of new spending he wants, even if he were to cut the war cold turkey and that wouldn't spring up additional terrorism costs (a dubious assumption indeed), the debt would rise under his plans.

I don't understand your question ,first , the war, we couldn't afford World War II either, but what was we to do when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, say don't do that again or we will be forced to spend our money to defend youSecond , you act as if when Democrats are presidents we pay NO taxesDo a little researchJimmy Carter had A 70% tax on the highest income earners, Reagan lowered that to 35% and the economy took off like a rocketThsi distribution of wealth won't work, WHY, because you take from the rich and give to the poor, they in turn buy cars, houses, jewelry, clothes, etc. then guess who ends up with all the money AGAIN, the RICH,You want to be successful start a business selling cars, houses , clothes , etc.

He wants to spend trillions on a variety of programs and there won't be enough revenue brought in by only taxing those who earn $150,000 or higher (the latest revised number according to Biden) to pay for everything. The amount of money saved from any sort of troop draw-down won't be enough to counter-balance his spending. And if he pulls our troops out completely and all at once, then we'll be spending more money when we need to go back and stop the genocide that will result.And exactly why should anyone wait for the government to give them back their own money so they can survive and maybe, just maybe, thrive?As far as business owners keeping money, you've obviously never owned or run a business. Business owners want their companies to grow, and the only way to do that is to reinvest profits. And those business owners ARE the middle class -- the majority of companies and the majority of employers in this country are small businesses. And yes, a small business can make $250,000 or even $1 million a year and still be small.As far as middle-class health goes, we're doing fine, thank you very much. The number of wealthy people in the country is growing, meaning more middle-class people are moving up, as are lower-class people. Why do you think Obama hasn't mentioned helping the poor even once in his entire campaign?