McCain's plan is more sensible AND more genuine

Ian really set the tone with a thoughtful article that attacks much of the criticism that Republicans face with regards to the economy. I am happy to note that Ian did point out that the Tax Policy Center estimates a McCain Administration would take 1.4 trillion dollars less over ten years from the pockets of taxpayers. As far as Iraq goes, Obama does want to pull troops out on a date that coincides with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's timetable. As a fiscal conservative, I am not opposed to American troop withdrawal if the Iraqis want it. We should honor the Iraqis' sovereignty. With peace becoming more prevalent and the Iraqi's taking more control of their own security, withdrawal doesn't seem that far away even for McCain. But, before I digress too much, we will address Iraq later.
Ian's second point was that Republicans have a terrible record of funding public schools. First, I am assuming he means federal funding for public schools. This being the case, No Child Left Behind has been the punching bag of Democrats who say Bush destroyed public education with the flick of his pen on the bill. As a matter a fact, NCLB was co-Authored by Democratic Rep. George Miller of California and Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. President Bush signed into law the largest single increase of federal funding for schools in the history of the country. Ian is correct when he says people with good educations are less likely to go to jail or need welfare. However, he is wrong in his insistence that more money solves the problem of education. Strong family situations and involved parents are a much bigger factor than the increase of money.

Concerning minimum wage, I am glad Ian supports high school students working summer and part time jobs to climb the economic ladder. They make up the vast majority of minimum wage earners and most of them are looking for extra spending money, not to pay a mortgage. By the bye, if Democrats are all about having a minimum wage, why stop at the current $6.55 per hour? Why not go to $10 or even $20 an hour? Don't all the workers deserve a better wage than $6.55? The truth is a minimum wage is inflationary in nature. It collectively lowers the value of the dollar because producers will raise the cost of their good or service that they provide to cover the increase in wage they must pay, thus negating any increase that the workers received. It is a simple political ploy to garner votes from the working class who think the government controlling wages will result in greater prosperity for them. And no Ian, the increase in the minimum wage does not qualify as pork barrel spending. McCain has a history of being against earmarks and pork barrel spending, which will be the topic of my next address. So Stay Tuned. Touché Ian with regard to Governor Palin and her pork. I am not a fan of it, Democrat or Republican, and she has been a bit disingenuous with her anti-pork rhetoric. But I don't believe for a moment that McCain's rhetoric is just for the sound bite. He has a history against waste and I believe him when he says he will veto any bill that has earmarks attached to it. With regards to Obama's tax plan I have a response in the works that will be available shortly.

-Eric