Comments on: Obama Is Wrong On Capital Gains Taxes http://www.fredmalekblog.com/2008/04/17/obama-is-wrong-on-capital-gains-taxes/ Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:29:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mark D. Cowan http://www.fredmalekblog.com/2008/04/17/obama-is-wrong-on-capital-gains-taxes/#comment-838 Mark D. Cowan Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:16:30 +0000 http://www.fredmalekblog.com/2008/04/17/obama-is-wrong-on-capital-gains-taxes/#comment-838 Fred, We've run into one another a thousand times at this event or another, yet hardly know one another. I served in the Reagan Administration as Chief of Staff at Labor and earlier, Deputy at OSHA in the dereg days - being pilloried by Ted Kennedy and his gang. And later worked with Dave Wimer, poor guy- with Tom Donohue and Dick Wiley on my Board. I'm now at Patton Boggs (on the "R" side, of course). Enough. My Comment. The point missed, is that Mr. Obama understands, I'm quite sure that an increase in the capital gains tax has nothing to do with increasing revenue. Rather, it is an interesting juxtaposition to his elitist comments in San Francisco. For it is he who plays the fiddle to the haters. He plays to those who, rather than work hard, excel, strive and admire those who can "make it big" and reap the rewards that might come with that - like capital gains - choose instead to resent; to hate, to foment class hatred and believe those who have wealth have it due to luck or through ill gotten gains and that the answer to their own "misfortunes" is a government directed redistribution. Now, I hasten to add that I am not suggesting this is a "democrat" phenomena, or something unique to Mr. Obama. Rather, it has long been a rallying cry useful to bring to a certain type of politician a certain element of the electorate who, rather than work for a better life or simply appreciate the good in what they have, would rather look over the fence and detest the bounty of others, find why it is evil and determine how depriving them of it will only serve the common good - even when the math is bad - as you so eloquently and, frankly, simply illusrate. Mark Fred,
We’ve run into one another a thousand times at this event or another, yet hardly know one another. I served in the Reagan Administration as Chief of Staff at Labor and earlier, Deputy at OSHA in the dereg days - being pilloried by Ted Kennedy and his gang. And later worked with Dave Wimer, poor guy- with Tom Donohue and Dick Wiley on my Board. I’m now at Patton Boggs (on the “R” side, of course). Enough. My Comment. The point missed, is that Mr. Obama understands, I’m quite sure that an increase in the capital gains tax has nothing to do with increasing revenue. Rather, it is an interesting juxtaposition to his elitist comments in San Francisco. For it is he who plays the fiddle to the haters. He plays to those who, rather than work hard, excel, strive and admire those who can “make it big” and reap the rewards that might come with that - like capital gains - choose instead to resent; to hate, to foment class hatred and believe those who have wealth have it due to luck or through ill gotten gains and that the answer to their own “misfortunes” is a government directed redistribution. Now, I hasten to add that I am not suggesting this is a “democrat” phenomena, or something unique to Mr. Obama. Rather, it has long been a rallying cry useful to bring to a certain type of politician a certain element of the electorate who, rather than work for a better life or simply appreciate the good in what they have, would rather look over the fence and detest the bounty of others, find why it is evil and determine how depriving them of it will only serve the common good - even when the math is bad - as you so eloquently and, frankly, simply illusrate. Mark

]]> By: Jim Brown http://www.fredmalekblog.com/2008/04/17/obama-is-wrong-on-capital-gains-taxes/#comment-837 Jim Brown Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:41:53 +0000 http://www.fredmalekblog.com/2008/04/17/obama-is-wrong-on-capital-gains-taxes/#comment-837 Hi Mr. Malek, My name is Jim Brown. I saw the article in today's Post and I wanted to drop you a line. You probably don't remember me, but my brother and I coached your son in a McLean rec. basketball league way, way back---probably in the late 70's (red jerseys?). My brother and I both were talking about him and that team the other day (we remembered that your boy was a 'character' but that he was definitely going to be successful) and then I saw the blog site mentioned so I thought I'd write. We had a lot of fun coaching your son and that team for a couple of years. Congrats on an unbelievable career built on strong character and honesty. Please give my best to your family and especially young Fred (who's probably in his 40's right now and is a major success in his own right). Keep up the good work on the blog, too! ---Jim Brown Vice President, Smith Litho Rockville, MD Hi Mr. Malek,

My name is Jim Brown. I saw the article in today’s Post and I wanted to drop you a line.

You probably don’t remember me, but my brother and I coached your son in a McLean rec. basketball league way, way back—probably in the late 70’s (red jerseys?). My brother and I both were talking about him and that team the other day (we remembered that your boy was a ‘character’ but that he was definitely going to be successful) and then I saw the blog site mentioned so I thought I’d write. We had a lot of fun coaching your son and that team for a couple of years.

Congrats on an unbelievable career built on strong character and honesty. Please give my best to your family and especially young Fred (who’s probably in his 40’s right now and is a major success in his own right).

Keep up the good work on the blog, too!

—Jim Brown
Vice President, Smith Litho
Rockville, MD

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