Posted on 11/18/2010 3:52:10 PM PST by FTJM
To 20 - Excellent pt.
All arguments for increasing tax rates on “the rich” can be refuted with empirical proofs.
These include “fairness” and “paying their fair share” and “deficit/revenue” reasons.
The only thing left, the only reason the left really wants to raise rates on “the rich” is in order to punish them for their success.
“The names you mentioned didn’t suck because they were legislators.”
Can you name me a CIC, who was a former legislator, that was a better than average President (didn’t suck in your words)?
No? I rest my case.
George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe all served in colonial legislatures.
Calvin Coolidge served in the Mass. state legislature.
Then there was that Lincoln guy, though there is debate as to whether or not he sucked.
It’s the character of the person that matters, not their previous job.
The Founders you mentioned all had careers other than as legislators, as businessmen, lawyers, Military commanders, plantation owners/farmers, skilled craftsmen, etc (Washington was a commander in chief before he became CIC....lololol)....Their view was a short stint in elective office then a return to “real life.” Try taking about the 20th/21st century......
As for the rest ....you forgot Richard M Nixon, a former US Representative and US Senator.......he was considered in his time as a Conservative with solid anti-communist credentials in a cold war world..... (History paints him as a moderate, right of center Republican with good foreign diplomacy skills and, under the constant pressure of lefty attacks, a highly flawed personality.)
The point I was making is that todays legislators are, for the most part, Career Politicians instead of the the citizen/representatives of yore, and have little or no experience beyond government......
No matter what an individual’s initial character, life in the Congress is a corrupting influence, and I’d prefer not to have people with that as a large part of their resume running for President.......No matter what their reputation as “conservative,” they seem always to disapoint in the role of “Executive”....
Give me a proven chief executive every time ......CEO, Governor, etc.....guess thats just me.....
But you go ahead, mine those legislative fields....maybe you’ll find a “nugget” worth his/her weight, one that’s not “fools gold”.....I’m just not gonna hold my breath while you swish the water in those pans around......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.