Democrats should send clear message

Why are Republicans fighting to extend Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans? Because that's all they know how to do! But it really annoys me when Democrats throw Americans under the bus when they think it will get them elected.

I'm a small business owner. We get hijacked all the time by politicians. Taxes, jobs, the environment, healthcare, you name it - both sides make their claim and saying it will "hurt" small business owners if we don't do what they want.

Example: extending tax cuts for anyone earning over $250,000. It's a 3 percent increase in the marginal tax rate! Does anyone really think that our behavior is going to change by removing, or not, $30 from every $1000 starting with the $251,000th!

And to say "our" behavior is lying, just like the politicians! There are about 6 million small businesses in the U.S. and about 3 percent of those generate $250,000 or more for their owners. That's 180,000 vs. 6 million! So, 97 percent of small business owners will not be affected by this decision!

Actually, that's not true either. 100 percent of small business owners and 100 percent of Americans, present and future, will be affected by an extension in the form of huge, resource-sucking deficits!

I wish Democrats would send a clear message that says: We are fighting for the middle class and we are doing something about the national debt. That's when they will earn my vote.

Dan Sherry

Barrington