If there is one attack from the right that perfectly embodies their smarmy piggishness, it's that Obama is "punishing success." As Romney put it:
The great majority of small businesses pay taxes at the individual rate so as he raises these taxes “on the wealthy” he is raising taxes on small business. That kills jobs.
If your priority in this country is to punish success vote for President Obama; if your priority is to create more success and more jobs vote for me.
First is the suggestion that taxes are a
punishment. You might as well say that any other kind of investment is a "punishment" -- that putting away for your kids' college is a punishment, that saving for your retirement is a punishment, or that purchasing a more energy efficient heating system for your home is a punishment. (Actually, first is the fact that Romney's assertion is false. The tax increase will not affect small business owners.)
But what really gets me about this statement is how Romney defines "success." It's all about how much money you make. The more money you make, the more "successful" you are. That may be Romney's America, but it's not mine.
Let's start rewarding other kinds of success. The elementary school teacher who worked overtime to teach that learning disabled child to read. Let's reward that success. The fireman who forfeited years of his life inhaling smoke and toxic fumes to save lives in his community. Let's reward that success. The direct care worker who dramatically improved the end-of-life care for that elderly woman. Let's reward that success. The college student who sold everything he owns to get through his final semester. Let's reward that success. The single mother who raised her children to be productive members of society, despite the crime and poverty surrounding her. Let's reward that success.
Or should we only reward the success of buying a business, running up its debt, cashing it out for countless millions, and then dumping it to the curb? Is that the only success worth rewarding?