If you'll look below at the October 14 column, you'll find it's titled Republican Truth Serum: What You "Know" About Income Taxes Isn't True. I used the word "you" because it refers to the fact that most people are misinformed about who pays taxes -- and who doesn't. As you'll notice, the top 1% of income earners -- we're talking Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah types -- have 21%-plus of the income in the U.S. However, they don't pay 21% of total taxes. In fact, they pay nearly 40%.It's critical that Republicans -- candidates and we plain ole activists -- get across solid information about taxes and other issues. Most people believe individuals with relatively modest incomes pay most of the taxes, while the "rich" have access to CPAs and a host of "loopholes."
The truth is far different from that assumption. In fact, half the income earners in the U.S. pay little or no federal income taxes. They do shell out PAYROLL taxes for Social Security and Medicare, but income taxes are another matter.
How can we get these points across? And should we even try? Frankly, many people are satisfied living in a cocoon of misinformation.
I've been reading an outstanding book called Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. It's by brothers Chip and Dan Heath and published by Random House. It offers suggestions on how to get ideas to stick -- to take hold in people's heads and hearts.
Tomorrow, I'll discuss the way we get people to accept and act on ideas. Hint: We can't do it by statistics alone, because too many citizens either don't understand statistics -- or don't believe them. Take a look at the October 14 column, and return tomorrow for more discussion.
----------------------------CNN announced today (3:40 p.m. ET, October 16, 2007) that a new national poll has come out with implications for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. "I think I have the best chance of defeating Hillary Clinton." (Rudy Giuliani)
Republican Poll Results
Rudy Giuliani -- 32%
Fred Thompson -- 18%
John McCain -- 14%
Mitt Romney -- 10%
Democratic Poll Results
Hillary Clinton -- 50%
Barack Obama -- 21%
John Edwards --13%
It appears highly probable -- of course, in politics little is certain -- that the nominees will be Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton.
For the Republicans, Fred Thompson is floundering like a beached whale. The Economist said this week that he is amiable and conservative but apparently NOT a "heavyweight." Frankly, it's time for the candidates who have not achieved anything like a national standing to consider seriously an endorsement of Rudy Giuliani.
Candidates like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Duncan Hunter have fought the good fight. Now, they should begin to think about the real task: supporting a candidate who can win in the general election. For the Republicans, that candidate is Rudy Giuliani, "America's Mayor."
Tomorrow, I'll talk about steps Rudy should take to strengthen his standing with social conservatives. One of those steps, which should occur shortly after Super Tuesday (Feb. 5, 2007) is the naming of a vice-presidential nominee who would have strong national appeal. I believe that person should be Gov. Sarah Palin, Alaska's favorite daughter, America's great hope.
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