Obama vs. McCain: Who Will Better Support Joe The Plumber?

October 15, 2008 By 20 Comments

In the final presidential debate, the issue of the economy was all-pervasive. After another tumultuous day in the market with the worst one-day percentage declines since the crash of 1987, it was up to each candidate to use the final debate to lay out his vision for the country and promote his economic policies while drawing differences with his opponent.

McCain addressed his comments to Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber who confronted Obama about his tax policies at a recent Obama rally in Toledo, Ohio. For a considerable amount of time, McCain and Obama debated over who would do a better job for “Joe the Plumber.”

McCain claimed that he would serve Joe’s needs by reducing taxes so that Joe could buy the business he had dreamed of and employ people. Joe would not be eligible for tax cuts under Obama’s proposal because he earned more than $250,000 per year. Obama argued however that in cutting taxes for the middle class, he was making life more economically viable for 95% of Americans

Capitalism believes that small businesses build strong economies. Yet we live in an era of capitalist mixed economy where within the main capitalist system, the state intervenes in market activity and provides some services. In a capitalist economy mixed economy that is teetering on the brink of depression, people and businesses are calling upon the government for help. It will take several small businesses run by people like Joe the Plumber to work towards rebuilding a strong economy. Who will help him realize this, Obama or McCain?

Send us your comments.

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Obama Vs. McCain: Who Will Better Serve the U.S. Economy?

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  • Connie

    McCain blew Obama away. He is the only one who will make a concerted effort to curtail spending and lower taxes. Obama made the comment that some governement programs are underfunded, but didn’t say which. That comment alone implies he will expand government and spend more. That always leads to higher taxes. McCain wants to reduce the size of government, which will make it more transparent to the people. Obama wants to head us toward universal healthcare and universal preK. If the federal government couldn’t regulate Fannie & Freddie (which McCain wanted to do), how can it manage healthcare and preschool?

  • Connie

    McCain blew Obama away. He is the only one who will make a concerted effort to curtail spending and lower taxes. Obama made the comment that some governement programs are underfunded, but didn’t say which. That comment alone implies he will expand government and spend more. That always leads to higher taxes. McCain wants to reduce the size of government, which will make it more transparent to the people. Obama wants to head us toward universal healthcare and universal preK. If the federal government couldn’t regulate Fannie & Freddie (which McCain wanted to do), how can it manage healthcare and preschool?

  • Dawn

    There is an imporant point being ignored here. I’m a graduate student and I just did a research project on taxes, and the poor and the middle class (at least in the state where I live) pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes than the wealthy do. Joe the plumber says that raising taxes would punish those who work hard to make more, actually what it would do would be make taxes more fair and equal. People who are struggling to put food on the table and gas in their cars shouldn’t pay more taxes than those who make a lot of money.

  • Dawn

    There is an imporant point being ignored here. I’m a graduate student and I just did a research project on taxes, and the poor and the middle class (at least in the state where I live) pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes than the wealthy do. Joe the plumber says that raising taxes would punish those who work hard to make more, actually what it would do would be make taxes more fair and equal. People who are struggling to put food on the table and gas in their cars shouldn’t pay more taxes than those who make a lot of money.

  • Derek

    Who helped “Joe the guy who works as an unlicensed plumber, who hasn’t paid his taxes and has a lien against himself for not doing so” during the last depression. Was it Hoover or Roosevelt? Trickle down has failed again, in fact there isn’t even a trickle. I just don’t get it! Everyone want good schools, transportation networks, and other services from the government, but also don’t want to pay for these things. Next time you hit a pothole and careen your car into a high school dropout, remember to think “thank god my taxes are low” As far as Joe, he needs to make some sacrifices to help build a better future for the country at large, not just himself. We are all Joe. I’ve planted my “Liberty Garden”, have you?

  • Derek

    Who helped “Joe the guy who works as an unlicensed plumber, who hasn’t paid his taxes and has a lien against himself for not doing so” during the last depression. Was it Hoover or Roosevelt? Trickle down has failed again, in fact there isn’t even a trickle. I just don’t get it! Everyone want good schools, transportation networks, and other services from the government, but also don’t want to pay for these things. Next time you hit a pothole and careen your car into a high school dropout, remember to think “thank god my taxes are low” As far as Joe, he needs to make some sacrifices to help build a better future for the country at large, not just himself. We are all Joe. I’ve planted my “Liberty Garden”, have you?

  • Nolan Cella

    Dawn…I am not buying what you are saying about taxes.
    Our country is dramatically moving toward socialism. I find this disturbing. The bailouts mean our federal government has an unprecedented amount of control on our economy; their injected money into banks means they have a piece of all small businesses needing commercial paper. So if Joe requires any small business loans, then the feds already have a piece of him. Then if he makes more than 250,000 he will be taxed more?? This type of tax eliminates incentive to work and succeed; for people to try and make more money and improve their quality of work. If the President and the congress are under the control of the Liberals there will be no check on spending or government control over our economy. Watch out, socialism is upon us. We need to keep people motivated to work hard, and that is by letting them make more money and don’t take it away when they make more and more.

  • Nolan Cella

    Dawn…I am not buying what you are saying about taxes.
    Our country is dramatically moving toward socialism. I find this disturbing. The bailouts mean our federal government has an unprecedented amount of control on our economy; their injected money into banks means they have a piece of all small businesses needing commercial paper. So if Joe requires any small business loans, then the feds already have a piece of him. Then if he makes more than 250,000 he will be taxed more?? This type of tax eliminates incentive to work and succeed; for people to try and make more money and improve their quality of work. If the President and the congress are under the control of the Liberals there will be no check on spending or government control over our economy. Watch out, socialism is upon us. We need to keep people motivated to work hard, and that is by letting them make more money and don’t take it away when they make more and more.

  • Nolan Cella

    Derek,
    you think under funding is why schools, transport networks, and other government services are not at the level we want them to be? It is not underfunding. The government has enough money to take care of these things. The problem is inefficiency of operations and no sense for cost effective usage of public funds; not to mention funneling off of public funds to unnecessary projects. Government doesn’t know how to do anything cost effectively. Why do we always have to say “Feds…please help us…please. Everything is so bad, and we’ll give you most of what we’ve worked for if you can just save us from ourselves…” I would rather keep my money and take care of myself and make an effort to help those in need. Let’s not rely on our government.

  • Nolan Cella

    Derek,
    you think under funding is why schools, transport networks, and other government services are not at the level we want them to be? It is not underfunding. The government has enough money to take care of these things. The problem is inefficiency of operations and no sense for cost effective usage of public funds; not to mention funneling off of public funds to unnecessary projects. Government doesn’t know how to do anything cost effectively. Why do we always have to say “Feds…please help us…please. Everything is so bad, and we’ll give you most of what we’ve worked for if you can just save us from ourselves…” I would rather keep my money and take care of myself and make an effort to help those in need. Let’s not rely on our government.

  • Derek

    Nolan

    Me, me, me. It is time to think of us, us, us.

  • Derek

    Nolan

    Me, me, me. It is time to think of us, us, us.

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  • Arif

    dear friends:
    Obama already said there is always a price tag when you buy something, nothing comes free. So all this medicare plan and all other proposal each candidate put on the table dosen;t come FREE. SO if you think logically US is already can’t balance it financial buget because of WAR.HOW THE HELL McCain will BALANCE THE BUDGET? HE DOESN;T WANTO END WAR…. HE DOESN’T WANT TO INCREASE TAXES ON HIGH INCOME AMERICAN..and many more….LOGICALLY obama is doing right thing!!!!!!!!11

  • Arif

    dear friends:
    Obama already said there is always a price tag when you buy something, nothing comes free. So all this medicare plan and all other proposal each candidate put on the table dosen;t come FREE. SO if you think logically US is already can’t balance it financial buget because of WAR.HOW THE HELL McCain will BALANCE THE BUDGET? HE DOESN;T WANTO END WAR…. HE DOESN’T WANT TO INCREASE TAXES ON HIGH INCOME AMERICAN..and many more….LOGICALLY obama is doing right thing!!!!!!!!11

  • http://www.beepworld.it/members/natashha dueffredexy

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  • http://www.beepworld.it/members/natashha dueffredexy

    Great web-site!!! You did an amazing job!!! I enjoyed watching the videos!!! You guys are great!
    Talking about ideas, there\s this really good show, which I like a lot, and I\m sure you\ve heared about it. It\s called STOMP. What these guys do is so cool, I saw them live in NY. I\m sure you can do the same and even better. It really turns people on. Just an idea, hope it could be any helpful.
    donna grasse
    paliochat it
    nylon con
    cazzi nelle fighe