Lisa Benson for December 13, 2012

This whole “tax the rich” and “fiscal cliff” thing is getting to look more like it’s powered by Ex Lax, every day, every ’toon.

I think a lot of these cartoonists (both parties) are really reaching to try to put out cartoons that have any relevance to what’s really going on politically. I remember when political cartoons could be sarcastic, caustic, accusing and really nail politicians (or whoever) to the proverbial wall. Maybe I’m just getting old and am missing the point. All these seem to do is generally piss people off and start an avalanche of negative confrontational postings by the comment section…

It’s funny when the class-warfare folks complain about the rich “not paying their fair share”. Didn’t Romney pay about 1.3 million in taxes last year? How much did you pay…?

That’s so sad. Did this happen during the ten years when the wealthiest were given tax breaks to create jobs in America. Wow. You must feel like a chump.

Actually, they’re leaving to reduce labor costs. Those greener pastures have people that will work longer hours for less money and put up with abusive bosses. -Since the tax rates on the rich are lowest in the past 50-60 years, it is really reducing taxes has caused them to leave.--“Taxed to death” yet still breathing.

let me think if I go to the store and buy cheap imports where are the jobs going to go. quit blaming the rich blame yourself if you go to walmart and buy the imports

Poor Lisa. No grasp of reality.

My thoughts also, Radish. Heaven forbid they pay taxes or give their employees a raise!

……… and the tax rates are the lowest in decades! Get rid of the tax laws which allow outsourced companies to pay no taxes. Norquist says, “NO!”.

on the other side, Lisa’s reality is over 100% But then again, some may not have been victims to loosing retirement due to O’s lack of leadership. Ot over 65 and finding no doctors who will take Medicare or my secondary BC/BS as a retired, conservative college professor.

Totally, completely false cartoon premise. No rich person EVER gave up investing because of income taxes, and we’re just going back to the Clinton rates, where they did much better than they’re doing under the Bush rates.

And all this time I imagined Howie looks like Mitch McConnell…

Clark, were you a treaty observer on loan from the Soviet Air Force?

Exactly. Additionally, if your income is earned from “wages”, you are not rich. Example, if, as a contractor, I earn $250K in Afghanistan working 80-90 hours a week does that make me rich?

Considering the bottom 50% controls about 2% of the wealth, 3% of the taxes is above and beyond. The top 10% is somewhere around 75%, so 70% of the taxes isn’t quite enough. The only people “fairly” taxed are the 85-95% bracket.

Actually if you wanted to keep the money in the US, you would raise the taxes, then give lots of deductions (AKA loopholes) for investing within the US. Oh and bring back tariffs (another “corporate tax”) then you’d see the jobs coming back. .Unfortunately this would piss off the governments corporate and Chinese masters.

Lisa knows the economic facts….when government hikes taxes to punish the “rich” the wealthy move where that government cannot tax them. It is happening in France and other countries that choose the so-called “rich” as targets to seize assets/money to bail out spend-thrift politicians.

The federal budget is like a diet. You’ve got to balance your outgoings and your income.Currently America is stuffing it’s face and not paying it’s fair share. Thus 15 Trillion, cuts need to be made, and taxes raised. So what if Romney paid 1.3 million if his share was meant to be more he should be paying more.If everyone tries to stiff the government, then nobody is left to pay for the Army, the Police, all that Infrastructure, etc….

Unfortunately, it has become a political football, rather than an economic issue, and both sides are arguing rather than working together.

The situation is Europe is similar, but lacks a government that has overall responsibility, and honesty in certain areas.

We all need to learn to live within our means, even if they are bringing in less.

That is the new reality.

Flat rate taxes punish the poor. I still don’t understand why everyone is so happy when “loopholes” are closed. I guess because they can’t take advantage of those deductions. If we gave deductions to the rich for investing in America, then they would invest in America, instead they are rewarded for shipping their money offshore.

To Radish, I say…Amen to that! It’s a wonder that the rich would rather pay off people with their millions than pay their fair share of taxes that takes care of the US and it’s citizens.

To Russell, I say…making the rich NOT pay their fair share of taxes is NOT going to keep them here in the US. In other countries they can make people work hard without paying fair wages or any benefits whatsoever; it’s just here in the US, we’ve gotten too smart and demand fair benefits and these companies don’t like that.

Mr. Ima, how do you think the rich got their money? How little do the workers get for making the ‘company’ millions/billions of dollars…and how much of that are we over-paying you think? And yet, O is trying to steal from them? You must be one of the 1%

They are the only ones paying their fair share.

That is interesting. You complain that Romney paid a bit more than was legally required, but you say nothing at all about the tax cheats in the present administration. Timmy Geithner is the tax cheat. But wait, we can’t say that because he is a democrat.

LOLOh, I’m “mean spirited,” boo hoo. You take the time to read some of the other dribble from some of your valiant compatriots? Didn’t think so, kettle meet pot.LOL

LOL, look who is being “mean spirited” talking down to someone and insulting them.

You and your ilk do not pay your fair share. You have production companies, corporations much like Romney’s, where your earnings are paid. This allows you as well as Oprah, Steve and the departed Steve to shield large portions of your income from taxes, you use the tax code to your advantage. Nothing wrong with that, just don’t claim you want to pay more, you’re lying.

Oh, and we realize you are not the real Matt Damon as well, you just troll like him on the internet.

“Keep taxing the rich people, then wonder why all the american companies are leaving our country for greener pastures”-You think Willard’s 13% tax rate is too onerous?-You think he’s going to move to the Cayman Islands if his tax rate zooms up to 20%?-GE is going to move to Switzerland if they have to pay income tax?-Koch industries is going to close their doors if they have to pay corporate rates instead of ‘small’ business rates?-Maybe you can cite some data showing what RATES the rich actually pay.

“So why don’t you and your ‘rich liberal friends’ pay more taxes? What’s stopping you?”-Ima, your rich conservative friends want to cut Social Security and Medicare. Ready to give them up?

And no money, no paying those government workers like your uncle.

Calm down Michael. Why the put downs on people with a personal observation?