An Open Letter to Senator McCain and Governor Palin
By Lee Culpepper (09/06/08)
Dear Senator McCain and Governor Palin, Congratulations on a stellar convention! I am rooting for both of you to carry that momentum straight to Pennsylvania Avenue. I will also be praying for the two of you to accomplish your pledge regarding a renewed emphasis on the basic principles that have made America the greatest nation in the world.
Senator McCain, like everyone, I have made decisions in my life that I wish I could do over. I, too, am just a normal guy who realizes that the blessings in my life are owed to God, family, country, and fellow Americans.
Without knowing you personally, I have judged you rather harshly during your campaign based on what I do know of your past and public record. In forming those judgments, what I did not consider was the full-time job I have taking care of myself. Looking in the mirror before we condemn someone for decisions in his distant past is probably a wise thing to do. For failing to do that, I sincerely apologize to you.
I am just an every-day guy. I have served my country as a Marine. And today, I am trying to inspire young people to make the most of the opportunities America provides them. I believe I have discovered my “Greater Cause” in the lives of my students. I am also trying to pursue truth and justice by putting my perspective in ink and listening to what my fellow Americans have to say about it.
You offered many encouraging words last night. Among them, I heard you say, “I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can… I will cut government spending… Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas…Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit.”
Senator McCain, my being an ordinary American, I hope you will consider simplifying our nation’s tax system so that other folks like me can understand it. In fact, I’ve been wondering about something that maybe you (assuming now that you will be the next President of the United States along with your prodigious VP Sarah Palin) can answer.
You have probably heard that God Himself asks for only 10% of his disciples’ prosperity. So why does the American government expect us to pay more than God does? I mean, if everyone paid 10% across the board, wouldn’t that be the fairest system you could devise? Simply smite all deductions and require everyone –including our largest corporations to pay 10% of what they make. It’s simple math. Even I can do it.
Furthermore, it’s God’s plan. You can guarantee it will work! Your advisers could probably come up with a clever slogan tying it to Governor Palin, too, as most ordinary guys like me consider her a “10” in addition to the perfect-vice-president candidate.
Anyway, the entire transition could be based simply enough on derivatives of 10. First, freeze the current tax law where it is –NO NEW PROGRAMS. Then --over the next 10 years-- reduce existing deductions, tax rates, etc. by 1/10 each year, until all rates are 10% --with absolutely no deductions at all. In 10 years, you would have eliminated all perks --that means no special interest groups-- and every taxpayer would be paying 10% regardless of what he makes. I am no expert, but I would think this would throttle every corrupt, bloodsucking politician and lobbyist in Washington.
Any person who tries to cheat the system would have to pay 10 times what he was supposed to pay. This would be an easy penalty to enforce, as well as an excellent deterrent, which would motivate all of us to do the right thing.
In fact, the new system would be so effective that during the 10-year-transition period, you could also reduce the size of the IRS by 10% each year. This would help you out a lot in reducing government spending. By the time the 10th year rolls around, you would have reduced the IRS down to 1/10th of its current size! Who is not going to vote for that?
Again, I am not an accountant or tax lawyer, just an average guy. I think part of the problem with our tax code is that ordinary guys with common sense did not write it. The country does not need more brilliant solutions from self-proclaimed Harvard geniuses. We simply need easy-to-understand, easy-to-implement solutions for common folks.
Well, I thought I’d throw it out there for you to consider. I think you guys are on a roll already, but this modest proposal could very well guarantee your victory.
Semper Fi,
Lee Culpepper
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