So, once again, we want to take from those who have followed the rules and "spread the wealth" to the slackers of our society. I and millions more have paid into Social Security, worked hard, saved our money and now you want to use a "means test" to determine if I should be able to receive the benefits I paid into for over 40 years??? the same with Medicare? Whose is going to decide what the means number is? I hope not you as you will take and take and take until there is nothing left for anyone. You want Socialism, move to Cuba - oh thats right, Castro decided their system of gov't supporting everyone does not work. Why would it work here????

LastThroes - Once again, finger pointing. How about offering solutions that benefit all Americans instead of pointing blame. Look forward instead. You are begining to sound like our president, its not my fault. We need solutions, not blame!!

Wow - what happened to all those temporary gov't supported jobs when the roads were completed? Back to the unemployment rolls ? What did the Hoover Dam workers do when the job was completed? They all left town and moved elsewhere seeking work as the gov't money was gone. The only way to create permanent jobs is through the private sector. On a small scale, you can look at the census workers this year - hired and fired within months. Yes, it up food on the table for awhile, but in the long term, no permanent jobs are created and the gov't is further in debt. The gov't needs to start running their books like you do at home - no money in the checkbook, don't buy anything. Balance the budget.

Now all you folks out there, please don't start with its the republicans or democrats fault for the un-balanced budget - we just need to fix it!!

Once again its that jealous factor creeping into the discussion. All of the infrastructure above is available to every person, rich or poor. Based on your comments, you are proposing a "flat" tax so all who benefit from any gov't provided infrastructure pay their share. I think a flat tax is a great idea so that everyone pays, not just the top wage earners. There are far too many folks who pay zero fed income tax, but use all the resources that the few pay for. At the very least, everyone should be paying some taxes and not getting a free ride with all the credits that in effect eliminate any tax due or end up getting more money in a refund than they even paid in. We need to fix the tax system so everyone pays.

Richard - you are probably correct in your assessment that Sharon will not get the plum assignments and not be on the "A" list when she becomes the next senator, however, the current senator, named Reid, sure has not represented the will of the people during his current term. Our senators and representatives are to represent the people that elected them, not bow to the wishes of Nancy and Obama, but to vote for the people of Nevada - something Harry has forgotten or feels above it all that he can do as he wishes. Its time to send the message to Harry and all those who do not represent the people who sent them to Washington - its time for you to go. I don't know if Sharon will be a representative of the people, but if not, shes gone in six years also. Its time to take the country back from those who have become drunk with power and think that they can do whatever they want without any consequences.

bg - okay, bad choice on my part. Common sense tells me that raising taxes on anyone is the wrong move to spur the economy - my opinion. We need to get everyone back to work. History has taught us that gov't spending is not the way to full employment. We need to support our local businesses so that they can prosper and expand, thus resulting in job creation. Taking more of the private sector money to support gov't will not create more local jobs.

bg - your right - the continuation of the Bush tax cuts may not help, but I'm here to tell you that raising taxes on anybody at this point is certainly not going to help. Read gbigs above.

sgibg - if you call that turning things around, you have had way too much of the Obama Kool-Aid. Nothings turned around, the rate does not move month to month except when all the census folks were hired and then let go. There is no private enterprise hiring taking place and there won't be for the foreseeable future due to the uncertainty of what will be the tax rates in January for small businesses. More and more folks are dropping out of the "looking for work" and are not even counted in the unemployment numbers. How can this be turning things around??? Remember, past performance does not indicate future gains.

mwh710 - What is your description of "turning things around" ???? 10% unemployment?? More folks living below the poverty level??? Increased taxes starting in 2011 ???

Just what is turning around, except Obama in circles not accomplishing anything except to see how many vacations he can take in one year.

BTW - get off the Blame Bush bandwagon, its getting very worn out.

A 6.2% tax incentive does not cover the employers other 93.8% of wages paid to a new employee. Business is not going to do any mass hiring until after January 1st due to the uncertainty of tax increases and the cost of Obamacare takes effect. What business owner in their right mind would hire when there are are so many questions on the horizon? The proposed elimination of the Bush tax cuts for those over 250K affects most small businesses, those that do the bulk of new hiring. There will not be any mass movement until all the rules are in place and 6.2% incentive is not sufficient to incite hiring.