Charlie Rangel: The Taxman Cometh

With the results of the Fall Election, a new era begins in Congress. Charlie Rangel, decorated (Charlie appears to have been "the real deal" hero) Korean Veteran, former bag-man, street-fighter, and socialist by nature takes over the chairmanship of what some in D.C. believe to be the most powerful committee in Congress, the House Ways and Means Committee. What does this mean to most Americans, hold on to your wallets 'cause there's gonna be a whole lotta taxin' goin' on. In 1966, The Beatles released a song "Taxman" on the album Revolver, which might have been written about Charlie Rangel:

"Let me tell you how it will be;
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!"

If you, like me, find those lyrics more than a little disturbing, then it is very likely you will find Charlie's tenure as Chairman more than a little disturbing.

Ways & Means
After 35 Years in the House, Charlie Rangel Has the Power. But There Are Still Taxing Times Ahead for the Man From Harlem.

By Wil Haygood
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 14, 2006; Page C01

Back then, on the streets of Harlem, he'd take a full swing at his foes. He was a high school dropout, a dead-end kid until he picked himself up and put on that military uniform. In the Korean War he fought like hell, brought back a couple of medals, too.

After he came home, he set himself on a course straight as a ruler: college, law school, assistant U.S. attorney, politics.

Charlie Rangel is 76 now and the dean of New York's congressional delegation. It's been more than 50 years since those days as a street fighter, but this fall's campaigns brought them back in a hurry.

"The American people don't trust Charlie Rangel and his tax-happy Democrat friends because they know Democrats will work overtime to raise their taxes," is how Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) put it.

This chairmanship could well prove disasterous to the economy by stifling growth and ultimately throwing the economy back into a recession. One can only hope that the new Chairman will exercise some restraint, or that President Bush will dust off his veto pen and set it to work.

Rangel has never been one to "work and play well with others," choosing instead to play "fast and loose" with the truth and on occasion, to be less than well considered in his choice of words, having called Vice-president Cheney "a real son-of-a-bitch, and compared President Bush to Bull Conner. He also has been championing reinstitution of the draft, claiming (to much deserved criticism) that:

"If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career, or joining the Army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq"

This statement echoes the typical Democrat contempt for the military, and the "joke" told by Senator John Forbes Kerry earlier this year. Seems Democrats just cannot understand why any self-respecting young man would choose to enter the military and defend his country. Apparently for Democrats, defending our nation is strictly a matter of coersion rather than patriotism. They believe that people who serve in the military are "chumps" who were unable either through breeding or education were unable to find better employment.

It is somewhat disturbing to find out that those charged with running the country don't understand the concept of patriotism. One must worry about their dedication to America and its governing principles.

Charlie has called the Iraq War, "immoral." He has been quoted by the President as having said that he "couldn't think of one of our tax cuts he would extend."

Charlie Rangel is the consumate Liberal when it comes to spending our money. He is a "true believer" in the necessity and ability of big government involving itself in every facet of American life. He sees government as the solution to all problems. People are poor, let the government take care of them. The people need healthcare, let the government do it. Those are among his favorite words, "let the government do it."

For Charlie, the people are incapable of taking care of themselves, nor are they particularly to blame for their plight. For Congressman Rangel, they are merely victims of inequity. It's not fair for some people to be rich and others to be poor. It doesn't matter to him that the rich worked hard to get that way, and the poor haven't availed themselves of the opportunities this nation offers anyone who is willing to better themselves and their lot in life.

This is the same old tired socialist rhetoric of the early twentieth century, and it is just as wrong today as it was eighty years ago. If we allow the Democrats to impose their ideals onto the nations economy, we will shortly be in as excellent a condition as the French or Germans.

I sure hope George "the Compassionate Conservative" is listening to the Conservatives and not Mr. Rangel.

What do you think?

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