Franken-Lies-And-the-Lying-Liars-Who-Tell

prise. Raising taxes and increasing government spending is a surefire way to continue
the economic doldrums. I'll back up that statement with my own story. Right
now, I'm a busy guy, with TV, radio, books, a syndicated column, and a website.
There are scores of people working with me, people who are making money and
supporting their families. As I have mentioned, when my tax obligation is all added
up, the government takes a bit more than 50 cents of every dollar I earn. And the
Democrats want more. [I have no clue who he was talking about.) But I will tell you
what. If my tax rate increases, I will cut back and do fewer things. It simply will not
be worth my time, because I have enough money saved to live comfortably. I don't
need to kill myself to pay the government. And if I do cut back, some of the people
currently earning money under the Factor banner will stop earning that money.
The thought of O'Reilly cutting back is a frightening one. Not just for the employees he'd let
go, and their families, who would suddenly have the wolf at their door. What scares me is the
prospect that we could be deprived of thoughtful Talking Points like this one. Or that we'd
see them only on TV, and not also get them on radio, in his syndicated column, and on his
website. It's enough to make me want to fight for further tax cuts for the five-million-and-up
bracket, even if it means that we'd have to cut back on Head Start and prenatal care for the
poor.
It's also good to know that O'Reilly has enough money saved to live comfortably and
that the only reason he's working so hard is pure greed.
In fairness. Bill is probably working extra hard so that his children can inherit enough
money to live extravagantly without ever having to work or challenge themselves. That, of
course, is every parent's dream.
And now, thanks to the visionary who coined the terrifying phrase "death tax" to describe
the eminently reasonable estate tax, more Americans than ever will be able to see that
dream come true. In 2001, Congress endorsed the deeply American idea of a permanent aristocracy
bypassing a phase-out, and eventual repeal, of the estate tax.
As Bush said in his acceptance speech: "On principle, every family, every farmer and
small business person should be free to pass on their life's work to those they love. So we
abolish the death tax."
By this "principle," every elementary school teacher should be able to pass on their
life's work to the people they love. They should be able to pass on the lives they've touched,
the children they've inspired, the futures they've changed. Logistically speaking, that would