AMT is nasty, nasty stuff. According to everything I've read, politicians are afraid to deal with it since a large portion of govt revenues come in because it exists. That fact that the middle class gets screwed because of it doesn't mean anything to them.

On the lighter side of the news, a clip I'm sure you will appreciate:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/20/bill-maher-on-mccain-not-tougher-dumber/

>Tell me what 'AMT' is, and I'll tell you if I've heard of it. I've never claimed to be a tax accountant
>
>>It is a popular on left side, but wrong assumption. Did you ever hear about AMT? If you know ways to go around it, tell them, please.
>>
>>>As long as none of the tax 'loopholes' remain, if any of the upper echelon income ends up paying nearly as much in taxes (percentages), as compared to their income, then they need to find new tax accountants.
>>>
>>>
>>>>Sorry, I've read it so much that I didn't think a link was necessary (plus I'm in a hurry today - sorry!). Here are a couple:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2008/03/12/obamas-reckless-tax-increase-to-save-social-security/
>>>>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21738432/
>>>>http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/2/20/does-obama-want-a-trillion-dollar-global-tax.html
>>>>http://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm
>>>>http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/futureinvest/69452
>>>>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25551
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>To paraphrase yourself, where is Tracy and what have you done with her? ;-) Who are these "many on the left" saying the tax rate will rise to 47% if a Democrat wins? That strikes me as unsubstantiated fear-mongering.
>>>>>
>>>>>>If we hit a 47% tax rate (which many on the left are intimating if Obama or Clinton win) then there will be no incentive to work hard to succeed. For less stress and work, we can all sit home on our butts and collect the freebies instead.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Mr. Beane.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>The more to the left a group in power moves the more it raises the taxes of higher income people to finance it's programs. People such as you, Hillary and Obama et al think this is the way to get things done on a national scale. But when you get older and take a good look at it you'll see that punishing a nation's successful people to pay for those who are much less successful only causes the successful people to question why they should bother to continue. If pushed hard enough they will discontinue doing business, terminate employees and generally slow down because it no longer pays them to work. Some will raise the price of their products to compensate for the loss. This is not good for the country. Extreme left societies are doomed to fail economically or change to more capitalistic methods to stay in power. The USSR and China are good examples.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs has never worked. More bluntly said, Robin hood, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, was nothing more than a common thief and so it is with left leaning groups in power.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Now, I know you aren't old enough to understand or accept this, but in a few years when your paycheck could be bigger you shall understand completely.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Exactly what lie has he been caught in?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>If you put your political affiliations aside and just look at the "issue" I think you will see this as nothing more than a smear attempt by the opposing campaign. In this case, guilt by association.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I think it's already over for Obama. He has been caught in a lie, then he comes out with this slick oratory. The Republicans have probably got people working overtime on the commercials showing Obama sitting in the pews clapping and singing while his "minister" tells everyone how evil the US is, how racist the whites are, etc, etc, etc.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I think you can stick several forks in Obama. He may not even get the nod, after Hillary and company hit the convention with this ammunition.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Personally, I'm glad the media is finally doing the vetting that should have been done long ago. If it weren't for Drudge, Fox News and the blogosphere, we would never have heard this.