Candidates’ economic teams read like a “who’s who"

The President proposes, and Congress disposes. No Presidential proposal goes through Congress unaltered, so everyone needs to discount what candidates say with a dose of reality and look at the overall thrust of their campaigns.

McCain's plan to increase the National Debt 50% by retaining tax cuts for the highest 1% in income will drive the value of the dollar down and gas will exceed $5 a gallon as a result. National debt is indirect taxation, since paying interest on the debt comes directly out of federal tax revenue and burdens the next generation. $124 oil translates to 79 Euros at current exchange rates. A decade ago during the Clinton Administration, while the U. S. was paying down debt, $124 oil would have translated to 138 Euros. Americans don't understand this because most people who travel to Europe don't realize how Europe imposed penalty level taxes on oil to discourage its use, which undermines European economies due to it being imported from a cartel.

Obama's plan is disappointing in terms of the time needed to start paying down the debt, but the debt proposed is dramatically less. Besides, I believe his election will promote economic optimism, while there is no chance at all that can come from a McCain election which more than anything else would be a vote for the status quo which is leading to foreign ownership of businesses in the U. S. through Sovereign Funds that were created because of the low rate the Treasury pays on the National Debt.

If we continue to go the way we are, the U. S. will continue on the path to a developing country economy dependent on cheap labor.

AMEN TO JENNIFER WESTHOVEN'S COMMENTS ABOUT PETEY !!!
How dare that lady complain that someone (even a shelter) took care of her poor dog instead of killing him. What I really don't understand is that they gave the dog back to her. He certainly deserves better. How soon will it be before she "can't take care of him" again. And she has the audacity to consider suing the shelter for NOT killing him !!! I'd love to see those jurors expressions.

Stop it with the stimulus packages! Do what you have to do to lower gas! Things will then fall into place.

Everyone talks about these huge financial problems from gas prices to the National Debt. Will there ever come a time when someone will think about those of us have worked hard all of their lives and now live on SS? Every day there is something said about the SS running our of money. My husband is 66 and he has asthma and blood clot problems ,but he still has to work his contruction job ( like onsite work and a pick-up truck – not an office job). I taught public school for 32+ years and have emotional difficulties, a bleeding ulcer, and severe amenia issues directly related to my career. I applied for disibility on April 7, 2007. As of this date I have heard NOTHING! We are not the only ones in this type of situation. WHEN WILL SOMEONE EVER LOOK OUT FOR US "REGULAR" PEOPLE? We aren't asking for handouts just what we have worked for. We are votors, too!

McCain is right on target! We MUST control spending and eliminate the deficit. We spend over $200 Billion a year to pay interest on the debt!

I believe McCain's plan will finish breaking the backs of the little people and the middle class will become the new little people and crime will increase and we all will deal with it in our own back yards.And it all will be at our own expense. With McCains plan on social security will try and push people to stop getting old and sick somehow sooner than their natural life expectancy....oh yeah people will die before ever getting the medical help by the time your insurance fight you for 5-years. By that time you won't be strong enough receive the medical treatment that would've helped when you first were diagnosed. The baby boomers won't have a chance. New jobs won't be established and in place soon enough to make a difference. Well for McCain maybe but not for the people,McCain doesn't have to worry about money or medical help,and at his age hes covered.McCain and Bush's posy have been in office long enough to have started such help in the job sector if they were even thinking of creating new jobs and not the ones where the CEO's steal all the retirees retirement. Remember the republicans want to get ride of the unions and pocket that money. And they have succeeded. We need a younger president with a future coming to him/her and not someone whose life is all paid in full. Forgive me but McCain won't be around to see his mess balloon. I guess now I'll be on that terror list.

Do the math Obama's plan will create a revenue. Lets see. revenue means return of income...hummm in ten years I'll still be here if GOD be willing. I'm 55 years old now.

Obama plan is unclear and a fake plan put together by paid people! Let's just face facts friends Obama is a big talker and no do! Just because you go on a trip for 8 days, that will not make you a Leader! Obama is throwing everything out thier and the Kitchen sink!! Obama will start more Wars then end. Don't let Obama and his Rich backers Trick you out of your vote!

McCain talks about cutting spending, but all the pork barrel spending in 2007 amounted to $13 billion. Not much of a dent in a $480 billion annual deficit. McCain was one of only two Republicans to vote against the Bush Tax cuts saying at the time that they were irresponsible and targeted the rich. Now he is a flip flopping sell-out who will bankrupt America if it will help him gain contributions from the über-rich. Vote for McCain and you children will pay, literally.

Hi, I am not sure were this comment fits in. Please direct it to Jennier Westhoven. I have a small 401(K) where I work. Apprx. $50K. When I got into it I used to get a report at least once or twice a year. The past few years I have not received any information as to how my funds were doing. In 2007 I put $5,000 into my 401(K) plus my employer added around $1,200. When I finally figured out how to check my total value of all funds again I was not very happy. My Total $value in all my funds on Dec.2007 was actually lower than it was in Dec.2006. This means I had lost over $6,000. Shouldn't the Keeper of your 401(K) be required to let you know when you are losing this kind of $ so you can possible change your plan. Have other people had similar experiences? Thank-you. John

I trust McCain (translate "experience") to a virtually unknown when it comes to manageing My Country's finances. Obama wants to take care of everyone by raises taxes. Has he forgotten what Lincoln said about pleasing all the the people all the time. Read my lips – PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!! That would be Obama's plan.

i would like to see both of these clown take Economics 201 and pass the course, (yeah, right, like that could happen, i can see Leiberman passing notes to Mc Cain, and Obama writing about something else related to "CHANGING" the course subject)

historically, a poor economy is equally a threat to a governments' stability as is war or terrorist attacks... USSR in the 90's, Argentina in the 80's, Zimbabwe today, Germany in the 20's...

seems like the Bush #43 white house, and the congress of the past 10 years WILL make the history books ...as a bunch of bums...

I am a conservative, neither of the candidates is. The way to solve the problems in government is to have less government. Congress does not solve problems, they create them. You cannot legislate solutions that in a true free market economy would solve themselves. Some people/businesses must be allowed to fail (Fannie, Freddie, bad mortgage holders) or the rest of us will be dragged down with them. America cannot bail out everyone.

Why not take the best of both plans and work from there? Does anyone in Washington have any common sense?

Where does money come from? You do a job, many of us work hard for money, some of us entertain, many do service for ourselves and others, and others still, have hard choices such as, what car should I drive to pick up the kids, what color suit or dress should I wear today? Should I vacation in Hawaii, or Las Vegas?
Why do we pay more for entertainment, then hard work?
It's a sad day in America when we can't get real men or women to lead, we have two canidate's who can raise money for their parties, and their buddies, neither one has enough experience to get the country out of the dumpster.