DougR

You wrote "It all goes back to the tired old Democratic argument that the wealthy are responsible for the fact that the majority of the people in the country are NOT wealthy." I will take on that statement for now.

I have never claimed that I am not wealthy :-) and it all depends on perspective. The students that I teach think that I am, and compared to them, they are right. Many of my friends in the private sector SEEM really rich, and compared to me, they are. I know that I could make a lot more money elsewhere, but I am teaching because I have the idealistic notion that I can help an occaisional student to change his or her life for the better, and that better may have little or nothing to do with money. The Dems that I know do not blame the wealthy, they DO however, think that helping those who may not have the advantages that $$ brings is crucial to the overall health of our country.

BTW--I am definately affected by the so called "death tax" but I won't mind paying the tax because that is the price I pay to live in and be a part of this society. Don't know if I'm affected by the marriage tax, I suspect probably not but again, I am well aware of the benefits I have from living here, as the educated spouse of an educated person. I have rec'd intangible and tangible benefits from having educated parents. My children are better off because they have parents who are educated and involved. Not everyone has these benefits, and if some of my $$ can go towards making someone else's life better, then I am happy to share. I give $ to charitable organizations, to political causes, to religious groups and even *gasp* to people on the streets. I pay my taxes and I still have plenty left to live a decent life.