Skin in the game and the American dream

Senator Dan Coats (R-Indiana) wants everyone to "have some skin in the game."

What am I talking about?  Not gambling but paying taxes.  See, something like 50% of Americans don't pay income tax because, well because they don't make enough money.  While I could get off on a rant here about the American middle class it seems silly to rant about something that doesn't seem to exist.  That's another story.

Right now we're talking about what is wrong with America, and clearly, what is wrong is that only half of us "have some skin in the game."  The other 50%, well they simply are not on board since they are not paying income tax.  Nevermind that these people: A) don't make very much money, and B) pay a plethora of other taxes just like the rest of us, if I were a gambling man and put some skin in the game, I'd bet we could make our budget deficit disappear if we could just get the poor on board. 

I'll let John Stewart debunk the math behind this plan for you; he is funnier, more famous and smarter than I am anyhow.  Rather than trifling with numbers - which Republicans are incapable of anyhow - I would like to engage them on their playing field.  I'd like to talk to Republicans about the American dream. 

Republicans know all about the American dream; speaker Boehner used to mop the floor of his parents bar and now he cries on national television more than any single member of the Jersey Shore cast.  In fact, Republicans don't simply know about the American dream, they have a monopoly on it (including our slightly right of center President).  There is nothing better than the American dream.  Boy from Mississippi starts blog, slowly accumulates followers and becomes the next John Stewart.  That's just my story, what's yours?  It's a beautiful thing. 

Sadly, the American dream, like the American middle class is an endangered species.  It's nice to know that John Boehner used to sweep the floor.  What we also know is that 50% of Americans are too poor to pay income tax. They drive on my interstate and are protected by my FBI but they pay NO INCOME TAX! GASP!

Suffice it to say, anyone who can't afford to pay income tax is probably not living the dream and nearly 50% of the country cannot afford to pay income tax so where does that leave us?  It certainly doesn't bode well for the future of our country if the dream has failed half of us.  It certainly doesn't enhance our future prospects if we are counting on those too poor to pay income tax to lift us out of recession.

In short, we find ourselves in the awkward position of facing a frail and fragile American dream; one that is sick but that can be saved.  However saving the dream - and the nation's economy - is going to take a herculean effort; an effort that can only be delivered by our entire country, not just the bottom 50% financially and certainly not without the assistance of those fortunate enough to have found the American dream. 

Republicans want you to think that if we simply get out of the way then the American dream will spring back to life.  But if their plan asks for more from those who have less to give and ask for none from those who have the most to give, we must ask ourselves if they are protecting the American dream or if they are protecting the handful of individuals fortunate enough to have attained it. 

All American do need to have some skin in the game.  We need national unity and a common desire to make our nation better.  We should encourage everyone to be active participants in our society in whichever manner they choose to utilize their talents.  What we should not do is kick the American dream while it's down.  And right now, Republican policies would destroy whatever shred of that dream is left for half of America.  Rebuilding our social fabric and getting everyone to put some skin in the game has everything to do with giving people hope and investing them in their own future and nothing to do with taking money from those who don't have money to give.