A nice break for Joe the Plumber.

Turns out that Joe the Plumber ain't even a plumber. And he ain't earning anywhere near the money that would bring him a tax increase. In fact, under Barack Obama's tax plan, Joe would get a sizeable tax cut. Despite what Joe thinks. And despite what John McCain purports. Joe confronted Obama in Ohio recently. He decried that Obama would strap him with more taxes. Joe found a sympathizer in McCain this past week. He more or less proclaimed poor Joe, poor Joe. Saying he epitomizes the taxpayer that would be hurt by tax-and-spend Democrats, such as Obama. That's not true. But McCain isn't known for letting the truth get in the way of his rhetoric. And Joe is bogus, too. He'd like to become a licensed plumber. And he'd like to buy a plumbing company and make more than $250,000 a year -- which would bring him an extra tax burden. And maybe rightly so if his business becomes increasingly profitable. But if he earns less than $250,000, he'd pay less in taxes than he'd pay at the current rate. But Joe won't vote for Obama because Joe is a rock-ribbed Republican. And that means Joe doesn't mind voting against his own best economic interest and lower taxes. Exactly why, I'm not sure. Maybe he thinks the Republicans are better on the social issues. Or maybe it's because Obama is black. Or possibly because Obama would bring the troops home from Iraq. It's really hard to say. Everybody is free to vote the way they want. For whatever reason. Or for no reason at all. Meanwhile, it's true that Obama would raise taxes on the relatively weathly. People and small businesses making more than $250,000 a year. The higher the income, the higher one's taxes would go. Millionaires and billionaires may be expected to pay substantially more. Obama assumes they can afford it. As for working people making less than $250,000, Obama wants to lower their taxes. In other words, to make it easier on the lower and middle classes at the expense of the rich. McCain says that's class warfare. But Obama doesn't see it that way. Nor do I. Yes, spreading the wealth is the right thing to do. That would be a nice break for the likes of Joe the Plumber. --Jim Broede