Quote of the Day

"I'm here today as a fellow Amereican. Whose parents were born in a country that lost itself to socialism. My parents lost their country to a government. I will not lose mine to a government.

Marco Rubio, at a tea bagging protest comparing the United States to Fidel Castro's Cuba. This is same Rubio that attempted to raise the state sales tax and said shifting the tax burden from property owners would benefit laborers.

He went on: "And I'm telling you that this property tax cut will create $6-billion in disposable income. And what that means in real terms is that people who now mow their lawns will hire someone to do it. ... People who now maintain their own pools will hire someone to do it. ... And that helps the working class. ...

"The more disposable income there is, the faster the working class can join, can grow into the ranks of home ownership, can send their kids to college, etc. I know. I was raised on disposable income."

The response from callers to the Jim Defede Show was swift.

"The working people are what built this country," said a caller named Cliff. "We didn't live off handouts, which is what he's suggesting. ... It's a typical Republican (attitude), looking down their noses at the average guy."

Robert, another caller, took issue with increasing the sales tax.

"Most working-class people are just struggling to survive and their solution is the most regressive form of tax there is? This is unbelievable. Trickle-down economics was disproven. ... I work my tail off every day just to make ends meet, and if they raise the sales tax, that's going to be coming directly out of every little bit that I earn. It's just going to make it even more expensive to live here, not less."

Rubio claims conservative trickle down economics will balance the budgets at states and the federal level. Rubio was Florida House Speaker and the state budget is in heavier debt now. I find it hysterical Rubio can talk about lower taxes and balanced budgets with his record. Draining the Lawton Chiles Endowment is not bold leadership. Alex Sink warned Gov. Charlie Crist the trust fund money must be repaid. Rubio didn't flinch at leaving a bill for the next legislature. Rubio has no credibility to complain about President Obama running up a debt. He did the same thing in Tallahassee.

Side note: property taxes are a problem and other sources of revenue need to be found for schools.