Ask 'The Party of Lincoln' About A Progressive Income Tax

Calling their cadre “the Party of Lincoln,” clearly hoping to cash in on the late President’s anti-slavery stance to paint themselves as more progressive than they actually are.

And, yes, they’re technically right: Abraham Lincoln was indeed a member of the Republican Party — back in 1860, long before the GOP and Democrats began drifting into one another’s ideological territory to become the parties we know today.

It’s unclear, then, whether Lincoln would indeed identify as Republican these days.

Regardless of how Honest Abe would vote today, GOP officials still insist he’s one of their own. Just consider current House Speaker John Boehner’s 2009 speech commemorating Lincoln’s 200th birthday:

Fine: if GOP officials and adherents want to claim Lincoln’s politics and policies as their own, what do they have to say about one of Lincoln’s less-celebrated accomplishments, the Revenue Act of 1862, signed 149-years ago today?

The nation’s first progressive income tax, the Revenue Act repealed the flat tax rate to pay for the raging Civil War, and enacted a 3% tax hike for people making between $600 and $10,000 annually, and a 5% for those making over $10,000.

In other words, Lincoln believed that rich Americans should pay more than their less wealthy friends and neighbors.

Today, so many years later, Republicans across the nation endorse tax breaks and loopholes for the wealthy, claiming that by letting them keep their money, they’ll prop up the economy.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor , for example, walked out of debt ceiling negotiations because he refuses to even entertain the possibility of raising taxes for the wealthiest Americans. And the current crop of Republican presidential candidates want to create more mechanisms that benefit the rich and the corporations they control. Lincoln, I am sure, would not approve.

So next time a politician, particularly a Republican, compares themselves to Abraham Lincoln, ask them if they share the late president’s opinion on taking from the rich and giving to the poor. That will give them a run for their money.

Oh, and while you’re at it, ask them about the Republican Party’s 1860 platform , which declared the group would never, ever fight for changes in citizenship law. How times change .

Accomplishments Of Abraham Lincoln - News


Ask 'The Party of Lincoln' About A Progressive Income Tax

Next time a Republican compares themselves to Abraham Lincoln, ask them about taxing the rich. Republicans absolutely love calling their cadre “the Party of Lincoln,” clearly hoping to cash in on the late



Was Anna Ella Carroll the forgotten heroine of the Civil War?

the red cloth was pulled away, and there she was: Anna Ella Carroll, captured in brush strokes of oil paint on linen and surrounded by members of President Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet as he prepared to sign the Emancipation Proclamation.



Pam Platt | From Civil War, family unity?

17, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — on Sept. 22. Historian Bruce Catton wrote of the deadliest day in American history, “It finally determined that the Civil War was not merely a war for reunion but also a war to



July 4th double feature

In addition, actors playing important Civil War figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Octavius Catto, the black activist and educator killed in election riots here in 1871, will roam the grounds telling stories of the city's participation in the war.



"Bull" Nelson revisited at Bracken Historical Society meeting

BROOKSVILLE -- Sent to Kentucky by President Abraham Lincoln, Major General William "Bull" Nelson died at the hands of a fellow Union officer, General Jefferson C. Davis. Nelson is buried in Maysville Cemetery and has relatives living in the area.




insnipinhem: lincoln accomplishments

When my lawyer applied for my H1B extension she forgot to apply for my wife's H4 extension (Form I 539). Now after about year and half when we are preparing to file for our 485 status adjustment we she found out that she forgot to apply for that. So she is now filing the Form I 539 with an explaination. So that means my wife has been out of status for almost more than a year now unknowingly. How much of a chance does she have to have her form I 539 approved now? Any response would be very much appreciated. It is very true that it might take a long time for the conversion cases to get approved. Mine took 6 months with audit. Your PERM application must be identical (not similar, it should be 100% identical) to your RIR case. They will take months to pull your RIR out from the BEC and compare it with the new PERM and if 100% identical they will approve. It is possible. It can be done. I got mine done. It will take time. It is risky especially when your 6 year limit is over. There are ways to stay in status even if it gets rejected. But are you willing to take the risk? There has been no forward movement of the Employment cut-off dates for November. The reason for this is that it is still too early to see what impact the movement of the cut-off dates toward the end of FY-2007 may have on demand. Depending on the rate of demand being received from Citizenship and Immigration Services offices for adjustment of status cases, some forward movement of dates may be possible for December. It is very clear that USCIS is yet to complete the receipt of all I-485 applications and are not in a position to give any statistics to DOL. I think then they will be busy in issuing AP / EAD based on the receipt. Considering the current work load, I think it will take at least couple of months for the USCIS to give any reasonable estimate to DOL regarding the actual demand. Till that time, I think DOL will be forced to publish the same status every month. :( vparam, i've been following this issue a lot longer...you have to understand the blue slip is just procedural....the main substantive issue is what proposal can attract maximum republican support during conference. The Hastert doctrine (majority of majority rule) states he will not bring to the floor a proposal thet does not attract a majority of republican votes (116 votes). Pence is a star conservative (has a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union) and is a rising leader in the Republican Party.


Accomplishments Of Abraham Lincoln - Bookshelf

Abraham Lincoln, A Biography

Abraham Lincoln, A Biography

The volume's clarity of style makes it accessible to beginners, but it is complex and nuanced enough to interest longtime Lincoln scholars.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

An in-depth biography covers the life and political career of Abraham Lincoln discusse his humble beginnings in Kentucky, legal career as a young man, and ...

Abraham Lincoln, The Prairie Years and the War Years

Abraham Lincoln, The Prairie Years and the War Years

Presents the life of the Civil War president, detailing his childhood, his education, career as a lawyer and legislator, his marriage, political campaigns, ...

Abraham Lincoln, the true story of a great life

Abraham Lincoln, the true story of a great life

On the subject of his ancestry and origin I only remember one time when Mr. Lincoln ever referred to it. It was about 1850, when he and I were driving in ...

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

ABRAHAM LINCOLN CHAPTER I BOYHOOD OF LINCOLN The subject of this memoir is revered by multitudes of his countrymen as the preserver of their commonwealth. ...

Day-by-day Note Directory


The Accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln
This page discusses the accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln. ... Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his vital role as the leader in preserving the Union during the Civil War ...

History: Abraham Lincoln: Presidential Accomplishments
Lincoln faced the greatest national crisis of any U.S. President. ... ( Abraham Lincoln Web Site) As the nation neared the third year of the bloody Civil War, President Lincoln ...

Accomplishments Of Abraham Lincoln
Accomplishments Of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, will always be revered for his integrity, honesty and courage. ...

Accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln - Ten Great ...
What Accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln That Are Most Remembered? What Are the Greatest Accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln That Deserve Mentioning?

List of Abraham Lincoln Accomplishments - A List of Abraham ...
List of Abraham Lincoln Accomplishments. The List of Abraham Lincoln Accomplishments is Varied.