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         I will pay more taxes under the Obama administration, and like Warren Buffet and Adam Smith, I think that is not unreasonable. In return I get a country that: invests more in basic science research (which will grow the economy faster), understands the need for a transformative switch to a new energy economy (which gains jobs, decreases oil usage and alleviates climate problems), and regains respect on the world stage (bettering all of us in the USA, and all of us on earth). I call that a bargain.

[X]

         I've already contributed to and voted for Barack Obama despite the facts that I'm a 70-year-old white male and small business owner whose taxes will increase when he is president. Obama is the first Democrat I've voted for and the first presidential candidate to whom I've sent money. We need a leader who will focus on education for all; a thoughtful and intelligent leader who can inspire this great nation of ours during the difficult times ahead.

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         I do not think it's class warfare [Obama's economic policies], I think it's empirical economics. The real issue is the empirical content of the supply side economics dogma. It's pretty threadbare. The "real business cycle" theory is simply inconsistent with empirical evidence. That does not prevent it from being taught as gospel to students (it's really gospel not empirical evidence). I would first and foremost talk to Ray Fair (Yale) and Mark Watson (Princeton) about the evidence for the supply side model. What is ironic is that those who preach supply side practice a crude version of Keynesian economics that ignores all of those incentive effects claimed to be so important by the supply side theorists. The real question apart from the current turmoil is the longer run. Denying the value of investment in knowledge;in infrastructure;in basic science and education at all levels has been and will continue to be harmful to our long run health. In my mind Obama's eyes are fixed more on things that will improve the US economy in the next century. The basic data on the current crisis is still being revealed, but it's clear that the absence of serious regulatory oversight contributed mightily to the current problems. It's not class warfare; its about a future-oriented society.

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         During the past eight years the future American economy has been mortgaged by extraordinary federal borrowing that increases the national debt and decreases discretionary flexibility in the national budget. We must move the country back to a fiscally sound footing. Senator Obama's proposals and intentions are clearly aimed in this direction. He brings fresh and refreshing candor to the political dialogue and remarkable leadership skills that will serve the country domestically and, perhaps more important, internationally. His policies show a clear respect and regard for scientific and technical consultation. As a scientist and engineer, I look forward to his election. It will mark a milestone in our history and invigorate a population eager to participate in a renewal of the American spirit.

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         In the last few decades, the Democrats have shown that they know how to stimulate the economy and Obama is very much in that tradition. One of his key plans is to invest in science because he knows that science generates new ideas, innovation and ultimately solid economic growth. For scientists, he will provide the wherewithall for us to investigate our ideas and to find new directions for economic growth. Obama will also adjust the very unfair tax structure that was put in place by Bush, which reduced taxes on the wealthy and put more of the burden on the middle class. I must admit that by his definition, I am one of the wealthy. But like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, I believe that I should be paying more (not to suggest that I am in their class, just that we have common beliefs).

[X]

         My view of the future is extremely dim - whoever is elected will have ruins to deal with, with rampant inflation, banking mess, closures in the public sector. Obama definitely has the right qualities with his steady analytical approach to handle this extraordinary economical situation. Obama's competent advisers will also be critical to charting the path to recovery. On a more personal level, as an owner of small business with its main market in scientific instrumentation, I hope Obama can put an end to the shameful situation with science funding in the US.

[X]

         The announcements from the Treasury this weekend, October 11-12th, however belated are welcome. Should Paulson take the next step and guarantee interbank lending, we will be where we should have been on the eve of his ill advised decision to allow the collapse of Lehman Brothers just over four weeks ago. Something had to be done, but something much better could have been done. The Treasury proposal to buy toxic mortgage assets wasted valuable time and was the result of Paulson's refusal to consider taking equity or preferred shares plus warrants in return for direct investments in financial institutions. The purchase of toxic assets will take months to implement and would be ineffective, unless the government overpays for those toxic assets. The consequences of the delay and the prospect of overpaying for toxic assets have been and are likely to continue to be dire. The consequences will affect lending to businesses, pension fund and 401 K valuations, state and local government finance and federal government borrowing. Restoring confidence will present extraordinary economic challenges for the next administration and will require comprehensive regulatory reform. The on-going economic crisis cries out for leadership that is economically literate, flexible, and pragmatic. I believe that Barack Obama will provide that leadership.

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         I am the founder and president of a small multinational business with headquarter in New York City. One of the most important issues for me, with respect to my company, is that of employer-sponsored health insurance. Over the last decade, I have seen significant increases of about 10 percent a year for the health care costs that I cover for each employee. Unfortunately, these increases will seem tame compared to what will happen if McCain is elected and eliminates tax breaks for employer-provided insurance. I fear McCain's proposal would be bad for my business, and bad for my employees. After carefully reviewing Obama's health insurance proposals, there is no doubt in my mind that Obama's plan would be far better for my company and better for the US economy.

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         Taxes seem to be the "third rail" in American political discourse....the T-word that cannot be said. My wife and I are very fortunate in having two good incomes and stable jobs, and hence are in the category of Americans that Obama would like to raise taxes on. While paying more taxes is never pleasant, how are we going to dig out of the present economic and political situation without some of us paying up a little bit more? The McCain/Palin administration would have us continue to believe the fantasies that go back to Ronald Reagan: that we can have more by paying less, and that our education system will improve with fewer taxes to pay for it. Personally, I am not ready to drink their kool-aid. The present financial crisis is certainly partially the responsibility of predatory lending practices and derivatives upon derivatives of creative financial wizards. But it is also partially the responsibility of those of us that believed that "interest-only" loans were sensible, and that the adjustable rate mortgages would never adjust beyond levels what we wanted them to. Obama and Biden seem to live in the real world, with smart people advising them. McCain and Palin want to ignore the lessons of the past and look only forward. If I were a member of the Keating five, responsible for the worst financial collapse prior to the one we are in now, (see wikipedia "Keating Five" for McCain's 'bad judgment' finding by the Senate ethics committee) I too would not want voters to look back. But alas, I am afflicted with a clear rear-view mirror, that I use on the way to the voting booth.

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         I was dismayed to see that two of Princeton's economics faculty could support McCain's Bush-Reagan economic opinions. The false aura of prosperity of a very small managerial class has concealed the fact that the great majority of us, if asked whether we are really better off now than eight years ago, would say no. It is a provable fact (look at most countries in Africa or South America) that there is some level of income maldistribution at which the economy no longer works: it works best if essentially everyone has some stake in it and some hope for improvement. Most sensible economists would also agree that there are many parts of the economy which go down the drain if not supported adequately by the central authority through tax revenues--such as education and science, not to mention infrastructure. This country has been on a binge of Friedmanism--"Free to Choose", "Greed is Good"-- for too long, and now we are paying for it.

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         A comment about Obama's proposal to raise the maximum tax on dividends to 20%: Except for the 15% Bush/McCain aberration that went into effect in 2003, maximum rates of tax on dividends for the last 40 or 50 years have ranged from 28% to 70%. Thus even Obama's modest raise would leave the maximum rate of tax on dividends well below historical precedents.

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         The science policy over the last eight years has been a disaster. It has been extremely difficult for new scientists just setting up their laboratory to obtain support to run their laboratories. Science, research, and technology are the engines that run our economy. The only way that we are going to become independent of oil, have better, cheaper health care and embark on a greener economy is through much greater investment in research and technology development. This is not a luxury, but a necessity to ground our economy back on the work and creative productivity of our great nation. Obama will provide the leadership and resource to get this done.

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         I am a business owner, asset manager and financial advisor based in New York City, and a strong supporter of Senator Barack Obama for President. Senator Obama promises to raise my taxes and I will be happy to pay the proposed higher rates. Let me tell you why: I believe that paying taxes for worthy programs that help to strengthen America such as early childhood education, improvement in school programs, providing loans to students for college and supporting better pay for teachers, police, fire services and providing social services to the needy are part of my civic duty as a responsible and patriotic citizen. I do not mind paying taxes, but I do care that my taxes are not wasted on an unnecessary war and subsidies for big oil companies and multi millionaire Wall Street bankers that do not need them.

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         We need to work to make the economy fundamentally sound again. That involves fixing the mess on Wall Street and making investments in the areas of our economy that have been neglected too long: health care, energy, and education. Sensible investments in those areas will promote US economic growth now and for the next several decades.

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         My support for Barack Obama is based upon multiple factors including science policy. I have no question that our country needs his leadership, and I am optimistic about our country's future. The real work begins in January, and we should all get behind our new President.

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         We have built up a business that grosses over six million dollars. Some years we are lucky enough to have enough profit that slides us into a higher income bracket. It's easy enough to distribute the profit among the people who work for the bookstore and avoid higher taxes, but I have always believed that paying taxes is patriotic. We are supporting our nation in collaboration with other Americans investing in the future, allowing all Americans to acheive a better life. Under President Obama I hope our taxes can be used to support improvements in education, health, and alternative energy.

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         My husband and I both support Barack Obama because we believe in his sound analytical approach to the current economic crisis that jeopardizes the future of our society as we know it. It is unfortunate that McCain-Palin label Obama's efforts as "socialist" when McCain has supported the bailout of banks - very hypocritical and divisive at a time when we need everyone to come together and be part of the solution - Obama's very consistent message.

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         Paying taxes is a privilege for living in this country. We can no longer continue with the myth that we can have all the benefits this country provides without paying for it. Obama shares that view and offers a plan for a more equitable society.I share his commitment to provide proper health care for those who have been doing without for so long.I consider myself fortunate in being able and willing to have my taxes raised in order to provide assistance for those working families still in need.

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         I will pay only a small increment in taxes under President Obama. This is not a worry. This is not a spread the wealth program. It is a "re-open the opportunity factory". The real reason we need Obama for president is the dire need to restart America's middle class engine. No country can be great without a thriving, productive, entrepreneurial middle class. When the middle class isn't thriving, the economy stagnates. Oppressive belief systems and divisiveness take hold. Education suffers. America needs a jump start. Senator McCain does not grasp the concept of a thriving middle class as the core of a great country, he actually believes the core is a soldier's courage, or a workman's grit and courage. Great values, to be sure, but irrelevant to the economy. We need Obama to steer America back to greatness. It is not a military or homeland security issue - it's about money.

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         I am as concerned about the future of United States as anyone, even though I don't have any kids whose future the Republican Party is so clearly putting in jeopardy. We all can see that Bush has messed up essentially every major decision he had to make as president, and McCain seems on course to continue the unbroken record. Look where that kind of person has taken us. Yes, the government now IS the problem, and Bush has made it so. Even now when Bush or McCain go on TV to say how concerned all people must be about the current financial mess and how it is a cricis, neither can bring themselves to give even the slightest indication that he has any responsibility for having dug us into this hole. In light of the current market mess, having someone as hot-headed, wrong-headed, and and/or clueless about economics and the financial sector as McCain and Palin so clearly are, is about as dangerous for the US and the world as any plans that Iran might have for developing nuclear weapons.

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         If the question is: How much more would I be willing to pay in taxes to achieve a country that would actually stand and act for human rights, not torture; equality of opportunity not the promotion of mindless greed and for a return to the best of the ideals that brought this country into being, then the answer is a very great deal. I support Obama, naturally.