My Issue for the 2008 Election

With the election process in full swing the major issue on my mind is the economy. Though the problems of the world concern me I believe it takes money to solve a lot of those problems. The more prosperous the American people are the easier it will be to tackle the social issues that plague us. I am still an undecided voter and how the election affects me will ultimately make my decision.

The issue that I will probably base my vote on is taxes on dividends and capital gains. I have money in retirement and regular stock accounts and have not been happy with the performance this year. I have found it to be a good opportunity to pick up stocks for both at a discount with the fall of the markets. Many of these stocks are safer stocks that pay dividends which I reinvest.

The markets are having a hard time recovering from what has ailed them and things are looking worse. Jacking up taxes on capital gains and dividends would be the last nail in the coffin of the markets sending them further down. Not only will that hurt stockholders, it will hurt everyone with a retirement account as people will pull money out of the markets.

Populist sentiment makes people want to screw the rich and the big companies, I feel that way as well at times. But I am careful to watch what I think and how it is going to come back at me. But people need to consider that the middle class count on retirement more than the rich and most Americans have some interest in the issue even if they are not actively interested. To whoever becomes president, give us an efficient government instead of taking out retirement, because my generation doesn't have Social Security to count on.