Some Thoughts on Joe the Plumber, the Alleged Star of the Final Barack Obama / John McCain Debate

I was at a July 4th parade earlier this year where the two local Congressional candidates, John Yarmuth and Anne Northup, were both shaking hands. Our incumbent, John Yarmuth, was actually walking in the parade, while his opponent, longtime representative Anne Northup, was walking the sidelines in step with him.

As Anne walked closer, I wondered what I'd say if she got closer. I never liked her as a representative or her campaign style, which was notoriously negative. I decided that when she got closer, I'd refuse to shake her hand, tell her I thought she was a dirty campaigner and worthless as a rep, and that I'd be voting for her opponent again this election.

When she got to me, I decided to take the high road, shaking her hand, smiling politely, and letting her go about her business.

All of this came to mind as I watched the video of the encounter between Joe Wurzelbacher and Barack Obama and subsequent interviews with 'Joe the Plumber'. Joe Wurzelbacher's attitude in these videos strikes me as the one I held for Ms. Northup, contempt for the candidate. Wurzelbacher clearly dislikes Obama's tax plan, having told Diane Sawyer on ABC News that he didn't think it was fair to tax someone more for being successful.

But what I find interesting is the inherent dishonesty in Wurzelbacher's confrontation with Barack Obama, as outlined in this Seattle Times story and others, specifically:

-The fact that he apparently isn't in a position to buy the firm he says he is going to buy

-The fact that he feels it is wrong for people to pay higher taxes on higher income when he apparently owes $1,182 in back taxes that he hasn't paid.

-The fact that Joe the Plumber is doing plumbing work but hasn't completed the work required to become a licensed plumber, which may be putting him at odds with local laws and other legitimate plumbers competing for work.

-The unlikelyhood that the company that Joe Wurzelbacher has indicated he'd like to someday purchase would reach the $250,000 threshold in net profits that Joe the Plumber is so worried about.

In short, Joe seemed more interested in demonstrating his Republican props, rather than asking Obama a legitimate question about his own situation.

What we know about Joe The Plumber's economic situation is that he's a divorced dad who made $40,000 in 2006, that he has had difficulty in paying $1,261 to a hospital (since paid) and property taxes, so he would appear not to be living in much prosperity these days. That's why I find it interesting that Joe the Plumber would characterize Obama's plan to tax lower incomes less and higher incomes more as a form of socialism. Obama's plan would, as Obama himself mentioned to Joe, lower his taxes, providing him more income both to earn money to eventually buy the business he works for and presumably pay the debt he currently owes. It also would help address the fact that tax revenue isn't keeping pace with tremendous debt, which has grown to enormous sums under Republican leadership, despite their protestations that Republicans believe in smaller government.

To me, Joe the Plumber represents the odd subset of Republican supporters whose personal reality doesn't seem to line up with their ideological views. They're angry at politicians who probably would do more to serve their financial needs because of an irrational fear that they'll be taxed to death at some faraway point where they might actually be wealthy.

Joe, a progressive income tax isn't socialism. It's the smartest way to insure that tax burdens relative to income are more fairly distributed from those at the lowest levels of incomes to those at the highest. The fact is that those in middle and lower incomes spend a much higher percentage on the basic necessities than those with higher incomes. This makes it harder for them to invest, makes them more prone to hardship when an economic downturn or inflation occurs. Would you have had as much difficulty paying taxes or that hospital bill had you been making $250,000? Would paying a higher percentage in taxes hurt you more at $250,000 than paying a lower percentage at $40,000?

In the end, I wish Joe the Plumber well. Given his demeanor, confidence in public, and grace under the public scrutiny that seems to have been a complete surprise to him, maybe he should consider a run for office himself. As was pointed out on the Daily Show, he's already done more interviews than Sarah Palin. Perhaps John McCain would be wise to replace Sarah with Joe on his ticket.