New Jersey is among the first of the states to have jumped into the socialist pond with their latest wave of punitive tax increases. Those who have the audacity to work hard to achieve financial success, in New Jersey, are about to be punished. New Jersey has just signed legislation that will increase income taxes from 6.37% to 10.76%, a 69% increase. Now before you pack your bags, be careful, many other states are in lock-step right behind New Jersey and pushing for similar legislation. California will likely be next in replicating New Jersey's draconian tax increases as they are burdened by a $24.7 billion budget deficit. New York will follow California with their own brand of tax increases to cover a $17.6 billion budget deficit. Although Florida does not currently impose an individual income tax, it has already increased sales tax, cigarette taxes, auto registration fees and auto license fees in order to cover a $6 billion budget deficit. Massachusetts is preparing to hike sales tax from 5% to 6.25% and will further expand sales tax on everything from alcohol to satellite TV in order to cover their budget deficit of $3 billion. Arizona's $3 billion budget deficit will be addressed through a 1% increase in its sales tax rate, from 5.6% to 6.6%. The effect of Nevada's budget deficit of $1.2 billion caused that state to increase their sales tax rate from 6.5% to 6.85%. Nevada currently has no individual income tax system.  

    The march toward socialism will not stop at the state level, however. The Tax foundation - a nonpartisan tax research group - reports that new analysis of President Obama's Budget finds that he is targeting the nation's highest earners for greater income redistributions. Obama is seeking to take $71 billion away from the top 1% of families. How will he do it? By increasing tax rates and disallowing deductions on those who have worked hard to achieve the American Dream. What we are seeing is the American Dream slipping away and being replaced by a new socialist agenda. 

    In a down economy, the last thing any governmental apparatus should be contemplating is increasing the tax burden on those who miraculously still do have jobs or produce jobs. Increased taxes hurts the overall economy by reducing consumption and corporate spending and thus, stifles job growth. Current federal and state tax legislation trends are actually the opposite of what should be done. The need to reduce spending, taxes and the size of government during the current economic climate is the only logical solution. Ronald Reagan knew this, President Obama does not.

    Our two party system is currently not functioning, as Republicans have been severely weakened by eight years of the Bush administration's own reckless socialistic spending policies. There is currently no end in site for this wave of socialism. America is at a crossroads. We desperately need new, strong leadership, anchored by a patriotic desire to preserve the American Way.  Until that leadership emerges, the fate of America is in the hands of a socialist agenda that threatens to strip away the very fabric of everything that made America the great nation it is....or once was.