Will Obama continue to push for a raise of the top tax rate for those making over $250,000 at the risk of a bigger long term deal? It seems to me both sides in this argument constantly box themselves in a corner that make any realistic solution unattainable. To illustrate where I feel insistence on a raise of the top rates could be counter productive, let's look at this simple example. Take someone who is in the top tax bracket who through deductions and loopholes can legally avoid paying any income tax, then raise their rate to what the Dems want to see in place and you get exactly nothing! A 4% increase on $0 tax liability is still $0.

Let's be smart, the way to move forward is through fundamental tax reform. Eliminate deductions and exemptions that do not make sense and criminalize offshoring of income to avoid taxes. I am a firm believer in the KISS approach to most everything - keep it simple stupid. For too long we have allowed special interest and big business to muddle up our tax code to the point that only the rich derive any benefit or relief. The vast majority of Americans are just to shut-up and pay-up.

We constantly hear reference to the phrase "American Exceptionalism," I believe we were an exceptional nation during the great rise of the middle class. After WWII and our emergence from the Great Depression many millions benefited from sound and reasonable governance. I believe we have strayed well away from the "Exceptionalism" of the mid 1900s and are only exceptional today in our dysfunctional congress. Maybe a pledge of middle and low income Americans is now in order. I would eagerly sign a pledge to do anything in my power to unseat all the incumbent members of congress when they are next up for re-election unless a practical deal is struck before the end of the year.

Now is the time our elective representatives in Washington should take historical steps to put the worlds leader and biggest economy on a path that actually benefits the majority of Americans.