host: the tax plans would be skewed and there will be lower taxation. for an america of ordinary means, lower taxes would be outweighed by other changes. the plan replaces the tax exemption for employer-provided health plans. it is a good idea in principle but the projections are too optimistic. caller: i think we are going to have to pay more taxes to overcome our deficit. we should not prevent the tax cuts. i am concerned and someone will have to convince me that the tax revenue that would be generated from making those particular cut to expire would create jobs. host: could this trigger a double-dip recession? caller: i don't think that would be the case for the top 2% or 3%. america will be investigating investing in manufacturing overseas. host: let's go to elizabeth on the democratic line. will you pay higher taxes? i will put you on hold we will get the producer back on with you and maybe we can come back to your phone call. we will go back to elizabeth on the democratic line, go ahead. are you willing to pay higher taxes? caller: yes, i am glad to do separate i think everyone will benefit from it. i would like to know how british petroleum got the contract to supply our military with all the fuel for hundreds of millions of dollars per year. host: are you willing to pay higher taxes? caller: yes, i am. i don't know how much we pay but we are on the lower end of the higher income. i believe and i am willing to pay. the billionaires' need to pay higher taxes. we are doing well and i think we should contribute. caller: you just need to go online and you will see. there has not been a republican president that has helped. there is a tax system that is why you see jimmy carter who had a bad system of government especially when the economy was going down, he paid down 3% of the debt further has been no republican president. you can go back to president nixon did he paid about 1%. he was kicked out of office. mike republican friends say they care about the deficit even though they cannot define what a deficit and a debt is. even though they care about the deficit, this is when you pay more taxes. host: john painter, the minority leader in the house -- johnbehner was asked yesterday about tax cuts. >> you can't raise taxes in the middle of a weak economy without risking a double dip in this recession. president obama's favorite republican economist cannot several weeks ago and made it clear that raising taxes at this point in the economy is a very bad idea. >> tax cuts are not paid for, is that correct? >> i am not for raising taxes on the american people in a weak economy. >> our tax cuts paid for not? >> listen, you are trying to get into this washington game and they're funny accounting. you cannot get the economy going again by raising taxes on those people who we expend to create jobs in america. if we want to solve a bunch of problems, we have to have a healthy economy and we have to get our arms around all runaway spending that is going on in washington. host: robert, of the republican line, in nevada. caller: i don't think we should raise taxes. obama got us into this situation and a is so damn smart, pardon my french, if i had a son or daughter and they were going to go to harvard, i would shoot both of them. he is the worst president we ever had. and i think we ever will have. that lady was talking about making $200,000 per year, the most i ever made in my life and i am 77 years old is $46,000 per year and that is including my social security and the little in, i have. that i get every three months. host: are you on social security now? caller: yes, these people don't have to depend on social security and many people depend on social security and they make may be less than $500 per month per those are the ones that we need to help. welfare is way out of line and so is also security. so security -- a social security is set up for people who need it when they get into retirement age. host: there is talk of trying to save money and tackle the deficit by raising the retirement age. you are 77 but if they had raised the age when you were around 60 -- when did you retire? caller: i retired finally and i took an early retirement. in 2007. caller: this country is truly falling apart because of too many people not paying enough taxes. host: hang on the line because i wanted your thoughts on this piece. caller: i'm sure they were paying more before the bush tax cut. and before the reagan tax cut. i think we need to repeal all of those that go back to 1950 rates were the top 1% are paying 90% in taxes if they don't take all the deductions they are offered. and never pay those kinds of taxes because everything is structured differently where they can take these deductions. most of it has to do with reinvesting in their own business. host: a little more from this piece this morning to get your reaction. that is in the "the wall street journal"this morning. our republican is next. go ahead. caller: i worked for the government for 30 years. what little i draw in social security -- i pay $167 medicare tax that as per month. a pay over $4,000 for health insurance. obama says he will do all this. the people voted for him but if even keeps one promise, we would not have this. i am tired of paying taxes. host: independent line, caller: bike make significantly more money than the president is talking about and i would be happy to pay more taxes. we cannot start closing the department of education and deny students' college education to put the country further behind. that does not make sense. host: what do you do for a living? caller: i have my own company. if i felt someone could increase my income, i would hire them, in respect of of taxes. host: your listening when we read that last piece? caller: yes, if i could increase might net income by hiring someone and i had to pay higher taxes, i would pay the higher taxes. i don't know what that dilemma is. host: it sounds like it is not only higher taxes, it is higher taxes and a cost him more to employ people and in this economy where he cannot sell more, he is not hiring because what would he spend money he has to hire more people when it costs him more money and his sales have not gone up? caller: in 40 years, i have never found where if i am providing value to the marketplace i cannot sell something. is the value of what he is providing substantial enough for people to pay for it is perspective of what he pays in taxes? that is a totally illogical argument host: what do you think about the argument that if businesses have some certainty about where things are headed whether it is taxes or health care or energy costs, then they will take this money they are keeping on the sidelines and reinvested into the economy? caller: that is probably fair. the money is being courted in large corporations. ho arded in large corporations. ba ba caller: the money that was thrown away in the iraq war and on the hearings showed how bundles of cash or unaccounted for during the iraq war. the bush tax cuts were unfounded and people are not well informed. that gentleman from nevada said president obama is doing a poor job. the republicans really did honestly get us into this mess we are in. how can we expect anybody whether it is president obama or a republican president, how can we expect anyone to get us out of this mess without giving the president more time to undo the horrible the fed ponders next to prepare for removed. a disappointing jobs report has caused speculation. the fed's most dramatic move would be to purchase new mortgage back securities or treasury bonds to lower interest rates keep more but such an initiative is staunchly opposed by inflation hawks on the open market committee. far more likely, the bank will take a middle ground jesse on the republican line, good morning. would you pay higher taxes? caller: i do not want to pay more taxes. people in this country pay high enough taxes. host: how much do you pay in taxes? caller: not that much. i have been retired for several years. while i am not paying so much myself, there are other people just paying taxes and we just keep coming up with other things to that, stimulus package, other things like that. somebody has to pay it back. it appears that the people who vote on these bills that go to the president, these kinds everything that they send him, it does not make a difference when it is. not all it is doing is adding more money and the taxpayer will have to pay it back. >> yes today, two former fed secretaries spoke on cnn. roblin rubin had this to say about the next move for the economy. >> i would stay, roughly speaking, on the same fiscal track. we do have deficits, which is affecting demand. >> so you would not do a major second stimulus? >> no, we could run the risk that it could be counterproductive in treating counter-certainty. at the same time, i would try to put in place a serious beginning of debt reduction that would take effect in the specified future. it would not take effect right now, when the economy is still vulnerable, but if you could do it, and it was credible, and it was real, that would do a lot more confidence. host: robert rubin talking about what is next for the economy. he journal" -- denton, texas. robert on the independent line. aren't you willing to pay higher taxes? caller: i am disabled, so no, but if i could work, i would pay higher taxes. i fought for this country, and i believe for this country. i lost two nephews in the iraq war during the bush administration. like the other person who was disabled, there is money that is missing, and unaccountable from the bush administration that we should not have to make up. host: and gregg on the democratic line. new york. cried go -- caller: yes, i am willing to pay higher taxes. the question, are we all like to pay higher taxes? the question has to do with pushed tax cut coming to an end. america needs to understand the motives of two parties. the republicans did not want to repeal the tax cuts, and john boehner repeat -- refuses to answer any questions. however, the solution is not to raise taxes on middle america. they are having the top one, bridget 1%, 2% -- 1%, 2% of incomes should have higher taxes. host: what about the idea that everyone will eventually have to pay higher taxes in order to tackle the deficit. caller: every time i crossed the george washington bridge, i have to pay. people who work for the transit system have to -- do not have to pay. i believe everybody needs to pay for the bridge. money does not grow on trees. you go to work and you pay your share. that should apply to everybody. i am and every day, first thing in the morning c-span watcher. the motives of politicians on both ends of the spectrum are to represent today represent and to deliver services to the people they serve. to ask john painter how are the tax cuts -- boehner hal r. the tax cuts paid for? they never answered the question. his intentions are about his pockets. this is in a newspaper that caters to the elite, when it comes to money. anything in "the wall street journal" is not for the average joe. they average person goes to the store and pays for what he can afford, pays his mortgage, and lives his life. the average wall street broker, everything that they spend it is written off. there is only one of motive to survive. to live comfortably. everybody needs to pay their share. we need to stop supporting the top. without the bottom, there is no top. host: we have your point. ryan, bakersfield, california. caller: i agree with people paying more taxes in is not a difficult responsibility. i do not think the answer is raising taxes. the answer should be stopped spending money and perhaps save a little bit. i wanted to join the coast guard but i cannot because there is a big waitlist because of the budget cuts there was a comment made by someone who said higher taxes means higher wages, well, these companies cannot afford it. it is putting so much stress on the low income families. i do not agree with it. host: in "the financial times" -- raleigh, north carolina. richard, are you willing to pay more taxes? we will come back to you. also in "the financial times" -- marion, democratic line. gainesville, georgia. are you believe to pay higher texas? cerf caller: yes, ma'am. our economy is in a rough situation right them. the party of no chose to a vote against everything that president obama tries to do. we were in a bad situation when he took office in 2008. we have had bills come from the republican party. they have been the party up the hill. nobody knew what was happening in iraq. big oil companies have been the driving force behind the bush tax cuts. people are just misinformed. we need to take a good look at where we are going. host: remember, you can also send us your comments on this conversation to twitter.com/cspanwj. also, send us an e-mail, journal@c-span.org. jeffrey in kansas. good morning. caller: in topeka, kansas, we raised a half cent sales tax, but shouldn't they decide what they are going to use before they raise it? what about the taxes that we take from people from other countries? if we are taxing, why are we giving all of our jobs to them when they do not have the income tax held back? would that not increase our tax income? host: carlson, texas. fred, on the independent line. caller: i do not think i would be willing to pay more taxes. i would prefer congress to do their oversight first. host: are you talking about waste, fraud, abuse of money? caller: yes, but we also need to tackle entitlements. those people who say they are willing to pay more taxes, they can do so now. you can go to the department of treasury and figure of how to send in their money to pay more taxes than they are currently paying. have a great day. host: here is an e-mail from one of our viewers -- the new york. brian on the democratic line. -- new york. caller: president obama mentioned repatriation of sales taxes on products manufactured overseas by american corporations. in other words, the jobs were shipped of america beginning with nafta. those corporations and businesses overseas, there are no taxes on those products coming back to america. so what did america get for losing all of the top jobs, taxes, local, municipal products that would have been developed, product research -- incredible amounts of money lost because of nafta. the products made over there are not taxed and there are no taxes coming back to the united states. any sales made on products from american corporations goes to offshore banking. host: later on in the program the are going to have the national association of manufacturers un, and they are calling for increasing exports. one way to do that is to pass the free trade agreement with south korea and other countries. what would you say to that? caller: we have to manage our trade. naphtha was an open-door policy, beginning with an american. if you look through the history of nation building economics, the work that would have been used to turn all of our manufacturing jobs out to foreign nations would be economic treason. and the wealth of any nation is in manufacturing for export. host: what about exporting things other than durable-goods? caller: we are exporting for the green revolution that the president has been speaking about. eight out of every 10 machines that will turn that the film for solar panels are being exported to the asian countries. so all of the manufacturing capacity is that we are looking to to save our workers is actually being shipped overseas at a rate of 8 to 2. the actual manufacturing machinery, all the tooling on the floor, ship it overseas, and that is our green revolution. host: we will be talking about energy issues this week on "the washington journal." today, our first topic is the construction of the energy- efficient homes. tax credits that go along with it. of course, one of them is a solar power. "roll call" and this morning. that is paul singer's pc. -- piece. manassas, virginia. are you willing to pay higher taxes? caller: yes, i am. i listen to someone earlier who said they wanted to join the coast guard. ironically, they said they had a freeze as a part of the spending cuts. we have to make these decisions. you do not just retire in 20 years, have your house paid for, education. money had to come from somewhere, you know? and just to say we are going to cut spending -- yes, we could cut spending, but people do not see what really happens. and these are people's lives, jobs, benefits. so yes, i am for the bush tax cut to expire. host: we are going to leave it there. we are going to take a short break. when we come back, we turn our attention to national security issues. michael hayden, the former cia director, is with us for the next 45 minutes. we will be right back. >> we cannot go around expecting double dealings, crockery. you cannot run a democracy like this. >> watch this candid 1982 interview with millicent stanwyck. she was an inspiration for a doonesbury character. part of a treasure trove of in the c-spanthevents library. finding of about the new books coming out this fall. >> how did this young girl, growing up in the 1950's become the secretary of state? he is a health-care expert, is politically savvy, and is telling us about a major event that got us to health care reform. this is an account of what it was like to be with her dead. >> a learn more about these and other books coming come this fall. for the latest in nonfiction authors and books, "book tv." host: and general michael he did was the former cia director under the bush and administration from 2006 to 2009. let me begin with "the washington times" -- the fbi is now keeping tabs on him. he has supposedly taken over as the new al qaeda chief. guest: he was the no. 3 chief of operations. that is the position in which there has been a series of successions because we have been able to take off the battlefield the no. 3 position in al qaeda with great regularity. the operations chief cannot spend all had his energy hiding, as number one and two do, and he is not able to hide all day. it remains to see how long he will be in this job because his successors have not had very much longevity. the fact that he lives in the united states is a problem. he might be able to better guide al qaeda operatives in their attacks, but this is it unprecedented. khalid sheikh mohammed lived in north carolina for awhile, so we have experienced something like this before. host: does that hurt or hinder the search for someone like this? guest: i do not know how it affects it. it perhaps makes him more confident about planning attacks because he is more understanding of the american culture, but it is yet to be seen if he will be more effective. host: will intelligence officials look at when he was in the country and try to glean anything? guest: yes absolutely. people tend to think about intelligence as current offense, but history provides important material about what it terrorist might do. to talk to folks who may have known him, to understand who he is as a human being, allows us to be more productive about his actions. host: there was an announcement about an arrest of 14 individuals, most of them had been in the united states, or citizens. what do you make of these homegrown -- so-called homegrown terrorists? guest: this is a particular strain of home grown. it is dangerous enough to where it is different from others. these are somalis who have been trained in recruited to go back to fight al shabab in somalia. they are fighting against what they view to be the ethiopian occupation. however, many of them are being trained in the of data -- al qaeda facilities by and al qaeda leader. sometimes they can be carried against the united states, and oftentimes, they do have knowledge of the united states. if they made that decision,