Green stamps? Chuck E. Cheese tokens?

Here’s a mini-analysis from Time’s Campaign Notebook:

THE CHARGE: A President sets his agenda for America in the first 100 days. John Kerry's plan: to pay for new government spending, raise taxes by at least $900 billion. --GEORGE W. BUSH, in a campaign ad running in 18 states that attacks his opponent's tax plan

THE CONTEXT: A September 2003 study of the Democratic candidates' health-care proposals put an $895 billion price tag on Kerry's 10-year plan, which would bring insurance to 26.7 million people who don't have it now. The Bush campaign claims there is no way to pay for that generous plan other than by raising taxes. But Kerry has never said he would raise taxes by $900 billion. He has advocated raising taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans — those who make more than $200,000 a year — while giving middle-class earners tax cuts. Kerry's campaign says it is still studying how his health-care plan would be paid for, and it will release details in the coming weeks as analysts reconcile budget projections with Kerry's proposal.

According to the Washington Post, soaking the “rich” will only bring in an additional $250 billion over ten years – not enough to pay for one-third of Kerry’s proposed plan. Where will the rest of the money come from? Take a look in the mirror, American taxpayer.