Digging out of Bush's tax-cut hole [“It's somehow fitting to tax the very well housed”]

The Boston Globe ^ | August 4, 2004 | By Robert Kuttner

[johnny7]

THANKS TO George W. Bush's tax cuts, the federal government faces a long-term fiscal crisis. An intended side effect is to undercut social investment of the sort that has bonded two generations of voters since Franklin Roosevelt to the Democratic Party.

[johnny7]

“ ...to restore the idea of progressive taxation to political respectability.”

Good 'ol socialism... with a dash of class warfare. Communism is almost gone, like polio, but American Democrats are working feverishly to revive it!

[Semper Paratus]

An intended side effect is to undercut social investment of the sort that has bonded two generations of voters since Franklin Roosevelt to the Democratic Party.

Not fair! The 'rats had bought those voters fair-n-square.

[expat_panama]

Granted that most of the stuff in the news these days is biased, shallow, and sensationalist, but isn't there supposed to be some kind of warning on particularly vile hit pieces like this?

[Bahbah]

"An intended side effect is to undercut social investment of the sort that has bonded two generations of voters since Franklin Roosevelt to the Democratic Party."

Good.

[Navydog]

If the Democrats are going to tax anybody, why don't they levy and entertainer tax? Tax the snot out of the multimillionaire Hollywood Black-listers and outrageously overpaid sports stars.

[numberonepal]

social investment

What the hell is that?

[17th Miss Regt]

social investment

What the hell is that?

Failed and ineffective social programs. What else?

[johnny7]

You will learn many new things once the indoctrination camps are set up!

[saveliberty]

Failed and ineffective social programs. What else?


Therapy-replacement for emotionally unwell affluent and powerful liberals to promote policies designed with the intent of creating permanent and expansive underclasses.

[Lord Basil]

THANKS TO George W. Bush's tax cuts, the federal government faces a long-term fiscal crisis.

It's the spending, stupid.

[17th Miss Regt]

emotionally unwell affluent and powerful liberals...

Now that is what I call a euphemism! But it does sound better than 'sicko limousine liberals'.

[babyface00]

"It's somehow fitting to tax the very well housed”

Journalists are able to exploit the freedoms of speech and the press much moreso than any average citizen. It's somehow fitting then, to restrict their speech so that other, less fortunate, citizens can have more of a voice.

[ClearCase_guy]

I believe I heard some Dem flunkie (maybe even Clinton himself) claim that in 2000, the US had a 5 trillion dollar surplus. Now, (they say) we have a $5 trillion dollar deficit.

Aside from the tax cuts, I'm guessing that Bush and Cheney took about 10 trillion dollars, and quietly slipped it to the top guys at Halliburton ... (or else the Dems just lie and butcher the numbers with abandon).

[stockpirate]

"THANKS TO George W. Bush's tax cuts, the federal government faces a long-term fiscal crisis. An intended side effect is to undercut social investment of the sort that has bonded two generations of voters since Franklin Roosevelt to the Democratic Party."

Should read; "THANKS TO George W. Bush's tax cuts, the socialists in America faces a long-term emotional crisis. An intended side effect is to undercut socialist policies of the sort that has bonded two generations of socialist's since Franklin Roosevelt to the Socialist Democratic Party.

[Red Badger]

...the federal government faces a long-term fiscal crisis...

Why izzit that when the Dems were in power, spending like drunken sailors, that the record deficits THEY were creating were NOT a fiscal CRISIS? But when OUR drunken sailors are spending it is?...

[reformedliberal]

Whatever the size, the *surplus* was a projection, not a reality.

W took the fantasy and used it as the reason to let people keep more of their own money.

The raw numbers of the deficit are declining and the percentage of GDP is below historical averages. It suits the Donks to keep the fantasy surplus idea alive while hyping the fantasy size of the deficit.

But, I bet you knew that and just forgot the sarcasm tag.

[searchandrecovery]

It's somehow fitting to tax the very well housed super-rich to remedy the scandal of homelessness. The federal government could also match sources of revenue to appropriate uses. How about restoring the estate tax so children who don't have trust funds could go to college or buy their first home?
Such socialist bullsh-t. The rich didn't create homelessness (in most cases I'd imagine it's a mental-health or drug problem). And about restoring that estate tax - I have a better idea - how about poor people try working hard to generate their own family wealth.

I think the left demonizes the rich (and successful corporations) for the same reason that trial lawyers go after rich corporations - as that bank robber said, "That's where the money is". Much easier to steal money than to earn it.

[Uncle Vlad]

If any of those liberals out there feel they've "profited unfairly" from a tax cut, they can certainly do the "patriotic thing," such as give it all back to the government and encourage others to do the same...hello? (Crickets chirping)

[Fudd]

In California, a new ballot initiative, Proposition 63, would levy an income surtax on incomes over $1 million... Well under 1 percent of California's population has incomes in excess of $1 million. But guess how much money that 1 percent surtax raises? An estimated $770 million a year, according to proposition organizer Bill Zimmerman.

Of course, Bill is assuming all these millionaires will actually stay in California rather than move themselves (and their businesses) to a lower-taxed state.

[atomicpossum]

And Hastert's talking about doing away with the IRS and going to a consumption tax....