Comments on: “America’s most progressive President in more than half a century!” will extend tax cuts for the rich http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/ History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Sun, 19 May 2013 08:28:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Emma http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-740098 Emma Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:43:26 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-740098 Also, here's the real downside to Dem voters wanting to be jr. political pundits and therefore being willing to excuse the failures of Dem administrations, straight from the mouth of a Republican spokeshole: <i>Well I think the real world implication here Dylan, is that if the Republican base does not want to compromise and the Democratic base is willing to compromise Republicans are going to win more public policy battles than they lose.</i> Stop excusing. Start demanding. The Obama Admin still has a lame duck Dem Congress. Demand they do something Democratic with it. Also, here’s the real downside to Dem voters wanting to be jr. political pundits and therefore being willing to excuse the failures of Dem administrations, straight from the mouth of a Republican spokeshole:

Well I think the real world implication here Dylan, is that if the Republican base does not want to compromise and the Democratic base is willing to compromise Republicans are going to win more public policy battles than they lose.

Stop excusing. Start demanding. The Obama Admin still has a lame duck Dem Congress. Demand they do something Democratic with it.

]]> By: Emma http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-740095 Emma Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:34:16 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-740095 <i>Much as I’d like to see the cuts for the super wealthy expire, that isn’t going to happen.</i> Well it isn't going to happen now! And raising taxes on the middle class probably would be bad, because less money into the economy and all that. But on the wealthy? Not so much. <i><Another thought — the message that was repeated by Republican candidates ad nauseum was that taxes were “killing jobs” and that uncertainty about whether the Bush era tax cuts would continue was preventing businesses from hiring new workers. So, here’s a modest proposal. Let’s see how well that theory works</i> For pete's sake, we know how it works. Bush tax cuts for 10 years = no boost to the economy. Much as I’d like to see the cuts for the super wealthy expire, that isn’t going to happen.

Well it isn’t going to happen now! And raising taxes on the middle class probably would be bad, because less money into the economy and all that. But on the wealthy? Not so much.

<Another thought — the message that was repeated by Republican candidates ad nauseum was that taxes were “killing jobs” and that uncertainty about whether the Bush era tax cuts would continue was preventing businesses from hiring new workers. So, here’s a modest proposal. Let’s see how well that theory works

For pete’s sake, we know how it works. Bush tax cuts for 10 years = no boost to the economy.

]]> By: Indyanna http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-740066 Indyanna Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:17:49 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-740066 At this point, there's not much incentive to NOT act like a dictator, or a wealth-redistributing socialist, especially if you probably weren't born in the U.S. and can't even prove that you weren't born on Mars. So if I was living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I'd just direct the IRS next year to audit every return of someone making more than $250,000, and none of the returns below that figure. That might accomplish some of the same objectives, without overtaxing the fundraising energies of our hard working legislators. Just. Sorta. Joking. At this point, there’s not much incentive to NOT act like a dictator, or a wealth-redistributing socialist, especially if you probably weren’t born in the U.S. and can’t even prove that you weren’t born on Mars. So if I was living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I’d just direct the IRS next year to audit every return of someone making more than $250,000, and none of the returns below that figure. That might accomplish some of the same objectives, without overtaxing the fundraising energies of our hard working legislators. Just. Sorta. Joking.

]]> By: Knitting Clio http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-740049 Knitting Clio Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:18:29 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-740049 Since I'm teaching a course on the New Deal this semester, I'll just say that history shows that raising taxes during a recession is a bad idea. Much as I'd like to see the cuts for the super wealthy expire, that isn't going to happen. Another thought -- the message that was repeated by Republican candidates ad nauseum was that taxes were "killing jobs" and that uncertainty about whether the Bush era tax cuts would continue was preventing businesses from hiring new workers. So, here's a modest proposal. Let's see how well that theory works -- my prediction is that it won't and perhaps the Democratic party will have an advantage in 2012. Since I’m teaching a course on the New Deal this semester, I’ll just say that history shows that raising taxes during a recession is a bad idea. Much as I’d like to see the cuts for the super wealthy expire, that isn’t going to happen.

Another thought — the message that was repeated by Republican candidates ad nauseum was that taxes were “killing jobs” and that uncertainty about whether the Bush era tax cuts would continue was preventing businesses from hiring new workers. So, here’s a modest proposal. Let’s see how well that theory works — my prediction is that it won’t and perhaps the Democratic party will have an advantage in 2012.

]]> By: Z http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739965 Z Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:56:22 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739965 @Emma -- I wish my state would LET me stop contributing to that 401K or whatever I have (TIAA-CREF stuff). I want something like gold bars. I want to put them in a safe deposit box in Brazil or a Swiss account or something. I do not say this as a wingnut rightist ... I've just lived in countries where they had economic shock programs and did things like commandeer the retirement funds and savings accounts. I am not sure what it would take for this to happen here but I don't trust them not to do it. @Emma — I wish my state would LET me stop contributing to that 401K or whatever I have (TIAA-CREF stuff). I want something like gold bars. I want to put them in a safe deposit box in Brazil or a Swiss account or something. I do not say this as a wingnut rightist … I’ve just lived in countries where they had economic shock programs and did things like commandeer the retirement funds and savings accounts. I am not sure what it would take for this to happen here but I don’t trust them not to do it.

]]> By: quixote http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739854 quixote Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:19:34 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739854 Democratic Congresscritters as well as Republican mostly are in the group that takes home a windfall if the tax cuts are extended for the wealthiest. I wonder if that could possibly explain the Democrats' willingness to be "forced" to extend those cuts by the mean nasty Republicans? Democratic Congresscritters as well as Republican mostly are in the group that takes home a windfall if the tax cuts are extended for the wealthiest.

I wonder if that could possibly explain the Democrats’ willingness to be “forced” to extend those cuts by the mean nasty Republicans?

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739848 Historiann Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:03:57 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739848 Agreed. (Although saying it's the "most liberal and progressive force in D.C." ain't saying much!) Pelosi and her Dems took a lot of tough votes and delivered Obama what he said he wanted. I think she's right that the Republicans demonized her precisely because she was highly effective. (<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-21/heroine-of-the-hour/" rel="nofollow">Analysis of her tenure as Speaker here</a>.) Agreed. (Although saying it’s the “most liberal and progressive force in D.C.” ain’t saying much!) Pelosi and her Dems took a lot of tough votes and delivered Obama what he said he wanted. I think she’s right that the Republicans demonized her precisely because she was highly effective.

(Analysis of her tenure as Speaker here.)

]]> By: Emma http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739831 Emma Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:35:57 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739831 Pelosi's House has been the most liberal and progressive force in D.C., and constantly opposed at every step by the Senate and the White House. Pelosi’s House has been the most liberal and progressive force in D.C., and constantly opposed at every step by the Senate and the White House.

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739821 Historiann Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:15:52 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739821 And isn't it funny that <a href="http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/11/12/olbermann_tax_troubles_at_1600_pennsylvania_ave.html" rel="nofollow">it's a woman who has the biggest stones in Washington</a>? Color me <i>unsurprised!</i> And isn’t it funny that it’s a woman who has the biggest stones in Washington?

Color me unsurprised!

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2010/11/11/america%e2%80%99s-most-progressive-president-in-more-than-half-a-century%e2%80%9d-will-extend-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/comment-page-1/#comment-739819 Historiann Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:08:48 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=13171#comment-739819 I'm not a Keith Olbermann fan, but this Countdown report seems to sum up both the policy and the politics of the tax cut issue: http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/11/12/olbermann_tax_troubles_at_1600_pennsylvania_ave.html What. A. Bunch. Of. Schmucks. I’m not a Keith Olbermann fan, but this Countdown report seems to sum up both the policy and the politics of the tax cut issue: http://realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/11/12/olbermann_tax_troubles_at_1600_pennsylvania_ave.html

What. A. Bunch. Of. Schmucks.

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