Why Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 Plan is great for the 99%

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Tuesday October 18, 2011 · 2:02 PM PDT

2011/10/18 · 14:02

I’ve mislead you a bit with the title. I trust, though, that you probably already knew that. We know the plan itself, if enacted, would be a disaster for America – increasing our economic inequality beyond levels that already resemble the age of 19th century robber-barons and monopolies. However, as Cain keeps pointing out, the idea is simple and relatively easy to understand. It has gained enough recognition that vast swaths of people are talking about it. These two points provide us with the best opportunity we have had in some time to explain 1: Capital gains taxes, 2: Why a flat tax is unfair, and 3: Why a progressive marginal tax can be just as simple as a flat tax (but more fair). So, if you would, repeat this to as many people as you can – I think they’re primed to hear it:

Financial gains need to be taxed at least as much as a hard-earned paycheck, and 9-9-9 doesn’t tax them at all.
The first million bucks is the hardest and the same % tax doesn’t have the same effect on quality of life at all levels, and 9-9-9 doesn’t reflect that.

Affordably scaled tax rates (Affordable Taxation) can be just as simple to administer as 9-9-9, reduce all of the same operational costs, are more fair, and better for economic growth.

robizio for Income Inequality Kos

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Tuesday March 08, 2011 · 6:01 AM PST

2011/03/08 · 06:01

In yet another example of someone ignoring what's really going on with the Economy:
Economist Tyler Cowen says we haven't made anything significantly better in his lifetime besides the internet, and we should just learn to settle for less. Wikipedia says The Economist named him one of the most influential economists of the past decade...and after hearing his interview on NPR to promote his new book, I'm hoping this is one of those times wikipedia is making things up.

(Disclosure: I haven't read the book, so maybe Mr. Cowen says lots of reasonable things and doesn't leave out a huge chunk of the picture when drawing conclusions. If this is the case, he's fairly bad at verbal communication. Given his profile, I think it's more likely I heard him loud and clear.)

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Kossacks: what to do? - Suggest action plans to counter the mob

robizio

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Saturday August 08, 2009 · 5:56 AM PDT

2009/08/08 · 05:56

Many have shed light on the Astroturf nature of the unruly and factless mobs being driven by organizers and groups trying desperately to hide their Republican and corporate affiliation/sponsorship. Pundit wrap-up focused on it this morning, including Gail Collins calling out the fight-fire-with-fire strategy a bad plan. I happen to agree, since combating fire with same when someone is burning down your house is, well, counterproductive to say the least. But the lack of a clear strategy to combat this nonsense can be frustrating: teacherken asks and answers Why Bother? with 'Because we can, and thus we must.' So, since simply calling out the mob's nonsense as nonsense to those who already know (like most readers here or other progressive blogs) isn't going to move the debate, what do we do?...looking for comments below the fold

robizio

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Monday May 18, 2009 · 2:54 PM PDT

2009/05/18 · 14:54

Obama's inclusion of "empathy" as an important quality in a Supreme Court nominee has sparked a battle of talking points from both sides. Conservatives, including RNC chair Steele, have jumped on the word as pre-justification for their opposition to any Obama nominee to the court who might come before them. Steele (video here) and others have equated having empathy as a judge to deciding by feelings. A quick trip to the dictionary reveals that these people are simply confused (if we take them at their word). More likely they are conflating empathy with emotion; empathy is defined as: the ability to identify with or understand another's situation, feelings or motives. Is it not vital that a Judge--whose decisions and opinions will influence the manner in which our laws are applied in our lives--understands the situations of those to whom the laws apply?
Follow me below the fold, and submit any comments for discussion...

robizio

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Thursday April 16, 2009 · 9:13 PM PDT

2009/04/16 · 21:13

The highly publicized Tax Day tea parties lacked a coherent message; mostly, it appeared, because the organizers didn't really care what you were angry about or who you were angry at, just so long as you were willing to show up and make it look like you agreed with their anti-(something) sentiment.

However, one message that I did hear from some people interviewed was "taxing the rich is a bad idea". They couldn't really explain why, but it's a time-honored talking point that the rich have gotten others to spout. I wrote about it shortly after the election, and looking back it only seems to have gotten more relevant in the face of this demonstration against increased social spending and progressive tax rates.

It's generally something along the lines of "Why punish people for being successful?" Those more callous and brazen may phrase it differently: "I worked hard for my money, why should you take it away and give it to someone who didn't?"

Recognizing that the discussion is not simply about individual tax returns, but about economic philosophies and frameworks through which we view our nation and world, I have set out to answer these questions (since I keep hearing them)--or more accurately, to show why they are misguided.

robizio

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Wednesday November 19, 2008 · 1:37 PM PST

2008/11/19 · 13:37

As the campaign came down the home stretch, the focus turned to the economy, and much attention was paid to the respective tax plans of the candidates. That McCain's trickle-down nonsense was able to find a voice of support outside of corporate boardrooms gives insight about the prism through which we view our lives as a nation. It wasn't just Joe the Plumber, and it didn't stop with the election. I've heard several people comment about their concerns now that Obama has won. It's generally something along the lines of "Why punish people for being successful?" Those more callous and brazen may phrase it differently: "I worked hard for my money, why should you take it away and give it to someone who didn't?"

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