Yesterday in Reno, President Obama had a town hall meeting. During it, he answered questions and described why the tax rates on those making over $250,000 should be returned to the rates of the Clinton years, why the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy should end when they expire by law on Dec. 31, 2012. (Yes, I know he and Congress compromised and extended them to that date). He talked of the historically low tax rates that now exist and what the societal cost of those low tax rates is:
But at a certain point, as the economy begins to grow again, as people are getting back on their feet, we’ve got to go back and say to ourselves, you know what, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Taxes are lower now than they have been in a generation. Taxes are a lot lower now than they were under Ronald Reagan. They’re lower than they were under Bill Clinton. They’re lower than they were under George Bush, in many cases.
And what I’ve said is, at minimum, we should say, for those like myself who can afford it, let’s pay a little bit more. Let’s go -- we can go back -- if we went back to the Clinton rates for the wealthiest 2 percent, going back to the Clinton rates -- you remember back in the ‘90s, the economy was doing really well, and rich people were doing just fine. And I can afford it. It’s not that I like paying taxes. I don’t like paying taxes. Nobody likes paying taxes. But if the choice is keeping my tax break, or 33 seniors having to pay an extra 6,000 bucks for their Medicare, why would I want that -- why would I wish that on those 33 seniors? If the choice is between me keeping my tax cut and a couple hundred kids being to go get their Head Start, why would I want that?
Remarks by the President in a Town Hall in Reno, Nevada, 4/21/11
But then he talked about why, and he placed it not in compassion or charity, although those are good reasons, and not in equity and fairness, although those also are good reasons. He asked: What kind of world do you want to live in?
This isn’t a matter of charity; it’s a matter of what we think it is to live in a good society. And I think it is good for me, it is good for my life if when I’m driving around, I’m saying to myself, you know what, that school is producing all kinds of kids who are smart and are going to help build America’s future.
And I drive around and I see some seniors, and they’re out for a walk. And I know, you know what, I’m glad that I live in a country where in their retirement years, they’re going to be secure. That makes me feel good. That’s the kind of country I want to live in. (Applause.) That’s the kind of country you want to live in. And we’ve got to make sure we’re willing to fight for it.
Remarks by the President in a Town Hall in Reno, Nevada, 4/21/11
I've made that argument myself to people since at least the Reagan times. If compassion or justice won't reach people, then those who have any decency might be reachable on these grounds. Do you really want to walk over homeless people on your way to the office? Do you want to see people starving in the streets? Do you want to see grandma begging on the corner for food or healthcare?
What kind of country do you want to live in? It really is a question directed to who are you, what kind of person are you?
It is the right debate to have in these times.