Yesterday, in a discussion on the need to implement additional tax cuts, a friend of mine posted one of the usual sound bites. I'm posting my reply here, even though I realize that in large part I'm preaching to the choir. I only wish we could get more people to listen.
Another thought on taxes: are you better off with more or less money in your pocket? Is everyone better off with more or less money in their pockets? In this case, I claim more is better.
You are probably the last person on this list whom I would have expected to fall back on that empty sound bite.
But I suppose it's just as well, since that sound bite tends to encapsulate everything that is wrong with many of the "Lower Taxes" crowd. Having thought through the matter, I have to admit that much of my problems over the need for lower/higher taxes are as much political as economical. Lower Taxes has become a mantra: Lower Taxes will save the country. Lower Taxes will force the government to improve. Lower Taxes will make you regular. Lower Taxes will save your soul.
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The reason is obvious, of course--Shouting "Lower Taxes!" will get you votes. And it's so fucking easy. We all like bright, shiny things, and what's brighter than more money? A UT dropout is easily seduced by lower taxes. "More money in my pocket? Sounds good to me!! I can afford to get my tooth capped!" And then he's off to celebrate with the barnyard animals.
Of course, what nobody told the poor shmuck was that to pay for the tax cuts, funding for the dental school was eliminated.
Lower Taxes is a lot easier to explain than a comprehensive plan for fiscal responsibility. You don't have to explain Lower Taxes: you just trot out the faithful sound bite. The converse is true as well--it's a lot easier to say "He's going to raise your taxes--BAD MAN!!" than say "Here's why this candidate's comprehensive plan for fiscal responsibility won't work." If you don't believe me, go ask AL Gov. Bob Riley.
The idea of Tax Management has become an independent political concept, instead of what it should be--a fundamental part of a larger plan of fiscal responsibility. One look at the federal government should convince even the densest of individuals that lowering taxes is not a panacea.
I am so very weary of hearing the Lower Tax mantra, simply because nothing is being done to balance the other side of the equation.
Right now, what we need is not lower taxes, but fiscal responsibility. Lowering taxes without budget control is not fiscal responsibility; it's a blueprint for disaster. From where I stand, no one in Washington should say a single freaking word about lowering taxes until they have done something about runaway spending. How much of our money has been pissed away in Iraq? How much of our money has FEMA pissed away? How much of our money gets pissed away because of lobbyist influence? How much of our money gets pissed away in BS projects like the infamous Bridge to Nowhere?
We're starting to ramp up for the next election cycle. It's very simple--if you meet an incumbent candidate, grill that candidate about spending. Don't let them lull you into complacency with the Lower Taxes siren song. That's what they want.
Ask the incumbents what they intend to do about the budget. Regardless of the answer, reply "You were part of a congress that created the biggest deficit in our nation's history. Why should we expect you to show more fiscal responsibility this time around?"
If the candidate is a challenger, ask them what they will do to reduce the budget. Ask for specifics. Demand specifics.
Me, I almost always vote against the incumbent. I suggest you do the same. One of these days, we'll find some keepers.
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