This
Newsweek article blew my mind, in a good way, and few things these days blow my mind, what with America's descent into the cave of spleen per the violent, toxic mix of neo-conservatism with neo-fascism.
Sen. Ron Wyden's new tax plan, which is laid out enthusiastically by Eleanor Clift, provides an opportunity for an awakening for Americans of all political persuations from the darkness of Bush, from his creeping fascism.
Wyden taps into the allure of pocketbook issues that could bring over those independents and could overcome the wedge issues and divisiveness that has worked so well for Republicans in elections past.
This tax plan is so simple and fair that few, even the ultrawealty, can argure against it, as Clift mentions (however I'm sure someone will take offense, such as the Steve Forbes greedy bastards of the world).
I think that this plan can neutralize Republican's advantage on tax policy. After all, who wants to give more money to inefficient government, even we Dems can agree with wingnuts on that, right? Great article, great idea, expect to see and hear MUCH more about this in the coming weeks and months:
Bush's SOTU speech is his swan song to rally support for an unpopular war and a pallid domestic agenda. Still, the evening will be his. The Democrats can't compete with the pageantry that surrounds a SOTU address, but there are welcome signs that the Democratic Party is coming to life. "I'm the designated driver of these guys riding their power trips and getting intoxicated," says Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, explaining that because he's not running for president, his role as a member of the Senate tax-writing committee is to provide solid policy advice to his fellow Democrats. His big idea is the Fair Flat Tax of 2005, which would tax all income from whatever source at the same rate, close thousands of loopholes, and simplify everybody's tax return into a one-page form.
Wyden is best known for his leadership on end-of-life issues and defending Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which was upheld last week by the Supreme Court. But he was elected as a pro-business Democrat and has long been interested in tax reform. "When a reporter calls me up and says, `I want to write on domestic initiatives,' I tell them, `You start the discussion on tax simplification and everybody starts clapping'." It's been 20 years since the last tax overhaul, when then Democratic Sen. Bill Bradley worked with the Reagan administration to slash the tax rates and close loopholes. Wyden conferred with Bradley, who told him the case for reform is even stronger now than it was in 1986 because globalization has tightened the squeeze on the middle class.
Wyden would reduce the current six tax rates to three--15, 25 and 35--and get rid of "all the glop," the 17,000 special-interest provisions added since '86. He wouldn't raise the top rate, which should calm Republican fears about class warfare, and he would preserve popular deductions like home-mortgage interest and charitable contributions. When Wyden calls some of his wealthier constituents to tell them he wants the same treatment for wages and investment income, "You can hear the pause at the other end of the line." After he explains that it's not really fair to tax unearned income from investments and stocks at a lower rate than hard-earned wages, "There's another long pause before they say, `I can't argue with that'."
Wyden's plan is good politics and good policy. Cosponsored by Illinois Democrat Rahm Emmanuel in the House, it doesn't overpromise, and it reduces the deficit by $100 billion over five years. People whose income comes mostly from capital gains would pay more, but Wyden is open to lowering the top rate a percentage point to ease their pain. Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, calls the Fair Flat Tax reform "bold and innovative" and predicts "It will be at the heart of any Democratic candidate's tax program."
Bush had intended to make tax reform a centerpiece of his second term, but he is too weakened to bring his party to any consensus. Wyden thinks his plan could attract bipartisan support. "A Republican senator told me he didn't agree with me on capital gains," Wyden told NEWSWEEK. "But he said it ought to be a requirement every 20 years to clean up the code. He laughed and said, "Then the lobbyists can come back and fill it up again."