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The Morning Plum: Who is winning the clash of visions?
The Morning Plum: Who is winning the clash of visions?
By Greg Sargent
As I’ve been saying here, the burden is on President Obama to sell the need to combat inequality and tax unfairness as not just a matter of basic morality, but as a way to facilitate economic growth, by enabling government investment in the future that will spur opportunity and social mobility over the long term. Mitt Romney and Republicans are trying to disentangle the tax fairness issue from the economy in the public mind, by arguing that hiking taxes on the rich will do nothing for the economy and that shrinking government is the route to broad prosperity.
Today’s New York Times/CBS poll is the first survey I’ve seen that asks about tax fairness in the context of economic growth:
The poll also finds that 67 percent say the government should do more to help improve the situation of middle class Americans; 52 percent say government shold do more to improve the housing market; 57 percent think the wealthy pay less than their fair share in taxes; and that 51 percent think capital gains should be taxed as ordinary income. People say they dislike government in the abstract, but when the talk turns to specifics, suddenly active government doesn’t look so bad.
All this is key to Obama’s ongoing case that lowering taxes on the rich and trickle down economics represent a failed ideology and won't help secure the middle class’s prosperity — and that more progressive taxation, more active government, and more investment in the future are the better way.
Other polls have suggested the Obama argument is resonating. But it’s still unclear whether the larger clash of visions will matter as much the state of the economy on Election Day 2012 in determining the outcome.
- more -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-who-is-winning-the-clash-of-visions/2012/04/19/gIQAxnc3ST_blog.html
By Greg Sargent
As I’ve been saying here, the burden is on President Obama to sell the need to combat inequality and tax unfairness as not just a matter of basic morality, but as a way to facilitate economic growth, by enabling government investment in the future that will spur opportunity and social mobility over the long term. Mitt Romney and Republicans are trying to disentangle the tax fairness issue from the economy in the public mind, by arguing that hiking taxes on the rich will do nothing for the economy and that shrinking government is the route to broad prosperity.
Today’s New York Times/CBS poll is the first survey I’ve seen that asks about tax fairness in the context of economic growth:
Which do you think is the best way to promote economic growth in the U.S.? 1.Lower taxes on individuals and businesses, and pay for those tax cuts by spending on some government services and programs, or 2. Spend more on education and the nation’s infrastructure, and raise taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses to pay for that spending.
Lower taxes, cut spending: 37
Spend more, raise taxes: 56
Lower taxes, cut spending: 37
Spend more, raise taxes: 56
The poll also finds that 67 percent say the government should do more to help improve the situation of middle class Americans; 52 percent say government shold do more to improve the housing market; 57 percent think the wealthy pay less than their fair share in taxes; and that 51 percent think capital gains should be taxed as ordinary income. People say they dislike government in the abstract, but when the talk turns to specifics, suddenly active government doesn’t look so bad.
All this is key to Obama’s ongoing case that lowering taxes on the rich and trickle down economics represent a failed ideology and won't help secure the middle class’s prosperity — and that more progressive taxation, more active government, and more investment in the future are the better way.
Other polls have suggested the Obama argument is resonating. But it’s still unclear whether the larger clash of visions will matter as much the state of the economy on Election Day 2012 in determining the outcome.
- more -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-who-is-winning-the-clash-of-visions/2012/04/19/gIQAxnc3ST_blog.html
http://www.gallup.com/poll/153887/Americans-Favor-Buffett-Rule.aspx
Now, how to translate these sentiments into votes in Congress and at the polls.
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