KRUGMAN: "Beyond the routine mendacity..."

[nostamj]

<snip>

Three years ago George Bush claimed that he was cutting taxes to return a budget surplus to the public. Instead, he presided over a move to huge deficits. As a result, the modest tax cuts received by the great majority of Americans are, in a fundamental sense, fraudulent. It's as if someone expected gratitude for giving you a gift, when he actually bought it using your credit card.

The administration has not, of course, explained how it intends to pay the bill. But unless taxes are increased again, the answer will have to be severe program cuts, which will fall mainly on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — because that's where the bulk of the money is.

For most families, the losses from these cuts will far outweigh any gain from lower taxes. My back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that 80 percent of all families will end up worse off; the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will soon come out with a more careful, detailed analysis that arrives at a similar conclusion. And the only really big beneficiaries will be the wealthiest few percent of the population.

Does Mr. Bush understand that the end result of his policies will be to make most Americans worse off, while enriching the already affluent? Who knows? But the ideologues and political operatives behind his agenda know exactly what they're doing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/01/opinion/01KRUG.html

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Nor Surprises There

At least Krugmann is writing about it, though.
The Professor

[ugarte]

2. Memo to John Kerry

read and quote Krugman liberally. I love Krugman.

[Justitia]

3. This is exactly what Dean was talking about

when he said "There was NO MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT"

It was crystal clear to me back then, and Krugman agreed with him.

Of course, everyone said Dean was crazy, I mean people were getting checks in the mail - sheesh! :crazy:

[mhr]

6. Higher State Taxes Offset Any Federal Tax Reduction

Thing is most people see the higher state tax but don't realize why the increase is linked to the growing federal deficit.

[nostamj]

9. not just state

was talking with members of my family, and increases in their local taxes far outpaced any 'relief' from *

[boobooday]

4. TGIK

Thank God for Krugman. He is like a beacon shining for all of us who feel we are drowning in Bush's mendacity.

Not that he ever has good news.

But he's right, if we think the past four years have been bad, it is nothing compared to the dismantling of all that we hold sacred (social justice) that these neo-convicts have planned for a second term.



http://www.wgoeshome.com

[teryang]

5. The war on the middle class

...is reaching the crisis stage. Access to medical care, higher education, retirement plans and a future of economic opportunity is being cut off.

[Beetwasher]

7. He Says What Needs to Be Said and Makes No Bones About It

As a result, the modest tax cuts received by the great majority of Americans are, in a fundamental sense, fraudulent.

--snip--

Does Mr. Bush understand that the end result of his policies will be to make most Americans worse off, while enriching the already affluent? Who knows? But the ideologues and political operatives behind his agenda know exactly what they're doing.

--snip--

Of course, voters would never support this agenda if they understood it. That's why dishonesty — as illustrated by the administration's consistent reliance on phony accounting, and now by the business with the budget cut memo — is such a central feature of the White House political strategy.

--snip--

Right now, it seems that the 2004 election will be a referendum on Mr. Bush's calamitous foreign policy. But something else is at stake: whether he and his party can lock in the unassailable political position they need to proceed with their pro-rich, anti-middle-class economic strategy. And no, I'm not engaging in class warfare. They are.

[TahitiNut]

8. "Reduce Your Grocery Bills By Starving Your Children!"

... and people are buying into this bullshit! :crazy: