Why aren't the Democrats proposing raising taxes?

[Onlooker]

The Democrats are such total cowards. The alternative to cutting programs is to raise taxes. The argument to raise taxes is clear. Tax money ends up directly or indirectly in the hands of big business. It's the wealthy who own most of big business so they get their tax payments back by way of the stock market. The Democrats should say it's the patriotic duty of the wealthy to pay higher taxes for a few years so that we can get our budget under control. Polls have shown that as long as you don't raise the taxes of the middle class, they are by and large okay with higher taxes.

Until the Democrats call vociferously for higher taxes to address the deficit, they will have no choice but to betray their constituents, especially those who depend on government programs .

[derby378]

1. They had their chance before November 2010

I think Bush Sr.'s meme of "Read My Lips" is just so strong that it crushes anything in its path, even Bush Sr. himself when he turned his back on his own pledge.

[RandomThoughts]

2. Yes that is obvious.

The reason they don't is it is more then they can see worth doing. They will get kicked around when they try and that is really hard.

Most don't know what being kicked around is like, and it is not easy.

Here is the thing, they must be being driven by something else. If someone was threatening them, they could just have police arrest them, but they have to do things like a tax raise in the fog of many delusions, since their is a supernatural side that wants people to suffer, and many have believed those delusions.

It is so much more then just why not, since if they try, they have to go through some really difficult things, and it is not easy to get through those things.

I still don't have beer and travel money, and yet all I would have to do is coast and I would have it.


Know the car is the person, the driver is something spiritual.

What this song is about most likely.

I keep my keys, because I think living is better.

Shut up and drive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up7pvPqNkuU


The singer is getting out what the supernatural does, it keeps harassing till you give up your keys, I don't think people should give up there keys.


Twilight zone episode, explains the car metaphor. And even the moving pictures, although it is more then imagination.

The Twilight Zone S01E09 Prechance to Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJwPiblhjIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZm0PaNQPso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ0ZUhOgyxs


Dream in episodes, do you see that is how the non linear time posts are, dreaming in episodes.

[RC]

3. What is so hard to understand? Rescind bu$h's tax cuts.

Want something to cut? Stop the wars.

[craigmatic]

4. It's in Obama's plan but that's overshadowed by the cuts for the poor he is proposing.

[Avant Guardian]

29. He has to offset the GOP tax cuts he extended

Meanwhile, corporations are sitting on $2 trillion but not hiring, proof that supply side economics does not trickle down.

It's like Obama abandoned the Democratic party to woo republicans by taking on their agenda, when in reality they wouldn't vote for him in a million years. They hate him and will continue to hate him no matter what he does.

[polichick]

5. Because most of them work for the same people Republicans work for...

...the joke's not just on teabaggers.

[Still Sensible]

6. Well then, I suggest the democrats test the theory

of conventional electoral wisdom.

Pick the arguably most liberal districts in the nation and identify candidates that would be willing to run in democratic congressional primaries on a reasonable raising taxes platform, however one can define that.

Let's see what happens.

[Tesha]

8. Running on that position in just one district would be an abject failure and you know that.

Running throughout the entire nation on a policy
of *ECONOMIC TRUTH* might have a different result.

But Democrats are far too cowardly to ever try.

Tesha

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Repeated spinal extractions have had the desired effect.

[phleshdef]

9. Yea, and while they are at it, why don't propose outlawing cancer? That will work right?

And don't give me that "60 vote" crap. If Obama and the Democrats had a bold, leadershipey spine type thing, they would outlaw cancer right now and no god damn, unmoveable GOP majority in congress would stand in their way.

[Exilednight]

10. Obama had the chance before midterms. All it would of taken is calling the Republicans bluff and

vetoing the bill.

[Recovered Repug]

19. It required even less than that.

The tax cuts would have expired at the end of last year. All the Democrats in congress had to do was do nothing. They couldn't accomplish that.

[sofa king]

27. And what did we get for it?

We got the Republicans to give away the election of 2012, to us, in return for us not ass-raping them until then.

With the exception of a few wet-behind the ears newcomers, every single Republican is going to have to defend holding our tax cuts hostage for the rich. They're going to get clobbered for that because President Obama is going to run on the plank of splitting the next tax cut extension into two votes, one for us and one for the rich, while Senate Democrats won't allow it to come up for a vote again until after election day.

The Republicans cannot stop it from happening. Every time one of them gets a little ahead, his Democratic opponent will be able to say, "he hit you in the pocketbook and you still want to listen to what he's saying now?"

And then, in 2013, we'll extend the cuts for the middle class, let them expire for the wealthy, and watch 200 of the 400 most powerful Americans move off to fucking life up for people in Dubai instead of here.

[Exilednight]

28. Obama ran on that platform in 2008. Now Obama is forced to defend his actions. n/t

[sofa king]

31. Oh, I see. Bill blocked by Republicans. Obama's fault.

That makes sense. Which way did he vote on the bill, anyway?

[Exilednight]

32. He voted for it when he signed it. n/t

[MasonJar]

11. The irony is that most of the rich do not object to a higher tax rate.

For example, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have been shocked at how little they pay in comparison to their employees, relatively speaking. Many richer citizens would be quite satisfied to revert to pre-Bush era tax schedules. Most of the wealthy are not the enemies of the American way of life. It is the hard core donors that set this stage and agenda. The despicable politicians want the money of these ravenous few.

[babylonsister]

13. You named two rich people. Who did the rethugs work for

to thwart raising taxes on the rich, besides themselves? They got the meme, and fought hard.

[Recursion]

18. Two famous socially conscious rich celebrities don't mind

Also, Americans have tendencies to

A) overestimate how rich they are, and
B) overestimate how much they pay in taxes.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Autumn]

14. They aren't cowards. Just not going to cut into

their pockets.

[Jakes Progress]

15. But, but. Some republican might call us names.

That would scare us and hurt our little feelings.

[silver10]

16. I've heard a statistic that only 1/3 or less of the US pop. are progressive liberals

Hence Obama trying to warm up to the repukes and centrists.

Many uneducated Americans, even poor and sick, will vote repuke to their dying day, and nothing will change their way of thinking.

[Nancy Waterman]

17. This is exactly right!!!

Everyone is so afraid to talk about taxes. The GOP has successfully branded taxes as the big evil. It is complete bullshit. The avoidance of this issue is a huge problem. We have to have intelligently graduated taxes, with the rich paying more, to pay for everything we need. By avoiding this minimally painful reality, we create a great deal more pain for everyone. I am furious at the Dems for just giving up on this issue. It needs to be talked about endlessly before the next election so it sinks into the slow-witted brains of Americans. Instead, all we hear about is spending cuts for heating oil and college grants and firing teachers and policemen, etc. The Dems have to connect the ridiculous low tax policy we now have and these egregious cuts!!

[olegramps]

20. The budget will be balanced by cutting social programs, not by raising taxes.

Our nation is on a course to become little more than a South American styled Banana Republic that we used to hold up to ridicule. The concentration of wealth at the expense of the working class is a scandal. Obama had the chance to stand firm on this issue and chose to cave in to the wealthy. It is a sad day when Obama is our best choice. Yes, he has done some admirable things, but as pointed out here on DU he has not succeeded on a number of major key issues.

I would abandon him if someone from organized labor would seek the nomination that had the determination reverse this disastrous course. We need someone who shares the plight of the working class. Just how much does the vast majority of those in office who are inordinately wealthy really care about the struggling working class? If the situation is not reversed I have to believe that it could only eventually result in a massive revolution. Could what has transpired in Egypt be the wave of the future when the young people desperate for a future are willing to challenge the existing order to the point of even facing death? Just how desperate has the situation have to become before it reaches the so-called tipping point?

[slackmaster]

21. Because "raising taxes" is dog whistle language for raising taxes on people like ME

The working, tax-paying middle class.

What we need is MORE PEOPLE EMPLOYED, not higher tax rates on those of us who have jobs.

[onenote]

22. i thought the president's budget called for tax increases?

As I understood it, the President's budget would allow the tax cuts for the wealthiest tax payers to expire and also would reduce the deductions that the wealthy could claim, two steps that effectively constitute tax increases. In addition, I understood that certain tax breaks for industry also are proposed for elimination.

[Robb]

23. Yup. nt

[thelordofhell]

26. Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant

[mkultra]

30. since you are paying attenion, this op must seem ludicrous

That is the actual sensation of thinking for yourself.

[bvar22]

24. Because these are NOT your daddy's Democrats.

Today's "New Democrat" Party is related to FDR/LBJ's "Democratic Party" in name only.

Fortunately for them, they are still trading on undeserved Brand Loyalty.
Unfortunate for the Working Class & The Poor.


We reformed the Democratic party
the Old Fashioned Way.

We BOUGHT it !
Sucks to be YOU if you Work for a Living!
Hahahahahahaha!

[Cherchez la Femme]

25. Keeping their powder dry, silly! :P

---it does wonders for Democrats' complexion!

[quaker bill]

33. In fact, they are.

it is in the budget proposal