Robert Reich: The Growing Desperation of the Don’t-Raise-Taxes-on-the-Rich Crowd

[marmar]

The Growing Desperation of the Don’t-Raise-Taxes-on-the-Rich Crowd
Thursday, June 16, 2011


The much-vaunted Republican pledge not to raise any taxes is crumbling. Today 34 Senate Republicans voted to end the special tax breaks for ethanol.

According to no-tax-increase purists like Grover Norquist, this is tantamount to a tax increase.

The truth is, Republicans are divided between those who want to bring down the budget deficit and those who want to shrink government. Ending a special tax subsidy helps reduce the deficit but doesn’t necessarily shrink government. That’s why Norquist and his followers have insisted any such tax increase – including even the closing of tax loopholes – be directly linked to a corresponding tax cut.

In order to save face on today’s vote, Norquist says renegade Republicans will still be considered to have adhered to the pledge if they vote in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Jim DeMint to eliminate the estate tax. Talk about grasping at straws. DeMint’s amendment isn’t even up for a vote. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://robertreich.org/post/6601537237

[CBHagman]

1. DUers, do read the rest of the Reich piece.

No doubt it will be familiar to those who follow Reich, but more people need to have the context for the current discussion.

[somone]

2. Recommended

[Fumesucker]

3. Sorry Robert, Republicans have *never* wanted to "shrink government"..

They want to shrink certain parts of the government but vastly increase other parts.

How big a government does it take to keep tabs on every single pregnant woman to make absolutely sure she does not have an abortion?

Ronald fucking Reagan never once submitted a balanced budget and indeed the Democratic Congress actually cut at least one of Reagan's budgets.

[IDemo]

4. repubs have successfully reframed ending tax breaks as "raising taxes"

As if tax levels naturally belong on a one-way street downward, and any reversal to a former level equals economic tyranny.

[Octafish]

5. Gee. I don't remember Grover Norquist getting elected to anything.

He must have some rich friends. I know people in the "Greatest Generation" who know him don't like him.

[daa]

6. Did yo see about that jerk Ryan whinning about

Boeings hig tax rate?

I talked to Jim McNerny a couple of weeks ago, their tax rate is extremely high, far higher than their competitors. So when you tax American competitors a whole lot more than our foreign competitors tax theirs, they win and we lose.

As Citizens for Tax Justice found, Boeing has made $9 billion in profits over three years, while not paying any corporate income taxes. In fact, the company received tax benefits of $178 millionover that period. ngs corporate tax rate was? The didn't pay a dime of tax of

[Major Hogwash]

7. They're calling them "revenue increases" now. Not taxes.

They've been told not to even say the word "taxes" or else they will face the Tea Party faction!
*insert deep bass chord here*