Time For Straight Talk On Taxes

IBD Editorials ^ | September 17, 2008

[Kaslin]

Politics: Democrats are tempting voters with the illusory free lunch of redistribution. Republicans can't top them in that game, but they can — and should — call it the class warfare that it is.

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On the subject of taxes, Americans face a clear choice in November. They can go with Barack Obama's plan and start getting checks in the mail if they're not among the "rich." Or they can go with John McCain, let the wealthy keep their money and do without the checks.

You can see what the Republicans are up against. They state the truth when they say that Obama wants to raise taxes on income, business profits, dividends, capital gains and, yes, even death. But only a small slice of the population would bear this burden. Most of the public — not quite the 95% claimed by Obama, but a vast majority all the same — would come out ahead.

Call it blatant vote-buying if you will. The Democrats prefer to call it "fairness." Obama is quite clear on the supposed morality of his plan. When Fox News' Bill O'Reilly last week accused him of adopting the "socialist tenet" of income redistribution, Obama went folksy: "If I'm sitting pretty and you've got a waitress who is making minimum wage plus tips, and I can afford it and she can't, what's the big deal for me to say, 'I'm going to pay a little more'?"

Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby shot back one answer to that question, noting that tips are voluntary and taxes — as "confiscation at gunpoint" — are anything but. Obama was also being dishonest in implying that his tax relief plan is aimed mainly at the low-end of the income scale, where minimum-wage waitresses scrape by on scant tips at the local diner.

[wmileo]

It is just like Ben franklin said 200 years ago.

When people realize they can vote to get themselves money from other people, the Republic is finished.

[GCC Catholic]

0 wants to raise taxes on big businesses, especially oil companies...

Now I don't believe for a second that they will just stand for that. Shareholders will be crying that they don't want to see their dividends cut. CEOs and execs won't want their salaries cut.

The tax increase gets passed on to the people. EVERYONE (except 0 and his cronies) loses.

[Wolfie]

Screw it. Just keep deficit spending. The Grandkids can pick up the tab.

[igoramus08]

The checks in the mail wont cover the increase in prices if small business tax is increased.

[SECURE AMERICA]

Politics: Democrats are tempting voters with the illusory free lunch of redistribution. Republicans can’t top them in that game, but they can — and should — call it the class warfare that it is

In other words so much for Obamas Change.. Same old same ole Socialism/Communism from the Democrat Party...

[TADSLOS]

"There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table," McCain said. "I don't want tax increases. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table."- John McCain

Remember those words. You'll be hearing them again.

[mdmathis6]

I think McCane should actually use that line of Ben Franklin’s in a debate! Then challenge Obama “leaners” that a vote for Obama is a vote for a drained treasury and a nation facing chaos and oblivion!

[LRS]

Taxman
George Harrison

Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.

Don’t ask me what I want it for
If you don’t want to pay some more
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
And you’re working for no one but me.

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And what promted George to write this song. The type of taxation being proposed by “Uh”bama. Wealthy Brits started hiding their money outside of the country. History is there to look at America. Learn from it...

[SampleMan]

I had an analogy for a liberal that actually made an impression on them concerning graduated taxation.

First I told them that all taxation was ultimately flat, whether you liked it or not. All you could change was create an illusion of progressive taxation and a dangerous one at that.

The example:
I'm a landlord with 10 tenants. I charge them each $10k a year in rent. Obama comes along and promises them $100 a month ($1200/year) to help with their rent, to be paid for by taxing me. A vote is taken and I lose. To cover the cost of the program the tax must be greater than the $1200/yr per tenant, so I am taxed $1500/yr per tenant.

What do I do? I raise their rent by $1500/yr to offset my additional cost.

They effectively voted to put an additional $300/yr in taxes on themselves. And that is how all progressive taxation works.

[wayoverontheright]

The key to winning on the tax issue lies in redefining the word "rich". The rich happen to be our nation's employers and investors. Every time a pol uses the word "rich" in discussing taxes, we should say "oh, you mean employers and investors?" EMPLOYEES AND THOSE SEEKING JOBS will always be harmed by taxing the people who sign the checks, it's that simple. Even Republicans use the word "rich" when discussing tax policy, and that needs to come to a screeching halt.

If you tax employers, you get less employment. If you tax investors, you get less investment. We cannot win on the tax issue unless we constantly and consistently explain to people who the "rich" are.