“The GOP would do well to stop wringing their hands over the “plight” of the rich and marginal tax rates for a while and start looking at ways to inspire the middle class to produce more.”
The problem is that all of these programs to soak the rich strike mainly at the middle class and working poor. Instead of having the opportunity to invest their money by hiring people, the payoff for doing so is reduced or eliminated...so they are convinced to not. Government jobs generally cost more than twice their number in lost non-government jobs.
Their whining will mean something when they have to wonder how they will pay their light bill or feed themselves.
Most are nothing but corporate welfare bums anyway. They could use their influence to crush the EPA or seek tax breaks for all but instead they use their influence to target the competition, suck up subsidies and now attack the tea party. They love socialism so let them wallow in it.