Posted on 04/21/2016 2:08:04 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
GUTHRIE: Do you believe in raising taxes on the wealthy?
TRUMP: I do. I do – including myself. I do.
That was...this morning, in an interview that featured some other controversial statements. In fairness to Trump, he's been using the "raise taxes on rich people like me" line for months, embracing Obama-style class warfare tax gimmicks like the 'Buffet Rule.' But raising taxes on anyone, an outcome Trump just re-endorsed, is not what his formal policy agenda proposes. Just the opposite. As we've seen on issues such immigration, abortion and foreign policy, Trump routinely makes clear that he isn't familiar with his own positions. His stances aren't rooted in conviction, coherent ideological underpinnings or governing philosophy. They "evolve" and morph depending on how Trump is feeling in any given moment. Some professed conservatives may be perfectly comfortable voting for a tax-hiking, entitlement reform-opposing critic of Ronald Reagan's tax cuts. But many Republicans, including a 62 percent majority of GOP primary voters thus far, aren't eager to turn the keys of the party over to someone whose record and current statements build a strong case against the proposition that he's reliable conservative -- or much of a conservative at all. Parting thought: It's astonishing that this man appeals to people who loathe establishment "insider" types. Earlier in the answer above, longtime Democratic donor chuckles with multimillionaire celebrity newsman Matt Lauer about all the fancy parties they've attended together with hotshot bankers in New York. Man of the people.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
If it takes destroying the Republican AND Democrat parties to get the BIG MONEY out of politics, I’m all for it.
There is NO other candidate. As I said before, ALL others are Establishment-Approved. The fact that they ALL train their sights against DJT tells me he is our best option.
Nevertheless, the system is so corrupt, at this point, I’m not sure it can be salvaged, leaving our country with a very uncertain future.
“Is there no end to this bashing of Mr. Trump and Freepers who support him? I thought the owner of this site made it very clear that these kinds of overtly negative comments were not welcome. Did he change his mind?
BTW, comments designed to tear down Mr. Trump DO NOT MAKE CRUZ into a genuine Christian conservative. He is still the Great Pretender, hoodwinking some and paying others to do the Establishment’s bidding.”
Interesting. You start by saying the “bashing of Mr. Trump” and “overtly negative comments are not welcome”
and then you go right into a bashing of Cruz.
Why do you think we’re fighting so much?
It’s this kind of false, defamatory crap that makes us hopping angry.
What exactly in Cruz’s record has ever proven him to be a “Great Pretender”? In truth, he has done EVERYTHING he told his voters he would do. And that has vilified him with the Establishment you people claim to hate. I’m having a hard time understanding how he’s “pretending”, when it’s clear the Establishment don’t claim him.
And how is Trump NOT a “Great Pretender”? Have you seen his positions since 1999 AND during this campaign?
How closely have you followed what Trump has said for the last 17 years, who he has contributed to, and what he has actually done?
This would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. He was supposed to sit until after the nomination. Not when he claims himself to be the presumptive Nomi EE to leave those that bring him to the dance.
Me too. It’s nuts.
“If it takes destroying the Republican AND Democrat parties to get the BIG MONEY out of politics, I’m all for it.”
“Destroying” isn’t restoring.
We need to restore constitutional principles to this nation, not just destroy the cronyism.
When has Trump ever talked about constitutional principles?
By the way, you’re NEVER going to take the “big money” out of politics. Furthermore, Trump is one of those “big money” guys who put the money into politics.
I was responding to the original post. It had nothing to with your typical and often repeated excuse.
Most people know to ignore what candidates say at rallies and on liberal news programs. They tell the truth, but not the whole truth. That is just a consequence of the format — a lot of sound bites and short answers. It short-circuits the liberal from twisting a long answer out of context. What they have really given THOUGHT to and that they know they will beheld to account for in terms of POLICY is in their position papers.
[The VAT, as you term it, is actually a flat 16% business tax that is supposed to replace payroll taxes. Please explain to me how exactly that increases the costs of goods and services, because I don’t see it.]
It is not really “flat” since it has a whole list of business costs that can be subtracted from sales revenues. Regardless, even if only labor costs and profits were not allowed to be subtracted, a 16% rate applied to those is a tax increase on businesses. Corporate income taxes are less than $400B and personal income taxes from small business owners are only $200B, and the employer side of payroll taxes is $800B, for a total of $1.4T. Cruz’s business tax is supposed to replace these but collect $1.9T, so there are $500B extra that logically will go into prices.
Even if it were revenue neutral, though, the psychological effect on the consumer of paying a 16% tax at purchase will either crush consumption or cause a lot of evasion. Except for imported goods, rents, utilities, groceries, haircuts, and other local services where evasion is tougher and people will just suffer with the 16% price hike.
so, why dont you listen when I tell you the truth, instead of look at me with a blank stare and ask, “What is truth...”
Here are the relevant points from Mr. Trump’s tax plan:
“This plan simplifies the tax code by taking nearly 50% of current filers off the income tax rolls entirely and reducing the number of tax brackets from seven to four for everyone else. This plan also reduces or eliminates loopholes used by the very rich and special interests made unnecessary or redundant by the new lower tax rates on individuals and companies.”
“The Trump plan also phases out the tax exemption on life insurance interest for high-income earners, ends the current tax treatment of carried interest for speculative partnerships that do not grow businesses or create jobs and are not risking their own capital, and reduces or eliminates other loopholes for the very rich and special interests.”
A few points if you will...First, by taking “50% of current filers” off the tax roles is exactly opposite of what should be done. EVERYONE who earns income should have to pay something. I don’t care if it’s only $1 but everyone earning income should pay.
Second, I would concur with the carried interest provision with regard to hedge funds. However, that’s not a big revenue raiser. President Obama included this in his 2009 budget and it was projected to raise approximately $61 billion over 10 years.
Third, that leaves us with “and reduces or eliminates other loopholes for the very rich and special interests.” There is no way, with a 25% tax rate on high income earners that you can find enough “loopholes” to not add to the “debt or deficit.”
The reason Mr. Trump railed against the Reagan tax cuts of 1986 was the loopholes that were eliminated in that act. Those “loopholes” have not been restored.
Fourth, Mr. Trump says he would raise taxes on himself. As one poster stated Mr. Trump is talking about carried interest and hedge funds. Mr. Trump is not a hedge fund manager. So where is the raising taxes on himself coming from? Real estate partnerships were one of the things attacked in the 1986 act with loopholes eliminated. So what can he possibly be talking about?
Fifth, and finally, Mr. Trump has a published tax plan.
Based on the above he is contradicting whats in it. What else is he going to evolve on?
For full disclosure I’m not a Trump supporter but am trying my best to be honest. I am concerned for my country and believe that Mr. Trump is a person who will say anything to get elected. The news coming out today seems to back that up.
>>You start by saying the “bashing of Mr. Trump” and “overtly negative comments are not welcome”and then you go right into a bashing of Cruz. Why do you think we’re fighting so much?
You can call it whatever you wish. What you call “bashing” Cruz is just stating “what is”. At this point, if that is not clear to anyone, then further conversation seems pointless.
>>It’s this kind of false, defamatory crap that makes us hopping angry.
It’s not false, it’s expressing reality. I don’t wish to make you angry. Sometimes stating truth has that effect.
>>What exactly in Cruz’s record has ever proven him to be a “Great Pretender”? In truth, he has done EVERYTHING he told his voters he would do. And that has vilified him with the Establishment you people claim to hate. I’m having a hard time understanding how he’s “pretending”, when it’s clear the Establishment don’t claim him.
At the start, some may have believed this. At at this stage, after so many lies and deceit have been exposed/documented, it’s ridiculous to pretend otherwise. Many posters have previously painstakingly taken the time to refute, point by point.
Yes the Establishment doesn’t like him personally. Many find him naturally repellent. Nevertheless, he is on their team, playing the role his GOPe masters dictate.
Think about it. Why on earth would the Establishment ALLOW anyone who is NOT part of them to enter their big sandbox? Of course, they do not! That’s why they were so mad when Reagan slipped in, and that is why they are so angry with DJT, now that he managed to do the same.
>>And how is Trump NOT a “Great Pretender”? Have you seen his positions since 1999 AND during this campaign?
I have watched countless videos of DJT dating back decades. It’s remarkable to see and hear a young DJT using the same words/phrases then as he does today. These are the core prnciples that are consistent and conservative. It took many hours of searching online, and carefully listening, to see that this is true. I recommend it.
>>How closely have you followed what Trump has said for the last 17 years, who he has contributed to, and what he has actually done?
This is an old argument which has been explained many times. His past words and actions mirror those of savvy and successful businessmen.
Do I think DJT will succeed in smashing the choke hold worldwide elites have over the common man? It seems improbable that any one person save Jesus could accomplish this feat. But if anyone can, it would be him. Savvy, brilliant, patriotic to the core, a tough little cookie with a tender heart. That’s why we love him, and pray for him, that God’s Hand might be over him, protecting, shielding, and delivering him, according to His Will.
“It is not really “flat” since it has a whole list of business costs that can be subtracted from sales revenues.”
I’m going to assume everything you say is true for purposes of our discussion. You seem to have these figures at your fingertips, but I have some questions about your bottom line.
If business costs can be subtracted, then how does that constitute a 16% VAT tax?
Wouldn’t the reduction in costs that reduces the tax be passed onto the consumer?
“Cruz’s business tax is supposed to replace these but collect $1.9T, so there are $500B extra that logically will go into prices.
Even if it were revenue neutral, though, the psychological effect on the consumer of paying a 16% tax at purchase will either crush consumption or cause a lot of evasion.”
Looking at your math, it appears that the 16% VAT tax that collects $1.9 trillion less the $1.4 trillion payroll taxes, leaves $500 billion. So by your calculations, my math shows $500 billion into $1.9 trillion is 26.3% of the total tax is left x 16% = 4.2% net tax (assuming no costs are deducted) on goods, not 16%, isn’t it?
So how is that a 16% price hike to the consumer?
Thank you for your service.
You’ve made some great points.
>>“Destroying” isn’t restoring.We need to restore constitutional principles to this nation, not just destroy the cronyism.
True. First comes “destroy” the cronyism, then comes “restore” our country.
>>By the way, you’re NEVER going to take the “big money” out of politics. Furthermore, Trump is one of those “big money” guys who put the money into politics.
If Big Money can NEVER be taken out of politics, then our energies are better spent elsewhere. Yes, DJT is one of those “big money” guys, as he readily tells us. Seeing what Big Money has done to this country, he is disgusted, and wants to do what he can to turn America around.
Good grief....
Why is it unconservative? Let us see your essay.
Somewhere, in some sort of Twilight Zone of Distant Possibilities, there’s a candidate who believes in the curtailment of our out-of-control federal spending, which amounts to a yearly extortion of funds from the taxpayers.
This is something which goes hand-in-hand with justice in America.
Alas, he’s not to be found in this world.
It's long past time for you to wake the hell up.
LONG past.
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The compact is that everyone is taxed less but the money not taxed is either saved in the USA or spent in the USA. What has happened with globalization is the rich took the money they saved from lower taxes and moved the savings over seas or invested overseas.
The Wall Streeters broke the compact - this loyalty to the rich in hopes they golden shower us from above (pun intended) is over. Thank you, Mr. Trump for not being afraid to point the reality of it.
Ted Cruz is a Big Govt Liberal.
America NEVER had a business tax!
Cruz is NO conservative. Loser.
To hell with all liberal Republicans, that includes liberal republicans like Mr. trump!
Excellent points.
I would also add that the modern day rich are not industrialists and people who produce wealth, but instead those who either inherited it or stole it through financial fraud or political corruption.
The very kind of people who created an environment where honest wealth is hard to come by and fiscal prudence is destroyed.
Here’s a sample of the kind of people who get rich these days: the Clintons, Jon Corzine, George Soros, Warren Buffett, Lloyd Blankfein, Jamie Dimon, Mark Zuckerberg, Mitt Romney, Angelo Mozillo, Hank Paulson.
For every Peter Thiel who gets wealthy from actually producing something useful, there are a hundred of these other scoundrels who got it the wrong way.
If today’s rich were actually producing things other than financial bubbles, this country would look completely different.
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