The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Second the Motion

Text Size

Second the Motion

By Joseph Lawler on 12.29.08 @ 11:57AM

Art Laffer and Bob Inglis (R, South Carolina) second Charles Krauthammer. Is this a bona fide conservative plan now that the arch-supply sider Laffer has endorsed it?

Although Jim's points regarding energy independence and Social Security are valid concerns, I think it's at the very least a strategically sound plan for conservatives merely because it forestalls any crippling emissions policy that would otherwise be in the pipeline and that definitely wouldn't be "net zero." Also, it cuts taxes in the places that count and would stimulate the economy without increasing the deficit, which is more than can be said for many other conservative tax proposals.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

thirteen28| 12.29.08 @ 2:15PM

If you and others actually believe such a tax would *stay* at net zero, then you have allowed hope to triumph over experience. The more prudent conservative mind would realize that net zero is a way to sell the new tax to voters, after which the offsets will begin to disappear because "we can't afford them."

This idea is bad on so many levels, the above is just one of them. As I said on a related thread, the only redeeming value this idea could have is that if Democrats in congress pass it and Obama signs it into law (*especially* in our current economic environment), then you will virtually guarantee that 2010 is a Republican tsunami as was 1994.

Bob| 12.29.08 @ 4:26PM

Are you guys living in the real world? Take this down from the theoretical level to practice. How would you calculate the offset so it is fair? Most lower income people travel farther so you can't use a standard deduction since that would be too regressive and the Democrats would never agree.

This is also a dumb idea since it will increase transportation costs to the trucking industry thus increasing the cost of goods and stifling any recovery. If we were not in a severe recession, it might be worth testing -- but I'm with Newt on this -- no tax increase.