The American Spectator

Real American| 1.29.09 @ 11:58AM

the problem is that if Rush's tax cuts worked and stimulated the economy, the Dems would take credit and argue that the tax cuts just increased the deficit and their spending stimulated the economy.

What we need is tax rate cuts - income, corporate, cap gains - plus real spending cuts. When has that ever been tried? Never by my account. That would be real change. Of course, that wouldn't be a compromise.

denverjo| 1.29.09 @ 12:15PM

I just opened a business here in Colorado in October. I now have 7 employees. I really could use to hire 2-3 more people to work. The problem is that I cannot afford to, feed myself, pay my mortgage, pay my 35% tax rate to the govt, and pay these 2-3 more employees.

Man.

If Nobama droped my tax rate, I would hire those employees so that they can go out and pay for their food rather than having to go and get the food stamps that Nobama decided to provide for them.

Where the hell is the stimulus in making people dependent? I would love to be able to afford to pay 2-3 more employees so that they can have the pride in themselves to buy there own food. What are Nobama and the Nodems thinking?

W. James Antle III| 1.29.09 @ 1:48PM

You'd have to go back to the Republican governments of the 1920s, pre-Hoover, to find an example of shrinking both the tax burden and government spending. The 1947-48 "Do Nothing" Congress, the early Reagan administration, and the 1995-96 Gingrich "revolution" Congress all tried a combination of tax and spending cuts.

jax| 1.29.09 @ 2:11PM

The problem with the "tax plan" being spouted from the blow-hole of Rush is that it has no real world application. Rush wants to play games instead of come up with real solutions (but want to you expect from someone that runs his mouth for a living) and most people are just sick and tired of that same ole dance. Tax credits do not benefit the unemployed. An extra thousand dollars in your tax refund check will not save your home, provide health care, help pay mounting bills or put a dent in a college fund. A job will. These are tough times that call for real solutions, not ideological rhetoric. We’re in the midst of a global recession that has impacted every conceivable business sector; from the Fortune 500 to mom-and-pop businesses the US economy has lost nearly 3 million jobs. Comments like those from Denverjo are intellectually dishonest. His business can’t sustain the hiring of 2-3 more employees because if it could he would hire them. It’s revenue not his tax rate that prevents him from hiring additional staff. Who the hell leaves money on the table? The American people are sick and tire of the ideological demagoguery that we’ve been subjected to in the past ‘cause we’ve seen where that has gotten us. If you don’t have anything positive or useful to add to the dialogue, shut the f up. Rush, stick to what you do best – entertaining your audience. You’re not an economist, you’re never run for public office and you don’t own or operate a business. Like most Americans you collect a paycheck (a rather substantial check). Leave the economy to those that are willing to roll up their sleeves, do the heavy lifting and try to get sh*t done. Unlike you, they’ll be held accountable.

Frank| 1.29.09 @ 3:04PM

jax said Tax credits do not benefit the unemployed." Man do you know how to read or do you just spew this garbage just see yourself type. Wake up, two posts before you just proved this statement false as a person owning a company just said they would hire more people ,because he/she needs to but can't because of the tax burden, and most probably would if taxes were decreased. Do you people enjoy sounding like fools?

jax| 1.29.09 @ 4:08PM

Frank, a tax credit is a temporty fix. Revenue, profit is what will enable a business to expand. You're operating under that false premise that if a business owner paid less taxes they would go out and hire more people. This only makes sense if revenue, i.e. customers are spending MONEY. Think about it. If the government eliminated the corporate taxes on the big three automakers, how many jobs would be saved, how many plants would be reopened. If people aren't buying cars, goods and services inventory builds up and it becomes cheaper to NOT build or provide services.

Deborah| 1.29.09 @ 4:52PM

Neither Rush nor the Colorado business owner were talking about "tax credits." Everyone knows those are temporary and worthless. Both were talking about cutting tax rates. Small businesses need a tax rate cut. Corporations are taxed at 35% -- one of the highest rates of all nations, which is why our jobs go overseas (at least a good reason why). Cut the rate in half and see how much companies invest here (both foreign and domestic). That would have an immediate effect on the economy. Why just eliminate the corporate tax on chosen companies, like the auto companies? Why would the government want to pick and choose? Makes no sense.

Hey, Jax, what's your plan? I'm interested. Thanks.

Basil Plumley| 1.29.09 @ 5:06PM

@jax
Do you realize that profit is what is left after you pay your costs?
Do you realize that taxes are part of said costs?
Do you realize that reducing taxes would reduce costs and thus increase profit?

This not very complicated. I hear even cavemen understand this concept.

jax| 1.29.09 @ 6:44PM

Deborah, I don't disagree with your point about cutting the tax rate. At 35% it can be prohibitive, but thats assuming that companies are paying the full freight. They aren't. The tax code is so full of holes and loopholes, so that in actuality most large corporations pay very little in actually taxes in comparison to their revenue. Why not close the loopholes AND cut the tax rate. That's real and substantative.

Basil, there's not enough room in your cave for more bodies. Keep up with the dialogue and stop cherry picking the small ideas that you grasp.

jax| 1.29.09 @ 7:01PM

p.s. jobs are out sourced because companies can pay cheaper wages and get around labor and health codes. We have a minium wage in this country, we don't allow children under 16 to work, nor do we allow workers to labor away in sub-standard conditions that would make most reasonable people gag in their mouth. Is the solution to the chronic lost of jobs to accept those working conditions in this country so that our goods and services will be cheaper or to stem the outsourcing of jobs? Of course not. Free trade isn't free when it costs American jobs. Producting dumping isn't okay if we're creating a trade imbalance and importing more and cheaper goods than we're exporting or the price of a widget here costs more than the same widget overseas. The solution is complex and I don't have the answer. But what I do know is that the problem will not be solved by holding on to old, tired ideologic ideas and rhetoric.

I never heard Obamba say that he had all the answers. What I heard him say is that he's willing to listen. To ideas, to plans, to solutions whether they came from the left or the right, whatever it takes to get this country back on track. And I'm with him on that and if you're not, sit down, shut up and hang on.

Basil Plumley| 1.29.09 @ 8:08PM

@jax
That was a substantive response, right?
It is nice to see you are sticking to the DNC talking points. If only the tax code were smarter, then all will right in the universe. Sorry, but that will not solve the Leviathan.

Think incentives because outside of your parents there is no one else in this country that will work just to benefit your tender sensibilities.

Try laissez-faire economics, you may like it but I sincerely doubt that Obama will listen to such a proposal. He may find it too stimulating and not in the best interests of government control.

Deborah| 1.30.09 @ 5:06AM

Hey Jax -- I like the idea of cutting tax rates and closing loopholes. I'm all for a much simpler tax code all around (flat tax, fair tax). It's just too bad that the politicians (who, unfortunately make the laws) in D.C. don't want to give up that power.

jax| 1.30.09 @ 4:08PM

Basil, a free-market economony by definition is laissez-faire economics. The problem we face right now is how to fix a free FALLING economy that is off the rails and taking the global economy with it. Regulations and oversight, bad...free market, self-correction, good. There isn't a brain trust on the planet who has not come to admit that the old axioms just aren't working. The tax code doesn't need to be smarter, it needs to be effective. I run a home, a business and I'm involved in my community. I don't need to be stroked, pandered to or patronized. I'm a problem-solver and get sh*t done.
I don't need DNC talking points. But what about you. If you can't bash Dems and Obama who can you bash? How is your 401k? Do you have a spring in your step when your manager calls you into his office? Are you looking to refinance your mortage? How about taking advantage of the deep discounts currently available on a new car? Take a good look around your neighborhood, your community, the city where you live. Talking points? Go RNC. We can all regurgitated those talking points ad nausem. Even worst, we've been living them. Me, I learned early on, when the same ole sh*t gets you the same ole results...try something new.

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