A Progressive Prescription

8 Things About The Conscience of a Liberal #8
What I Learned from Paul Krugman's The Conscience of a Liberal

We live in what is essentially, a second gilded age. How do we restore income equality in the United States? How do we create a second period of prosperity that is shared broadly among all the people of the United States? The answer is liberal. The answer is progressive. We've seen what works and doesn't work from our last period of shared prosperity. We can study the models tried in other western nations and again, examine what has worked and what hasn't. From there, we can build a plan to turn our nation around.

What would this plan entail?

• Universal Health Care - Not only is it the just and moral thing to do for our citizenry, it will eliminate the financial ruin of thousands of Americans. This will ensure that there is more money to spend in the broader economy.
• More Progressive Taxation - At this point, the percentage of total tax paid is about the same for those at the top of the income ladder as it is for those at the bottom when you include all taxes paid, not just the income tax. Sorry, but the rich can afford to pay more. This isn't about class warfare, it's about doing what is best for the country as a whole. Throughout much of the longest period of prosperity this nation has ever seen, the top income tax rate was over 90% yet many still seemed to have the incentive to work hard, start companies, create and innovate. There's no harm in bringing the filthy rich down a little to raise the standard of living of so many. This isn't communist. It isn't socialist. It is, however, democratic.
  
• Minimum Wage Increases - An absolute necessity are further minimum wage increases. They should even consider indexing the minimum wage for inflation. Don't listen to those who claim that these relatively small increases in the minimum wage result in job losses, all evidence suggests otherwise.
• Increased Unionization - It is time to bring back the union. It is time for the union to become a dominant force in service labor. Unions will protect the wages and benefits owed to the American worker. They will serve as an important check and balance against the excesses of management that have led to such ridiculous pay packages for executives. To make it easier to organize, the Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier to form an union without management intimidation.

We know these things will help. We know the policies needed. What we lack is the political will on both sides of the aisle. FDR was bold. He knew that we had to remake our society in the wake of the Great Depression. We stand on the brink of another depression. It is up to President Obama and the Democratic Congress to step up to the plate and swing. If they fail, it will be a generation before we get another chance.

Taxes

8 Reasons to Oppose John McCain #5

Bush Tax Cuts in 2001? Irresponsible.

Bush Tax Cuts in 2008? Must keep for the sake of the economy.

Taxes in general? Bad.

Taxes on the rich in general? Really, really bad.

Lowering taxes on the poor and raising taxes on the rich? Welfare.

Stupidity level in tax debate from Mr. McCain? Very, very high.

Taxes

8 Thoughts on the Issues #5

Here is the gist of the conservative argument about taxes as I understand it. By keeping taxes low on the rich, the rich will in turn invest more in our economy which will lead to increased employment. The increased employment will lead to more tax revenue being collected over all. There is, as with most conservative philosophies, no data to support this concept. This is famously known as “trickle down” economics.

What are some additional conservative thoughts on taxes? Well, when discussing tax fairness, they consider the poor to be lucky because many don’t pay income tax. (In fact, a conservative usually finds it best to ignore payroll taxes.) They believe the rich in our society are overburdened by taxes and will lose all incentive to excel and accumulate wealth.

Many even support the so called Fair Tax Doctrine, which would replace all federal taxes with a sales tax that would be around 28%. (As anyone with a brain can figure out, this would result in the poor and middle classes paying a larger percentage of their income in taxes. Most poor people, and much of the middle class, have to spend their entire paycheck. The rich can sock their money away, tax free.) Anyone who supports the Fair Tax doctrine can be rightly considered an idiot.

As a liberal, I don’t believe there is any such thing as an ideal tax level. I believe that the current economic situation of the country dictates our taxation needs. For example, if you find yourself involved in a war, you don’t cut taxes, you raise them. When things are going well, then you can safely lower the taxation levels.

As a liberal, I believe that the rich should shoulder a larger portion of the tax burden. This isn’t about socialism, the redistribution of wealth, as the McCain campaign loves to claim. It is for a much more basic reason. They can afford it. Obama’s tax increase on the rich will do nothing to reduce the quality of life of the rich. It will do nothing to reduce their civil liberties. In fact, it will benefit the rich by allowing for a more stable society and a more stable economy.

Finally, as a liberal, I believe that paying taxes is our patriotic duty. Taxes provide for our public infrastructure. They provide for the education of our children. They provide for the military that protects our freedoms. Progressive taxation is necessary for the survival of the middle class. This is not about class warfare, this is about genuine fairness.