If only it were true. The Democratic plan included tax increases and budget cuts to help the deficit, plus some stimulus to get the economy moving (the biggest thing you can do for the deficit), plus tax cuts that are actually good for the economy (the payroll tax cut really boosts demand). The Republican plan is designed to hurt the poor, with no particular help for the economy at all. Tax cuts for the rich, which have never had a measurable economic effect, a tax increase on workers, and dumping health care costs on seniors. One is good policy, the other is bad policy.
As a business owner, I recognize that jobs are scarce. As a job creator, I would love to make new jobs. I cannot do this unless there is enough demand for my services and/or products to warrant the expense that a new employee will cost me.
The government can give me as many tax breaks and incentives as it wants, but if no one is walking in the door, I am not making any more jobs. Simple as that.
How do we get more people in the door? Short-term, the feds need to get to work on this here cliff. People have been told to be frightened for years now; first it was terrorists, and now it’s Obama (who some of you will believe is also a terrorist). It’s worked. Thanks, Mr. Rove. Add the uncertainty of the cliff (“Your taxes are going up $2000. No, $4000. No, $8000. And everyone who has to pay taxes will lose their job”) and people are just staying home.
If Wal*Mart has to reduce prices on Apple products and gas prices go down (BOTH just a couple weeks before Christmas) you have to know that demand is down.
If you want to get the economy going again, the “little people” need only one thing, and that’s confidence that things will get better. Acting like children and trying to scare the public at the same time will just exacerbate the problem. And that’s what the federal government has gotten really good at.
That’s not true. The payroll tax cuts were supplemented by using some of our general funds taxes to cover that deficit. So, we just went deeper into debt overall. Everybody was victimized, not just the elderly.
So many points. No doubt people can spend more if they have more.
Sure, I’d rather have a rich person buy a new car. I don’t even care if he’s rich. I’d rather have that than a bridge to nowhere.
Let’s address the Bridge to Nowhere, since you brought it up. Few people are aware that there was a community in Alaska whose airport was required to be moved by the Feds. Don’t know why. The locals didn’t want this because the new airport would be on the other side of a body of water that would require 30+ more minutes of commuting time to get to the airport (and another to get home). This is the reason why the bridge was proposed. So actually the bridge was not the reason for the bloat, the movement of the airpot was. You would probably remember that then-Sen. Ted Stevens was asked if he would allow the feds to forego the bridge to help out with Katrina costs, to which he had a quick one word answer, “NO!”
Regardless, there is no doubt there is waste and bloat. One would be stupid not to agree. And people are allowed to get away with outrageous stuff, like Bush’s Interior Secretary who had his office “refurbished” for $275,000 of taxpayer money. Of course, his office needed its own bathroom and shower, and he added a freezer in the bathroom, because you never know when you get a hankerin’ for ice cream. Oh, well, let’s just forget about it and move on.
No doubt government bloat is frustrating. No doubt this has been going on for decades. A longterm problem demands longterm answers, but at this time we just have to stick fingers in the dike to keep things from getting worse.
So, it appears we agree on everything. So why does it seem like you’re disagreeing with me?
Actually the cartoon should be more like a large bus or RV with a lot of elephants and donkeys all cheering with an elephant at the wheel. Uncle Sam is bound and gagged and tied to the roof.
@imathe best way to get money in the hands of comsumers is to claw back their jobs that we sent to the asian subcontinent – and government gives incentives to companies that do exactly that.the lesson of henry ford was that the people that make the stuff need to be able to afford the stuff or you don’t have an economy. Ford paid what was considered ridiculously high wages, and his workers bought what he was selling in record numbers.
Ottodesu over 11 years ago
I think that LIsa has done a fine bi-partisan rendering here.
ARodney over 11 years ago
If only it were true. The Democratic plan included tax increases and budget cuts to help the deficit, plus some stimulus to get the economy moving (the biggest thing you can do for the deficit), plus tax cuts that are actually good for the economy (the payroll tax cut really boosts demand). The Republican plan is designed to hurt the poor, with no particular help for the economy at all. Tax cuts for the rich, which have never had a measurable economic effect, a tax increase on workers, and dumping health care costs on seniors. One is good policy, the other is bad policy.
TheFinalSolution over 11 years ago
Both plans are designed to bring Americans into deeper servitude. The republican plan just does it more slowly.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
ARodney’s comments are the most reasoned and accurate so far on this thread.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
If you want jobs you have to get the economy moving.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
You have to look at the total package.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
The government will tax a small amount of the capital gains on market increases, which will help the deficit, which is a good thing.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
Balderdash!
I Play One On TV over 11 years ago
As a business owner, I recognize that jobs are scarce. As a job creator, I would love to make new jobs. I cannot do this unless there is enough demand for my services and/or products to warrant the expense that a new employee will cost me.
The government can give me as many tax breaks and incentives as it wants, but if no one is walking in the door, I am not making any more jobs. Simple as that.
How do we get more people in the door? Short-term, the feds need to get to work on this here cliff. People have been told to be frightened for years now; first it was terrorists, and now it’s Obama (who some of you will believe is also a terrorist). It’s worked. Thanks, Mr. Rove. Add the uncertainty of the cliff (“Your taxes are going up $2000. No, $4000. No, $8000. And everyone who has to pay taxes will lose their job”) and people are just staying home.
If Wal*Mart has to reduce prices on Apple products and gas prices go down (BOTH just a couple weeks before Christmas) you have to know that demand is down.
If you want to get the economy going again, the “little people” need only one thing, and that’s confidence that things will get better. Acting like children and trying to scare the public at the same time will just exacerbate the problem. And that’s what the federal government has gotten really good at.
2Goldfish over 11 years ago
The simple fact is that the government will spend every dollar that is available to them, no matter how they get it.
alan.gurka over 11 years ago
That’s not true. The payroll tax cuts were supplemented by using some of our general funds taxes to cover that deficit. So, we just went deeper into debt overall. Everybody was victimized, not just the elderly.
I Play One On TV over 11 years ago
So many points. No doubt people can spend more if they have more.
Sure, I’d rather have a rich person buy a new car. I don’t even care if he’s rich. I’d rather have that than a bridge to nowhere.
Let’s address the Bridge to Nowhere, since you brought it up. Few people are aware that there was a community in Alaska whose airport was required to be moved by the Feds. Don’t know why. The locals didn’t want this because the new airport would be on the other side of a body of water that would require 30+ more minutes of commuting time to get to the airport (and another to get home). This is the reason why the bridge was proposed. So actually the bridge was not the reason for the bloat, the movement of the airpot was. You would probably remember that then-Sen. Ted Stevens was asked if he would allow the feds to forego the bridge to help out with Katrina costs, to which he had a quick one word answer, “NO!”
Regardless, there is no doubt there is waste and bloat. One would be stupid not to agree. And people are allowed to get away with outrageous stuff, like Bush’s Interior Secretary who had his office “refurbished” for $275,000 of taxpayer money. Of course, his office needed its own bathroom and shower, and he added a freezer in the bathroom, because you never know when you get a hankerin’ for ice cream. Oh, well, let’s just forget about it and move on.
No doubt government bloat is frustrating. No doubt this has been going on for decades. A longterm problem demands longterm answers, but at this time we just have to stick fingers in the dike to keep things from getting worse.
So, it appears we agree on everything. So why does it seem like you’re disagreeing with me?
Justice22 over 11 years ago
I guess your sister’s trucking company moved to China too?
greyolddave over 11 years ago
Actually the cartoon should be more like a large bus or RV with a lot of elephants and donkeys all cheering with an elephant at the wheel. Uncle Sam is bound and gagged and tied to the roof.
dannysixpack over 11 years ago
@scottpmcutting spending will hurt the economy.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
A dollar earned from capital buys about the same amount of food as a dollar earned from labor. So how about taxing at the same rate.
bearguyva over 11 years ago
They’ve had incentive (Bush tax cuts, etc) for over ten years now… so where are the jobs?
dannysixpack over 11 years ago
@imathe best way to get money in the hands of comsumers is to claw back their jobs that we sent to the asian subcontinent – and government gives incentives to companies that do exactly that.the lesson of henry ford was that the people that make the stuff need to be able to afford the stuff or you don’t have an economy. Ford paid what was considered ridiculously high wages, and his workers bought what he was selling in record numbers.