Surprise move on tax cuts by Obama

[dmek25]

just another example of the Dem's caving in. this is all about the rich. doesn't change anything for me. pretty soon both parties will meet somewhere in the middle, and then we are screwed( more then we are now)

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by dmek25

just another example of the Dem's caving in. this is all about the rich. doesn't change anything for me. pretty soon both parties will meet somewhere in the middle, and then we are screwed( more then we are now)

So let me get this straight -- the government says you get to keep more of the money you earn, and so do the rich, but that makes you unhappy?

I could certainly understand the outrage if the gov't said "we're taking more out of the paychecks of the poor and middle class, but people in the upper incomes -- their paychecks will be higher". That would be upsetting, no doubt. But everybody gets to keep more of what they earn.

Am I correct to think that the only way you'd be happy is that your paycheck stays the same but anybody with a bigger paycheck takes a hit?

Your happiness depends on someone else's unhappiness?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

So let me get this straight -- the government says you get to keep more of the money you earn, and so do the rich, but that makes you unhappy?

I could certainly understand the outrage if the gov't said "we're taking more out of the paychecks of the poor and middle class, but people in the upper incomes -- their paychecks will be higher". That would be upsetting, no doubt. But everybody gets to keep more of what they earn.

Am I correct to think that the only way you'd be happy is that your paycheck stays the same but anybody with a bigger paycheck takes a hit?

Your happiness depends on someone else's unhappiness?

Exactly. This notion that "rich" people owe more money than others is beyond me. I hate the idea of a progressive tax in the first place and I hate the rampant anti-rich sentiment that flows throughout this country. It is the most unAmerican notion that exists in my opinion. Everyone who is able should pay their fair share. More importantly and more germane to this discussion we shouldn't be axing taxes without a requisite cut in spending. It is as irresponsible as raising taxes. In fact I'd prefer we ran the same rates for a few years, cut spending intelligently and started running a surplus to pay down some debt.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Exactly. This notion that "rich" people owe more money than others is beyond me. I hate the idea of a progressive tax in the first place and I hate the rampant anti-rich sentiment that flows throughout this country. It is the most unAmerican notion that exists in my opinion. Everyone who is able should pay their fair share. More importantly and more germane to this discussion we shouldn't be axing taxes without a requisite cut in spending. It is as irresponsible as raising taxes. In fact I'd prefer we ran the same rates for a few years, cut spending intelligently and started running a surplus to pay down some debt.

No doubt. Milton Friedman once said that a tax cut without a corrseponding cut in spending isn't really a tax cut. The government just prints the difference, leading to inflation, which hits us in the wallet just the same.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by dmek25

just another example of the Dem's caving in. this is all about the rich. doesn't change anything for me. pretty soon both parties will meet somewhere in the middle, and then we are screwed( more then we are now)

Well actually if they let the tax cuts expire it would have affect everyone. Even the people who don't pay taxes.