A non-negotiable part of the Republican creed in recent years has been absolute, total, set-in-concrete opposition to raising taxes. This dogmatic approach to governing comes from the influence of one Grover Norquist, founder and President of Americans for Tax Reform, whose main policy goal is to oppose all tax increases as a matter of principle. Regardless of whether America is waging war, rescuing the country from financial Armageddon or feeding the hungry and homeless, taxes will never, ever be tinkered with. Unless it’s to reduce them, of course.
It’s possible to comprehend that stance given the influence of large, especially private corporations in the funding of Republican party candidates and their operations – the financiers of both Republicans and Democrats expect to be handsomely rewarded for their support. This is not about altruism, despite the soft, soapy ads their agencies may create: it is about return on investment, and recent calculations suggest a terrific payback for Dollars invested in lobbying, candidate support and the like.
Proportional Tax Laws
But absurdities about the Republican’s tax dogma start to appear in the explanations about why increases should never occur. The narrative goes something like this: “If businesses had to pay more tax they wouldn’t be able to employ more people.” Ergo, lowering taxes will lead to greater job creation. Well, how’s that working so far? Also, “Successful people already contribute more (in aggregate) than other people in the community so it’s unfair to make them pay more.” Well, if they earn 100 times more than someone else, they should pay 100 times more tax. And that’s assuming they pay the same required tax rate, which we all know is never paid by someone who can afford smart accountants and tax lawyers to take advantage of elements of the tax code many people have never heard of.
The Importance of Investment
But the greatest absurdity is on the topic of investment. The tax denial mantra continues: “If wealthy people keep more money due to changes in the tax system, they will spend more and invest more, in America, which will lead to more jobs and greater prosperity for all.” Ah, trickle down economics. Let’s ignore the fact that this economic “theory” has never worked in any community larger than a household and that wealthy people have a well-documented habit of investing conservatively, in vehicles that preserve capital rather than take risk – in new business development, for example. But even if it were true, you’d think that the topic of investment = jobs = prosperity would be a theme across the right, right? Sadly, wrong.
Infrastructure Investments
The greatest absurdity about right-wing America today lies in their absolute refusal to invest in the country’s infrastructure. You know, the bits that get us to work, move commerce around this huge country, and make us efficient as an economic mechanism. Almost in the same breath that these lugs would have us believe that investment is the key to our future prosperity (via tax cuts for a wealthy minority), they refuse to make desperately needed investments that would benefit millions of individuals, and companies across the length and breadth of our nation. Why? Because that would require an increase in the Federal gas tax for the first time in over 20 years.
Like much of the country, the Northeastern corridor of road and rail is a congested, frustrating mess. The Acela Express train service between Washington DC and Boston, launched in late 2000, has offered a much-needed alternative to air travel while being plagued by inadequate investment. The train’s 150 mph top speed is well below rivals in Japan and France but funding requests for equipment and rail infrastructure upgrades run into severe opposition at every turn. Washington’s own Metro system is plagued with problems, including incidents that led to the deaths of passengers and train operators, resulting from lack of maintenance and repair over the last decade or more due to chronic under-funding.
Washington Metro has suffered from derailments, collisions, and other events due to necessary repairs not being made, or event reported.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Its hard to fathom why Congress can be so enthusiastic about the ability of individuals to invest in America’s prosperity while ignoring the costly congestion taking place on their doorstep. Time wasted in traffic, waiting on train delays or standing in endless lines at the airport costs billions in lost productivity. The sad thing is we all know the reasons why: a political class that dotes on donations, not reality; a system where the Dollar is mightier than the vote; and where the only people who can change the system wouldn’t have it any other way.
As some will say, hikes in income taxes would stifle economic activity by preventing one segment of American society from investing. But the same dogma prevents the raising of a consumption tax that would materially improve the efficiency, and safety of our country’s roads, rails, bridges and tunnels, saving untold billions through economic efficiency AND creating additional tax revenues.
Absurd!
Thank you for reading UDDuck, more commonly known as The Upside Down Duck. This blog’s primary goal is to help readers access and interpret information that is often under-reported in mainstream media!
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