Reply #193: not true [View All]

[William Z. Foster]

You are re-defining regressive taxation to support your argument.

It has nothing to do with choices, nothing to do with smoking. Traditionally, Republicans favor regressive taxation and Democrats oppose it, no matter how noble the cause may be that people are using to justify it.

Regressive taxes - no matter what they are on - benefit the investor class, the Republicans' constituency, and hurt the working class, the Democrats' constituency. At least, that has how it has been traditionally, perhaps it is changing and no longer true. Increasingly over the years, and more so in the last 2 years than ever before, core principles and ideals of the party are under vigorous and relentless assault from within, and more and more people who call themselves Democrats argue the traditional Republican side on many issues. It could be that the Democratic party is in fact becoming the conservative party. Certainly, when people calling themselves Democrats are not interested in, or are even hostile and antagonistic to basic principles that the political left and the party always stood for, something is changing.

Whomever gains control of the Democratic party will be the ones to define what it stands for and chart its course and define the terms and positions. That is the way it works. So perhaps the party is, or soon will be, taking the side of the investor class on many of these issues. But for the time being, until that transition has been completed and is acknowledged and out in the open, I think it is completely legitimate for a few of us to continue to fight for the traditional positions of the party - opposition to regressive taxes under any guise being one of those. If we have no choice but to be Democrats, as the lesser of two evils and because the only alternative - the Republicans - is unacceptable, then those of us promoting the same old principles, ideals and positions as we always have over the decades as Democrats have every right to continue to advance those positions and defend them.

At least the Republicans make an honest and straightforward argument in defense of regressive taxation. It goes like this:

"Regressive taxes, like taxes on tobacco, lessen the tax burden on the successful and wealthier people and investors, which frees up more capital for investment in new businesses and productivity. This creates more jobs, and prosperity, and that will then trickle down to all classes."

I don't agree with that. I oppose them. But at least they are making an honest argument. At least most Republicans will grant legitimacy to the opposite point of view, unlike the regressive tax promoters on this thread.