What really bugs me about delaying the elimination of tax cuts for the wealthy

[Truth Teller]

due to the economic situation?

It implies these tax cuts stimulate economic growth. It concedes philosophical ground to the repugs.

We've had the damned things for seven years or so. Where have they got us?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I agree. Part of the reason all this has happened is that rich have been getting a free ride

I say take the tax rates back to what they were before Reagan entered office.

[trotsky]

2. Damn well said.

I completely agree. Obviously these low tax rates on the rich didn't *prevent* an economic downturn.

[truedelphi]

3. The repugs have us where they want us

The two parties prop each other up, so that our only hope was a centrist who almost immediately after winning the election signalled his approval for Paulson.

Meanwhile, our entire Treasury, current funds and those of future yet unborn generations, will be siphoned off to benefit the elite. Yes our monies are now guaranteeing further "bank buying banks" gambles to ensure that Those paper-pushing "financial experts" will not go without their fabulous homes, and three great meals a day.

Why we are rewarding those who have seen to it that this country has not produced anything of real value over the last fifteen years, I can only venture to guess. (My Banana Republic Of America idea does seem more solid each day. I would rather have been proven wrong on that one.)

Instead, Globalization, NAFTA, trickle down, etc are the accepted "economic theorist" norms and Heaven Help anyone who questions those policies.

[Mojambo]

9. 08 was the last time I'll ever vote for a candidate that doesn't unequivocally renounce supply side

Which means I'm probably never voting for a big two party candidate again.

[truedelphi]

10. It is a very discouraging process, isn't it?

All the interviews we saw with Barack stating how he saw the needs of so many, and yet those experiences don't appear to influence who he is selecting right now.

Apparently he owes the Clintons and others from inside the Beltway more than he owes the masses of people who work hard at normal jobs but lack the entrenched experience that the politicos hold.

[NJCher]

4. agreed

And I heard a commentator tonight say that Obama had no desire to go after bush and his crooked chronies but that there would be clear outlines of the limitations of American power. This refers to such things as torture.

Well--once again, the crooks get off free and without their wealth or influence impeded. And you know full well they'll be back in another 8 or 16 years, pulling the same scams on the American people.

There are no consequences to the outrageous behavior and fraud perpetuated by Republicans. So why on earth would they ever stop?



Cher

[TahitiNut]

5. Exactly. Their "free ride" has been disastrous.

In fact, the reduction of the long term capital gains tax to ZERO PERCENT this year for individuals with earned income (i.e. from their labor) below about $35K is an absolutely obscene giveaway.

[leftstreet]

6. Excellent point

:thumbsup:

[daninthemoon]

7. this worries me greatly. we need big change, and that nonsense

bush tax cut sfor the rich should be near the top of the list. Americans elected change.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. The tax giveaway for the rich fueled the recession. Trickle down=pissing on the people.

The rich hoard their money and the rest of us pay up. And we are suppose to put with two more years of this obscene greed? I think not! x(

[NorCalDem]

11. I think Obama delaying the tax hikes

has more to do with the relative difficulty in repealing the Bush tax buts, when it's probably easier and less costly politically to simply let them die in 2010. I wish he would strike the down on Jan. 20th, but we're not going to get EVERYTHING we wished for in 2009. It is quite simply NOT POSSIBLE to do all the work that needs to be done to wash off the stink of Bush's legacy in a single calendar year, and some things will have to wait for 2010 or later. If Obama and his team decide that simply letting the Bush tax cuts expire will allow them to not waste political capital, and they use that capital to accomplish other things (think lower hanging fruit) i'll be okay with it. It might not be how I would have done it, but then again, I severely doubt that I could have been elected president.