GALLUP: Vast Majority Wants Some Aspect of Bush Tax Cuts Extended. Only 13% say let all cuts expire.

[jefferson_dem]

This poll is a few days old (from 12-1) but the results are important to consider in light of the current debate and what's about to come down the pike regarding tax policy.

Vast Majority Wants Some Aspect of Bush Tax Cuts Extended
More Americans would make tax cuts temporary than permanent
by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- As Congress considers what to do about the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year, Americans are sending a clear signal that they want them extended in some shape or form. Forty percent want Congress to maintain the tax cuts for everyone, while 44% support setting limits on how much of wealthy Americans' income is eligible for the lower rates.



A follow-up question clarifies where Americans would draw that income line, using some widely discussed income thresholds. Relatively few Americans -- 5% -- would set the cutoff for receiving the Bush tax rates at $1 million, but 12% would set it at $500,000. Combined with the 40% who want no income cutoff, this means a 57% majority of Americans believe the Bush tax cuts should fully apply to household income under $500,000. An additional 26% would set the income threshold at $250,000. Thus, 83% are in favor of retaining the tax cuts on income up to that figure.



Additionally, those who want to extend the Bush tax cuts are divided over whether to make the cuts temporary until the economy improves, or permanent. Among Americans overall, slightly more (45%) think the tax-cut extension should be temporary than say it should be permanent (37%). This is in addition to the 13% who want the tax cuts to expire.

<SNIP>

http://www.gallup.com/poll/144989/vast-majority-wants-aspect-bush-tax-cuts-extended.aspx

[gateley]

1. Do those who want to make them permanent realize that's how we

run our country -- on tax revenue? Where the fuck do they think the money comes from?

[jeanpalmer]

19. These people are poorly informed

It's a golden opportunity to educate the public, while standing up for what's right.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

26. Pixie dust and angel feathers?

:shrug:

Seriously people have no fucking clue when it comes to taxes.

[Ramulux]

2. We we are going to give up on an issue..

That we are winning 57-40.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

27. How do you figure, sport?

Given the filibuster which we cannot defeat, this is not a 57-40 choice, as option "B" has been taken off the table. Our choices are A) Let them all stay, which is polling at 40% or C) Let them all expire, which is polling at 13%.

[napi21]

3. It boggles my mind that so many think the rich should continue

to receive tax cuts. WHY? there's no way you're going to convince me that that many think some day THEY will be that rich. That's what the media keeps saying but I don't buy it. Am I that far lef to think it's those same rich deserve a big increase becausethey were amoung the ones who caused all our troubles?

[truedelphi]

12. Well for one thing, 70% of those polled think they are among the wealthy!

What can yo do when you live among the dumbest people on earth?!?

[Ex Lurker]

20. there's a tendency on DU to paint the other side as mindless dittoheads

I'm reluctant to do that, because you should never underestimate the opposition. But in this case there may be something to it. I've run across way too many RW types who think that the wealthy are overtaxed and low income people don't pay their fair share. They think the rich are being oppressed and see it as a civil rights issue. No coincidence that this has been a Limbaugh theme for many years. It's seeped into the brains of right wingers, even those who are barely scraping by.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Add to that that "let them all expire" also loses you Unemployment benefits extensions

the child care tax credit, the making work pay credits, the DREAM Act, DADT repeal, and any number of other initiatives that help the working class and core Democratic constituencies.

This isn't a children's game where you huff and puff, take your ball and go home,and declare that you have a "win." It is the LIVES of millions of Americans that the "let 'em all expire, fuck it" crew are gambling with. Luckily, the President has more sense and responsibility than to be so flippant with people's lives.

[eringer]

6. OBAMA - JUST SAY NO!

Obama must not cave on this issue.

[jefferson_dem]

8. Stop with the "caving" nonsense.

Silly.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. It's a nice bumper sticker, but silly as a policy position

If "caving" here is defined as extending tax brackets for some period of time, I'll trade that off for unemployment benefits extensions, child care tax credits, making work pay credits, DADT, and the DREAM Act. That's not "caving." That's negotiating with what you have to offer for important bills that help the working class and core Democratic constituencies.

Yes, the GOPers are holding that stuff hostage. That doesn't make them any less real. We need less on the sill;y slogan side, and more on the hard-nosed look at the realities of legislation side.

You might feel good about yourself if Obama simply said "No deal! Everything expires!" But if that loses unemployment extensions for 2 million Americans and their families, then I certainly wouldn't be organizing the triumph parade. Until and unless somebody tells me how we get unemployment extensions through the Senate without giving up something, I will continue to see these slogans as non-serious, and, in fact, deeply dangerous.

[jefferson_dem]

11. I'm starting to wonder if some of these critics secretly admired "the decider".

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

28. You should just say no to crack.

Fucking moron.

[eringer]

30. Please refrain next time from using your family names...

...and describing your family habits.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

31. Really?

That's the best you can do? :rofl:

[jefferson_dem]

7. Ha...

This is funny. I just posted a response to you in another thread, with that same perspective.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=544228&mesg_id=544251

Great minds. :)

[treestar]

23. +10000

They think it's all a schoolyard game.

[kentuck]

5. Well...

that settles it. Extend the mothers.

[TheWebHead]

10. the political and economic influence of the 40%

distorts this poll. and again, I keep seeing emotional and punitive reasoning being offered by those who want to raise taxes on the investor class who are responsible for the majority of hiring in this country. Economically, it's irrational and flies in the face of Bernanke's easing monetary policy, Ben's virtually throwing gasoline on the economy to get it moving.

[Demoiselle]

13. What is the difference between:

"Keep tax cuts with income limit set at $250,000 OR MORE"

and

"Keep tax cuts with income limit set at $500,000 OR MORE."


500,000 is MORE than 250,000. Why is the "or more " even added? Doesn't it fog up the limits?

Math is not my strong suit, but the specifics don't work for me in the above phrases.

[Milo_Bloom]

14. Polls like this crack me up.

The reason so many think we need to keep the tax cuts is because they think they are getting some large benefit out of them.

However, if we let the tax cuts expire and they ultimately realize their paycheck doesn't change dramtically.. they suddenly won't remember why they were against it in the first place!

It's like people being against gay marriage in overwhelming numbers and then it is made legal and within a year or two, people don't remember why they were against it, because the world didn't end.

The Democrats were AGAINST these tax cuts from day one and forced the GOP to pass them in reconciliation.

They should stand on the same principle today that they stood on 10 years ago and let them EXPIRE as the budget busting wastes of money they were!

[ProSense]

15. There is not a

single progressive economist who believes this about the middle-class tax cuts:

"They should stand on the same principle today that they stood on 10 years ago and let them EXPIRE as the budget busting wastes of money they were!"

It would require a deficit hawk to make that argument during an economic crisis.

[Milo_Bloom]

24. Wrong,

Economists agree across the board that TAX CUTS provide the WORST stimulus to the economy.

It is amazing how much you will spin to try and forgive the Democrats flip flop on this issue.

[Clio the Leo]

16. Vast majorities dont watch Fox News; Vast majorities dont vote...

.... however, the ones who vote watch Fox news. Once they're told "Obama's trying to raise your taxes" we've got problems.

[truthspeak]

17. Two year extension is the right thing to do

Now I don't fully agree with the right wing talking point about tax cuts, but both politically and economically its the right thing to extend them for a couple of years. Economy-wise, its good because a big part of the economy is 'psychological', and if psychologically everybody knows their taxes don't go up (yes even the rich), then that could only improve economic confidence, which could lead to a faster recovery. The left has to understand that the economy is far too fragile to raise it right now...way more fragile than when Clinton did it back then.

Politically, it goes without saying...if Obama held his ground here and the economy stalls or grows slowly, then the GOP parrot machine will be screaming "Obama raised taxes, so thats why there's no jobs", and the ENTIRE democratic party will be finished for years. Liberals have to 'buck up', and think about long term "political strategy". Obama doesn't lose politically on this...well only to his whining left that is lol.

[golfguru]

18. K&R

[karynnj]

21. This really shows why the Democrats have a weak hand

I think the cumulative should have been done in the opposite direction.

Want all the tax cuts to expire 13 13
Let expire (unspecified) 1 14
Keep under 250,000 26 40
Keep under 500,000 12 52 Here is where the majority are for extending this much or less
Keep under 1 million 5 57 (5 is so low, that splitting it again is pretty useless)

This leaves 40 percent wanting all taxes extended and 3 percent with no opinion.

What I see here is that compared to earlier polls, that had FAR higher percents favoring our position - the RW has been winning the PR war here and more people are agreeing that to extend all of them. This is not an election poll, so it is not impacted by a likely voter model that skews Republican.

A key number is the 13 percent. This is saying that very few people prefer all tax cuts expiring. It would have been interesting if some of the choices were polled head to head - especially these two:

For those preferring the 3 income limits plans, which would you prefer more - extending all or extending none. (knowing that the issue may come up in the next Congress.)
For those preferring the tax cuts all extended, would you prefer the compromise or having all the cuts expire, with the goal to retroactively reinstate them in the next Congress.

My guess is that the election seriously ate bargaining power. At the moment, Democrats can not get middle class tax cuts, unemployment insurance and some credits - they can not pass - and they can not pass next year. They have genuinely taken all that hostage.

[Phx_Dem]

22. Looks like Obama and the Dems are right in line with the American people.

Progressives, as usual, are out of touch in wanting to allow middle-class tax cuts and unemployment benefits to expire just to punish the GOP/rich.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

29. +1

[jenmito]

25. The lying Repubs. cited this poll in rebuttal to other polls that show the majority of Americans

don't want tax cuts permanently extended for the highest 2%. They claimed the Gallup poll showed 80% want all of the tax cuts extended for everybody. NOBODY challenged them on it.

[kjackson227]

32. K & R!

[GSLevel9]

33. or in other words...

57% oppose giving wealthy tax breaks.

[Phx_Dem]

34. Big Ed needs to realize the "will of people" has been done, rather

than saying the President not supporting the will of the people, which just makes him look delusional.

Ed may be able to outscream most people, but the facts are simply not on his side.