Reply #6: Get out front with an attractive alternative

[DaedelusNemo]

How's this for a basic line of attack that will be useful for almost any possible Bush scheme: "Labor should never be taxed more than wealth." If you've got a financial setup that allows you not to work, good for you, but you shouldn't expect a better deal on taxes than someone who must work for their money.

The democrats should look through and develop their own simplification of the tax code rather than waiting to find out what box Rove wants to put them in this time. Instead, start hammering on Bush's box now. Enemy of the working man is a good place to start with that. Contrast the openness of your approach with the secretiveness of his - 'we have nothing to hide with our tax plan.'

What would be nice to see is some really creative proposals to construct more rational tax schemes that try to match form to function so that secondary effects aren't counterproductive. Try to counter undesirable trends and to return costs to their rightful owners. I've got a gob of infant ideas but i'll spare ya'll for now.