Reply #32: Agree with the OP

[Oasis_]

As a "blue dog" Democrat, I can tell you with a great degree of certainty that any plan that calls for raising taxes on any American will be met with fierce resistance, and will only lead more who believe as I do to flee the Democratic party (I'm not going anywhere--but many others I know are already on the fence)

When the data confirms the top 10% of earners paid 73% of the total taxes paid to the Feds, it becomes a spending problem, as opposed to revenue generation. 47% of Americans pay zero net federal income taxes.

California and Illinois rank among the worst with respect to budgetary problems (actually colossal debacles) and some believe the answer is to provide additional incentive to leave through an even greater degree of wealth confiscation?

Thankfully, I believe a majority of my fellow Democrats agree that resolving these budget issues will never be accomplished through increased taxation. Attracting capital (and jobs) to a state should be the primary goal.

If we embrace the Sanders'-type economic ideology where those with wealth are relentlessly plundered, we will see economic growth slow to an absolute halt.

I post because I see us losing the "war" for independents and moderates as a result of backward economic thinking. The Republicans screw enough things up themselves---let's not provide them with any additional ammunition.