The Counter to "Tax Cuts"

[ScooterKen]

This is what the DNC and our people in D.C. should be saying right now.

"I hope the American people are not fooled by President Bush's promise for so-called 'tax cuts'. As everyone knows, in order to cut taxes, programs that help you, the American people, to live your lives would have to be cut. No moral and ethical person would sacrifice the well being of American citizens, especially the ones that were devastated by hurricane Katrina and who still need more money and more help, by cutting vital tax money required to fund these programs. Only a cold-hearted and completely immoral person would tell half-truths about cutting taxes while leaving out what incredible damage those cuts would do to the American people."

Badda boom.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. don't use tax cuts in the phraseology

we need to change the definition of taxes, period. They are SERVICE FEES to live in this country and those who do not wish to pay their service fees better think about moving.

[ScooterKen]

2. No.

Liberal is not a bad word. We can't start using other words. We need to fight.
Taxes is not a bad word. We can't start using other words. We need to fight.

Just make sure that the people understand taxes are required and help them, and its all good.

[wixomblues]

4. Seems like a lot of Doublespeak.

Leave that for Republicans.

No one likes hearing about higher taxes. And most people who work and have families may not see where these tax dollars go. And plenty of people may have firsthand experience with someone abusing a government program. And, dare I say it, the government may sometimes waste the tax payers money on some programs(a bridge to nowhere).

if you need to convince people that higher taxes are better for our country, you're best bet is to ask them what programs they would like to see cut in order to keep their taxes low, or get lowered.

Of course, simply being a Democrat doesn't mean you're for raising taxes. Frankly, I think we have enough revenue coming in to satisfy our programs, we just don't use it efficiently, or put too much money in certain areas(NASA, Militarily, Oil Subsidies).

And, if you speak in terms of service fees, some jackass is just going to ask that he only pay the fee's when applicable.

[FormerRepublican]

3. Only need to ask one question:

Why aren't they cutting their own salaries and THIS waste of taxpayer dollars?

[NoAmericanTaliban]

5. Greenspan says its the low mortgage rates...

that are helping the economy. He published a report stating that a few weeks ago. Low interest are fueling cheap mortgage loans , but worried that no one is saving anymore.

[Union Thug]

8. This is true...and no, people aren't saving..

I know it's just anecdotal, but we know of several families that got sucked into low interest loans on houses that they cannot afford. They save nothing, not a dime, not a penny. Hope the car doesn't break down. Hope they can sell the house quickly when the bottom drops out of the market should a layoff or other financial bomb go off in their lives.

[RobertSeattle]

6. Tax Cuts during times of Deficits aren't really tax cuts anyway

There are merely tax DEFERMENTS to future generations. And Bush/Cheney know about DEFERMENTS...

[Hidden Stillness]

7. Taxes Save People Money, as They are Collective and not Commercial, etc.

I would launch a huge, prolonged re-education campaign reminding people why there are taxes, what they pay for, what kind of a society we would have if we did not have supports and a sense of commonweal, and a legal structure of rights, and checks and balances. That makes any further call for support of taxes much easier, as people are at least aware of why it is necessary, instead of the kind of selfish stupidity Republicans love to exploit.

Tax cuts do not "put more money in your pocket," as Republicans lie. First, they cut taxes for rich people, not you, so you will notice no benefit, and will even have to make up for the lowering of their taxes, with higher sales taxes, etc. Second, just because the government no longer funds a program doesn't mean YOU don't still need it; the government will not pay for it anymore, you still have to. This then leads to the argument that everything will cost much more if you have to pay (price-gouging) commercial interests for services that used to be paid as a society, by taxes. How many things could you afford to do, if you had to pay for each thing individually, and alone? Police, Fire Dept., garbage pickup, safety inspections of food, water, drugs, other products, etc., etc. You would go bankrupt immediately if you lost the huge fund of collective taxes, paying for first-class services that we all need and use. How could anyone afford to live a modern life at all, if this shared social benefit were lost?

We should also make more of a point of countering the slander against taxes, with equal measures of references to corporate price-gouging, how that is actually the main problem people are having trying to make ends meet, (especially with recent examples such as the sinful gouging on gas and oil, for both vehicles and home-heating). That is where people's money is going, not to taxes.

All studies show that most people do not want taxes lowered, they want government services and programs protected. Stop pretending that we are saying something unpopular. We are on their side, and they are on ours. I also love your attitude that we should use the words--taxes, liberal, etc.--straightforwardly. Fight; don't "frame"--explain the way things work.

[Union Thug]

9. well said! n/t