The Bush Tax Cuts - Nothing But Blood

[JapanJack]

When conservative thinking comes into contact with humans seeking an egalitarian society, particularly when those humans are not of the same race, religion or creed as the conservative, physical harm will come to those humans and over time there will be nothing but blood.

The current battle over the Bush tax cuts is a good example. If conservatives serve their clients well, the nation will be forced to assume a huge debt that will adversely affect the nation’s economy for years.

Since economists say that providing this borrowed money to the wealthiest Americans is not an efficient way to create jobs, doing so will prolong the recession and have a cascading effect on people in countless ways.

A deal that allows this to happen is tantamount to conceding the physical well being of millions to the greed of the few.

The framework agreed with Republicans was not made with this in mind. And the debate among Democrats in Congress focuses on equity, not the ultimate consequences for individuals.

The President should change his mind, offer a new deal and appeal directly to the American people. This hypothetical speech is one way to do this.

“I have decided to propose a new framework for extending the Bush tax cuts. My original framework was based on the need to reach agreement before the end of the year when rates are set to go up. After much reflection and discussion with Democrats in Congress, I have decided that negotiations can extend beyond the end of the year.

The new framework provides for keeping all of the tax cuts for the middle class contained in the first framework but will not extend the cuts for the wealthiest three percent.

While the original framework would have benefited the middle class, it would have done so at the cost of borrowing 700 billion dollars. Economists say that using this money to extend the cuts to the wealthiest three percent of our people would be unlikely to create a significant number of jobs. However, the tax cuts I secured will have a positive effect on job growth.

So far the debate has been about money; but there is more to the story.

What we decide will impact the way many Americans live their lives. Even though everyone will be affected in some way, many will feel the effects more than others.

Borrowing 700 billion dollars in the midst of a recession; especially when it could be avoided, is not justifiable. Doing so will mean that some additional number of Americans will lose their homes, their education, or their health. Inevitably, some will lose their lives.

With the well being of millions of Americans at stake, I cannot agree to any deal that would mean the borrowing of billions of dollars when we can avoid doing so at small cost - even to the wealthiest three percent of our people.

Americans of all political persuasions should agree on this point. We can argue about money but not about the well being of our people.

I hope that agreement can be reached before the end of the year; but, if it isn’t, I will not extend the Bush tax cuts until it is. I believe that solutions will be found in the near term but even it this is not possible before the end of the year, negotiations will continue and the final agreement will be made retroactive to January first. This will mean that no one earning less than $250,000 a year will ultimately pay more in taxes than they are paying now."

Obviously, the President will face a more conservative Congress next year, so it is understandable that he wanted to make a deal before that happened. Nevertheless, the new conservatives will face a difficult decision: Will they hold out for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the other 97 percent? Will they force a huge increase in the national debt when their whole reason for coming to Congress is to reduce debt and spending? The President may be in a better negotiating position than he thinks.

Compromising with evil is itself evil and if the President persists in doing so, there will be nothing but blood.

[Crazy Dave]

1. Americans have short term memories

You can count on it and the republicans know they can too. The debt will be higher and will be blamed solely on Obama and that they had nothing to do with it. No jobs will be created so unemployment will still be above 9% and the biggest advantage they have will be telling all Americans that, "Obama even said go to hell to his base and supporters to help pass these tax cuts and drive up the nation's debt".

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. K & R

and welcome to DU.