A Book for Republicans

[Geee]

Townhall:

Democrats have been having a field day with the cry of "tax cuts for the rich" -- for which Republicans seem to have no reply. This is especially surprising, because Democrats made the same arguments back in the 1920s, and the Republicans then not only had a reply, but one that eventually carried the day, when the top tax rate was brought down from 73 percent to 24 percent.

What was the difference then?

The biggest difference is that Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon took the trouble to articulate the case for lower tax rates, in articles that appeared in popular publications, using plain language that ordinary people could understand. Seldom do Republican leaders today even attempt to do any such thing.

In 1924, the ideas from these articles were collected in a book which Mellon titled "Taxation: The People's Business." That book has recently been reprinted by the University of Minnesota Law Library. Today's Republicans would do well to get a copy of Mellon's book, which shows how demagoguery about "tax cuts for the rich" can be exposed for the nonsense that it is.

People in the media could also benefit by seeing how the "tax cuts for the rich" demagoguery collapses like a house of cards when you subject it to logic and evidence.

Those who argue that "the rich" should pay a higher tax rate, and that the revenue this would bring in could be used to reduce the deficit, assume that higher tax rates equal higher tax revenues. But they do not.

Secretary Mellon pointed out that previously the government "received substantially the same revenue from high incomes with a 13 percent surtax as it received with a 65 percent surtax." Higher tax rates do not mean higher tax revenues.

High tax rates on high incomes, Mellon said, lead many of those who earn such incomes to withdraw their money "from productive business and invest it in tax-exempt securities" or otherwise find ways to avoid receiving income in taxable forms.

[Valin]

Townhall:

Democrats have been having a field day with the cry of "tax cuts for the rich" -- for which Republicans seem to have no reply.

 

We don't? Could've fooled me.

[logicnreason]

Ok...maybe it's time, maybe it isn't...but what the heck.

As a group, let's say that there are a total of 1000 voters (no fraud, no dead people, no three time union voters) in the coming election.

Question: AS OF TODAY...out of that 1000: how many will vote for the right? How many will vote for the left? And...really important...how many AS OF TODAY...really, honestly have not made up their mind which side they're on?

 

I would posit that between today and November, there are few - very few - who honestly, truthfully have not yet "made up their mind". Further, those who've taken a stance as to "right" or "left" present no chance whatsoever of a "mind change".

 

Speaking for myself ONLY....other than my death or an actual "Rapture" (wouldn't I be surprised tho)....there is NO - repeat NO - chance of my voting for the left (local, regional, state, or federal). Period.

 

And I firmly believe that those on the left have taken the same stance.

 

How say you all??

[Geee]

Ok...maybe it's time, maybe it isn't...but what the heck.

As a group, let's say that there are a total of 1000 voters (no fraud, no dead people, no three time union voters) in the coming election.

Question: AS OF TODAY...out of that 1000: how many will vote for the right? How many will vote for the left? And...really important...how many AS OF TODAY...really, honestly have not made up their mind which side they're on?

 

I would posit that between today and November, there are few - very few - who honestly, truthfully have not yet "made up their mind". Further, those who've taken a stance as to "right" or "left" present no chance whatsoever of a "mind change".

 

Speaking for myself ONLY....other than my death or an actual "Rapture" (wouldn't I be surprised tho)....there is NO - repeat NO - chance of my voting for the left (local, regional, state, or federal). Period.

 

And I firmly believe that those on the left have taken the same stance.

 

How say you all??

 

LNR, I am not so much hoping for the left to vote right, but just not vote at all!! I don't think that will be the case with Republicans that are not enthused with Romney, because they are motivated by their distaste(boy am I being nice) for this president!

[logicnreason]

Gee: I'm with you. Come hell or high water, I will be voting AGAINST the stain come this November. I really don't give two hoots who the candidate will be , or is, from the right.