Why the Economy Grows Like Crazy Amid High Taxes
By Larry Beinhart, AlterNet. Posted November 17, 2008.
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/106979/ (http://www.alternet.org/workplace/106979/)
The real-world effects of tax policy are counterintuitive.
They run exactly opposite the conventional wisdom. They defy what the Heritage Foundation calls common sense and what the American Enterprise Institute calls logic.
Reality laughs at the Laffer curve, calls Ronald Reagan wrong and says George W. Bush is a loon.
High marginal tax rates correlate with economic growth.
Examples include World War II and the Truman-Eisenhower years, when it was around 90 percent, and the Clinton years, when it was high relative to the preceding and following administrations.
It is obvious that the rich hoard money compared to, if the government has it to spend.
Really, why should the rich be allowed to keep what's their's??? My goodness, oh unfair and crazy is that? Doesn't everyone know that the government could spend that money instead of rich people investing it or doing some thing really disturbing, "saving it for themselves"
How would you wealth redistibution supports feel if Jeb Bush wins in 4 years. Do you want him as the government rep taking money from people and spending it how he wants?
I'm not all for 'redistribution' which is kind of a catch phrase, but I'm all in favor of people paying their fair share, and believe it or not, really rich people owe a lot to the nation that made it possible. I'm also for returning the wealth of the commons to the commonwealth.
From Rockridge Institute: (http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/taxation.html)
QuoteFair taxation means we all pay our way, and we all pay our fair share. The wealthiest Americans use our public infrastructure more than anyone else, and they use parts of it that other people do not. For example:
* An overwhelming percentage of state and federal court time is devoted to corporate law. Businesses and corporations rely on a smoothly functioning court system to negotiate disputes and ensure contracts are upheld.
* The Securities and Exchange Commission and all the apparatus of the Commerce Department are mainly used by the wealthy.
* Companies depend on sound roads, railways and ports to transport their products.
* Companies benefit from an educated workforce, and the scientific and technological research that we have all paid for.
We all pay in to maintain these resources, but corporations and wealthy people use more of our public resources than an ordinary family does — so it only makes sense that they pay accordingly. That is what progressive taxation is all about. We all pay our fair share to support America — corporations should, too.