tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948141803023902793.post2651439556785491173..comments2024-03-16T02:17:43.441-04:00Comments on HERRINGPOST CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL BLOG: Obama To Extend Bush Era Tax Cuts To Americans Making Less Than $250,000Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948141803023902793.post-84287734472279269372012-07-10T13:08:14.217-04:002012-07-10T13:08:14.217-04:00Both Republicans and the conservative movement wil...Both Republicans and the conservative movement will find itself on the wrong side of history if it continues to reject appeals to raise taxes on wealthy Americans. As a lifelong Republican, I am deeply concerned about supporting a party and movement that has lost sight of the greater mission in order to preserve a “no new tax” philosophy. I agree with President Obama’s position on raising taxes for individuals earning in excess of $250,000. <br /><br />Conservatives believe in small government. Given the size and scope of our federal deficit, any real attempt to reduce the size of government must include substantially reducing, and eventually eliminating, the federal deficit. Only through a combination of new revenue (tax increases) and spending cuts will this aim be achieved. By opposing attempts at increasing new revenue, the conservative movement is arguing for bigger government and giving “no new taxes” a higher precedence than reducing the federal deficit and, thus, creating a smaller federal government. <br /><br />This isn’t to say that repulsive overspending (on both parties’ accounts) put America in this position. However, those decisions were made and we must live with reality of the incurred debt, rather than choose to ignore its painful existence. Attempts at new revenue should not be viewed as class warfare or more wealth “redistribution” – they are attempts to pay a debt and remove this burden from future generations; folks, this money has already been spent and there is nothing to redistribute! Given the difficult economic times, those making in excess of $250,000 have the flexibility to adapt to higher taxes. <br /><br />By refusing to compromise on Democratic proposals for new revenue, Republicans are ignoring opportunities to help set America on a long term path to fiscal solvency. It isn’t likely that they will gain the necessary political control to “bull through” a one-sided agenda. Compromise on new revenue is a precondition for serious debt reduction discussions. It seems to me that conservatives are saying to the American public, “We feel not raising taxes on the rich is more important than reducing the federal deficit.” In my whole life, I have seldom seen a party so out of touch and irresponsible on a serious public policy issue."Dan from Arlington"https://www.blogger.com/profile/03073860938714368367noreply@blogger.com