walmart politics: average voters demanding personal reward at any social cost. politicians taking advantage of that mindset to reward the rich and garner campaign war chests.
Two Republican proposals made the morning news today - both good ideas with troubling funding sources; both excellent examples of the fundamental disconnect between Republicans and Democrats or the impossibility of, as Lisa put it, serving two masters (in this case social good v funding sources for the inevitable next campaign).
First up: Taft tax reform pitch
WCBE - the local public radio station- treated morning listeners to part of (Ohio Governor Bob) Taft's state of the state address. He trumpeted 21% across-the-board income tax cuts and the elimination of select business taxes, explaining that the cuts are required to spur business growth in the state.
It's difficult to argue the point. Ohio isn't exactly a destination state for new business. No ports, no major cities, no sought-after addresses. Add to that the troubling fact that we lost 200,000 jobs in the last three years. That we lead all other states in the loss of 25- to 39-year olds. And, that we have the third highest combined tax burden in the country. Obviously, the status quo is not working.
But, cutting taxes means cutting spending (at least in theory). Logically, those who receive the greatest relief from the tax cuts would expect to also see a share of the cutbacks. Not so in our Walmart culture where the middle class expects - no, demands - impossibly low prices without any reduction in service or quality. And, certainly without any regard for the people who enable our lifestyles.
Bellowing that we must "have the courage to prevail," Taft unveiled the funding source: massive cuts to Medicaid, which he described as the "Medicaid Monster.” Taft’s tax package also hikes taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, electricity and home purchases, and retains half of the penny sales-tax increase enacted last year.
I'm a flat tax advocate. I don't believe that the simple fact of taxes on sales is necessarily regressive. BUT, this tax plan is a clear assault on the most unempowered among us. Tax cuts that give the most relief to big business (those that make significant capital investments) and upper and middle class individuals. All being paid for by cuts in healthcare assistance for the poor and new taxes targeted to place the largest burden on the poor and lower-middle class.
These policies are enabled by our selfishness. It's the protection of wealth at the expense of the worker. It's an abandonment of social responsibility. I have no doubt that Medicaid needs reformed. I have no doubt that it’s partially responsible for medical inflation and is fraught with abuses (as all government programs seem to be). But, that it was singled out – and coupled with sales taxes targeted to most-burden the least able to pay – is the most blatant pandering to our selfishness that I have seen yet.
If the WWII generation was the "Greatest Generation," ours is the Disposable one. With no respect for anyone but ourselves, we lay off, disenfranchise and abandon like people who have no social compact. The sheer size of our nation and the division of classes has made it possible to look the other way too many times. We forgot that every one else is human, too. Proposals like this – if enacted – only confirm our callousness.
The other morning news story - tomorrow.
