Wouldn't Tax Cuts Just Make National Debt Worse?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

seems like most of the stimuls is tax cuts.

If you don't have a job, whats the point?

Your honest input welcome.

[Idealism]

1. Its around 30% I hear tell

And it is targeted to low-income workers, who possibly like you said, may be out of a job. What it will do is create construction jobs in the short-term especially and hopefully in the near-future green jobs.

[terisan]

2. The cuts are supposed to increase spending/demand and thus increase production.

leading to hiring of unemployed.

Also tax cuts are thought to increase investment in business thus creating jobs, which may not work at present.


Tax cuts seem to be in the stimulus plans of other countries also, such as Norway -which is planning tax cuts to help business and spending programs intended to help labor

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. If you don't have a job

you will only see trickle down benefit from the stimulus plan - if any. And you can have taxable income and not see that $20 a week or so of extra spending money. The people who most need assistance (long-term unemployed) will not get any and there are inequities because not all taxpayers will directly benefit.

Personally I think tax cuts will be ineffective - and a poor use of limited resources. But they will make folks feel better. At best they are a small bandaid applied to a gaping wound.

If we really want to fix the economy we need to do the following:
(1) rebuild our infrastructure;
(2) rebuild our manufacturing base;
(3) shift the burden for paying for health care away from the business sector;
(4) provide ample funding through the SBA for new and small business loans and make employees and family members of small businesses eligible for Medicare;
(5) provide lifetime access to career training, better use our educational system for vocational and career training and place less emphasis on broad liberal arts education;
(6) change our attitude so that we value dirty jobs and blue collar work;
(7) learn to value productivity over wealth creation; and
(8) develop a lifestyle that measures value and accomplishment by something other than consumption.

It will take big business many years to replace the jobs that have been lost. That means there are going to be a lot of folks looking for a way to earn a few bucks. With SBA funding and assistance to new businesses we have an opportunity to transform our economy and to introduce new competition and diversity. I don't expect it to happen but it's not becuase the opportunity doesn't exist.

[droidamus2]

4. #5

I don't totally agree on #5. There is nothing wrong with a strong liberal arts education as it teaches people how to think critically. I do agree that for those people that don't intend to or don't want to pursue a 'college education' that vocational and career training should be readily available.

[notesdev]

5. "If"

"There is nothing wrong with a strong liberal arts education as it teaches people how to think critically."

Let me correct:

"There is nothing wrong with a strong liberal arts education *IF* it teaches people how to think critically."

A lot of universities are passing off something other than an education as education, for the purposes of keeping the money flowing. If you've ever been in a position where you had to interview or hire your typical college graduate, you know that the only degrees worth the paper they are written on are in engineering and hard science. Any other degree *might* indicate an educated individual, but is just as likely to indicate someone who partied through four years and met the technical requirements for a degree while learning as little as possible.

And with that, I have 1000 posts here, maybe I get some respect now!

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. Point of #5 is that

our educational system needs to be focused on preparing folks to earn a livlihood. Being well read is of little consequence if one cannot earn a livlihood.

Nothing wrong with a liberal arts education. I've got one. But it is a little lacking in vocational preparation.

Also, I would point out that I have known some folks with liberal arts credentials who were quite uninformed and I've known some folks who were not formally trained and educated who were very well read and continued to seek out knowledge throughout their lifetime. Liberal arts credentials aren't worth much unless they are accompanied by a desire to be knowlegeable and well read - and with the desire one can acquire the information and the skills without the credentials.