Let Them Expire

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm tired of hearing about the Bush tax cuts. They were poor policy, placing the burden of funding government on Americans who had the least while giving away almost everything to the wealthiest. While I would like to see people to earn less to get more relief, extending the Bush tax cuts puts the same poor policy on life support. It keeps Americans talking about the Bush tax cuts as if they were something good and beneficial.

Instead, let them expire. Start anew. Rewrite the tax code in a way that is fair for all. Let the phrase "Bush tax cuts" decay in the dustbins of history. Let's get the "Obama tax cuts" in their place.

[Imajika]

1. Obama can not let them expire..

Because that would effectively cause an increase in taxes on all the 200k and under people that the President promised would see no tax increases.

He is in a difficult bind.

[Bad Thoughts]

2. I could use the relief

However, so long is that relief comes on the basis of the Bush tax cuts, Obama will not be on solid footing to ask more from wealthier Americans. I think most Americans would take tax policy more seriously as well if everyone had a stake in defining the responsibilities of each group in finding government.

[napi21]

3. If I were Obamaa, I would hold an evening televised presser

and ask the American Public to conact a specific web site OR telephone # and tell him what they really prefer-renew the Bush tax cuts for ALL and add $700 Billion to our deficit OR let all the Bush tax cut expire. Explain that he will PROPOSE a new tax reduction bill for the middle class, but it's obviousthat the Pubs are refusing to accept that!

Our household income in a hair under $30,000 and I'M ore than willing to let the whole damn mess expire. We didn't get that much of a benefit from them that it would matter.

[Enrique]

4. Obama also promised to end the Bush tax cuts

he just has to decide whose promises are more important.

[Imajika]

6. Allowing what will be effective across the board tax increases...

..on those earning under 200k would be an unmitigated disaster.

Like it or not, people will consider these tax increases. The clips of Obama saying no one who makes less than 200k will see any tax hikes will be literally looped on every news network for 2 years.

Obama is in a box, but he can not allow the tax cuts for the under 200k crowd (vast majority) to expire.

And yes, he can blame the Republicans if those tax cuts for the middle class go away, but Obama is the President and people will blame the President.

Like it or not, the President will cut a deal on these tax cuts. Probably something to the effect of extending all tax cuts for 2-3 years. Republicans simply won't allow the tax cuts for the wealthy to be separated from the rest.

[Bad Thoughts]

7. He should cut taxes for those under 200K

But he needs his own legislation, one that forces renegotiation on all brackets. He doesn't need to be boxed in by the Bush tax cuts themselves. And the sooner the legislation is written and debated, the better.

[Exilednight]

13. Why should he worry about who gets blamed ? Who was it that said ............

"I would rather be a good one term president and do the right thing, than be a mediocre two term president".

Maybe that is why I admire Jimmy Carter and hold animosity towards Clinton. Cater passed more of his legislative agenda than any other modern president, yet he was only a one term president.

[jberryhill]

8. So what

Is the question about his political viability, or blowing a hole in the deficit?

Aside from which, the next day, you introduce "The Obama Tax Cut Bill" to cut taxes for everyone under 200K, and let the Republicans oppose it.

I want to see the GOP oppose tax cuts.

[Honeycombe8]

9. True. It's a shame. I wouldn't get upset if my taxes went up a bit.

But then I have a good job and didn't need the cut to begin with. Others are not so lucky.

[Milo_Bloom]

12. Of course he can. He can recommend NEW CUTS

[Clio the Leo]

5. read

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x519470

[Exilednight]

14. I read it, and as the hostage, I say shoot me if it benefits the greater good of the nation and

future generations. Odds are that the Republicans have bad eyesight and the worst that will happen is a flesh wound. It will heal over and be stronger than it was before.

[Kablooie]

10. I don't remember him running on tax cuts as major promise.

He will be attacked for eliminating the Bush tax cuts of course.

But by giving in to the Republicans and keeping the rich tax cuts he will still be attacked.

Also by giving in, he is showing that he is too weak to oppose the Republicans.

He will give more ammunition to them to destroy SS and Medicare in order to balance the budget.

He will missed a chance to do something to decrease the deficit and in effect is giving another handout to the rich.

And in 2012 he will lose because his base will have lost confidence in him for caving to the Republicans and GW Bush.

[Exilednight]

15. Why worry about losing in 2012 if he loses for doing the right thing? I wrote this ................

in another thread, and it bears repeating.

Who was it that said ............

"I would rather be a good one term president and do the right thing, than be a mediocre two term president".

Maybe that is why I admire Jimmy Carter and hold animosity towards Clinton. Cater passed more of his legislative agenda than any other modern president, yet he was only a one term president.

[laurel46]

11. Let them expire, we cannot afford to appease thugs.

My feeling is that I am more than happy to pay more to support my party for the next few years. I will gladly give up a small percentage of my income because it will help poorer people from the abuse of the republicans. I have been very fortunate to keep a job, but I will cut the heat more, eat plain food, give up a car, what ever, to make up for a few thousand a year.

I can't believe people think our president turned on us when the chamber is spending a large fortune, and republicans are squealing like pigs stuck under a gate. Just hearing the wealthy and their corrupt cronies scream in rage is pay back enough. I posted a reply on another thread about discovering that the cat food commission's is on the pay roll of blackstone, which owns a lot of those toxic mortgages and a big share in AIG. On the cat food commission, from fdl in 2009:
"As Dean Baker points out, this commission is the brainchild of former Nixon cabinet official Pete Peterson, a Wall Street investment banker who has been trying to destroy Social Security and Medicare for two decades."

The other employer of retired republican senators is Bain capital (mitt romney's corp). Mitt owns the largest health insurance corp in the usa and we now have a romney care with a mandate. Thankfully the mandate includes negligible enforcement and is useless, but, like social security, it can be built upon. The vipers going after Obama are so vicious I do not see how people think he is on the side of conservatives. One other example is the book "mendacity of hope", a scathing indictment from harper collins publishing owned by.... rupert murdock.

Come on friends, the propaganda is so thick, truth is nearly impossible and look how tired the president looks. This is not what he wanted and my spouse and I are joining in the move on.org meet ups this sunday to unite with other progressives and conquer in 2012.