To be honest - I think the republican party has brilliantly convinced tons of people to vote against their own best interests in order to spite the other people who may also be receiving help by painting these "other" people as less deserving and lazy. It's like convincing half the nation to cut off their nose to spite their face. And it's worked - brilliantly. I think a lot of it started when the GOP invoked their "Southern Strategy" to convince blue collar southerners (the traditional base of the democratic party) to switch to the republican party because the democrats wanted to help blacks. Basically, the party preyed on the rampant racism in the south just after the civil rights movement to bring in all these blue collar workers to their cause. It was a HUGE voting bloc and has kept the GOP in power for most of the last several decades.
Before I get flamed - this is a well documented strategy of the GOP in the late 60's and 70's. I am not saying that blue collar republicans are racist. I am just pointing out where this phenomenon began. Old habits die hard and these people are now indoctrinated into the republican philosophy that everyone should make it on their own and government assistance is a sign of weakness and/or laziness. They don't want their tax dollars "wasted" on social programs to help those less fortunate than them (or even to help themselves if they qualify) because in the process of helping these people - "undeserving" members of the population would also get help. It USED to be that the blacks were representative of the undeserving population. Now I think that has certainly changed to include many people of all races.
I'm also not saying that every republican thinks this way. This is just my impression after understanding the recent history of the party and this observation is supported by most of the blue collar southern republicans that I know - including my husband's parents. They will come right out and say what I wrote above - no qualms about it.
AGAIN - I am NOT saying that republicans are racist.
Anyway, to come back to your post. Because a central tenet of the GOP platform is "no help for the undeserving" then when republicans want to cut taxes or provide tax credits or whatever, it is seen as nonthreatening because they only want to help the "deserving" - it's what they preach over and over, so how could it be seen any other way. Whereas when the democrats want to cut taxes or whatever, it is seen as more handouts for the lazy.
A reason this strategy is *so* brilliant is that it allows the republicans to paint their true "base", the wealthy, as the most deserving because of all they have "accomplished". This gives the party free reign to give these constituents what they want in the form of tax breaks and loopholes and the rest of the people are totally ok with it. "Why shouldn't they get more - they are the most deserving". At least Reagan tried to pander to the lower and middle class a little with his whole "trickle down" philosophy which we now know to be completely bogus. But hey - at least he tried. Even though this philosophy has been debunked by economists - lots of people still cling to it as the gospel truth.
There is some question as to whether Obama's calling for money to be given to those that aren't paying income taxes, or simply a refund to those who are.
If it's the former, then yes, it's welfare - it's taking money from people paying taxes and giving it to people who aren't.
If it's the latter, then any tax cut that allows people to keep their own money is a good thing.
It's called investing in America by investing in its people and infrastructure.
Something McCain has ZERO record of.
In the almost 30 years that is the promise of trickle-down economics, it's proven to be nothing more than what George HW Bush said it was: Voodoo Economics.
That's why Obama is winning on this issue, it's a real pocketbook issue for americans and they're buying into it.
================================
Reward Republicans for 8 years of failure? No way, No how, No McCain!
Pages
To be honest - I think the republican party has brilliantly convinced tons of people to vote against their own best interests in order to spite the other people who may also be receiving help by painting these "other" people as less deserving and lazy. It's like convincing half the nation to cut off their nose to spite their face. And it's worked - brilliantly. I think a lot of it started when the GOP invoked their "Southern Strategy" to convince blue collar southerners (the traditional base of the democratic party) to switch to the republican party because the democrats wanted to help blacks. Basically, the party preyed on the rampant racism in the south just after the civil rights movement to bring in all these blue collar workers to their cause. It was a HUGE voting bloc and has kept the GOP in power for most of the last several decades.
Before I get flamed - this is a well documented strategy of the GOP in the late 60's and 70's. I am not saying that blue collar republicans are racist. I am just pointing out where this phenomenon began. Old habits die hard and these people are now indoctrinated into the republican philosophy that everyone should make it on their own and government assistance is a sign of weakness and/or laziness. They don't want their tax dollars "wasted" on social programs to help those less fortunate than them (or even to help themselves if they qualify) because in the process of helping these people - "undeserving" members of the population would also get help. It USED to be that the blacks were representative of the undeserving population. Now I think that has certainly changed to include many people of all races.
I'm also not saying that every republican thinks this way. This is just my impression after understanding the recent history of the party and this observation is supported by most of the blue collar southern republicans that I know - including my husband's parents. They will come right out and say what I wrote above - no qualms about it.
AGAIN - I am NOT saying that republicans are racist.
Anyway, to come back to your post. Because a central tenet of the GOP platform is "no help for the undeserving" then when republicans want to cut taxes or provide tax credits or whatever, it is seen as nonthreatening because they only want to help the "deserving" - it's what they preach over and over, so how could it be seen any other way. Whereas when the democrats want to cut taxes or whatever, it is seen as more handouts for the lazy.
A reason this strategy is *so* brilliant is that it allows the republicans to paint their true "base", the wealthy, as the most deserving because of all they have "accomplished". This gives the party free reign to give these constituents what they want in the form of tax breaks and loopholes and the rest of the people are totally ok with it. "Why shouldn't they get more - they are the most deserving". At least Reagan tried to pander to the lower and middle class a little with his whole "trickle down" philosophy which we now know to be completely bogus. But hey - at least he tried. Even though this philosophy has been debunked by economists - lots of people still cling to it as the gospel truth.
~Ashley~
~Ashley~
I agree.
The question is, I think a factual one.
There is some question as to whether Obama's calling for money to be given to those that aren't paying income taxes, or simply a refund to those who are.
If it's the former, then yes, it's welfare - it's taking money from people paying taxes and giving it to people who aren't.
If it's the latter, then any tax cut that allows people to keep their own money is a good thing.
If it's the former, then yes, it's welfare - it's taking money from people paying taxes and giving it to people who aren't.
If it's the latter, then any tax cut that allows people to keep their own money is a good thing.
Susan
It's called investing in America by investing in its people and infrastructure.
Something McCain has ZERO record of.
In the almost 30 years that is the promise of trickle-down economics, it's proven to be nothing more than what George HW Bush said it was: Voodoo Economics.
That's why Obama is winning on this issue, it's a real pocketbook issue for americans and they're buying into it.
================================
Reward Republicans for 8 years of failure? No way, No how, No McCain!
Oh, come on now.
toots, a couple comments:
1)
And malice, you'll note that you can't possibly argue any taxpayer knows exactly where his taxes are directed.
Toots, the budget is "unitary".
"Why is it a tax cut when McCain cuts taxes?
KAREN
Pages