Fox News has a poll out this morning that offers yet more fascinating results. In Washington Monthly's summary, they highlight this question and answer:
Q: What do you think the nation's economy needs more of right now -- the economic policies of Ronald Reagan or the economic policies of Barack Obama?"
A: Obama 49%, Reagan 40%
Wow. Is it too early to re-name National Airport?
They also highlight another interesting question, "Do you think asking the wealthiest Americans to pay more in taxes is a good idea because it levels the economic and social playing field, or a bad idea because it punishes work and success?" 55% of those polled thought it would be best to raise taxes on the wealthy. But, by all means, GOP, please keep arguing this point.
5 comments:
please, this is about as likely as the Netherlands (or, Ned, to their friends) beating the Dominican Republic in the WBC.
Oh, wait....
"Do you think asking the wealthiest Americans to pay more in taxes is a good idea because it levels the economic and social playing field, or a bad idea because it punishes work and success?"
I really hate the way this question is worded. I think asking the wealthiest Americans to pay more in taxes is a good idea because the impact on their quality of life would be much less than it would be for the rest of us. However, this idea that the government has any business levelling the economic playing field is pure, utter crap. Short of things like ethnic background, sex, orientation or ADA concerns, the economic playing field shouldn't be level. Hard work should be rewarded. Success should be rewarded. Allowing the government to tax people to the point that we effectively have a salary cap does nothing but promote mediocrity and that's not good enough.
I think it's important to remember that the marginal rate increase being proposed would merely return the tax rate for the highest brackets to where they were during the '90s. And, that level, 39.6% was already far lower than the highests levels we've ever had. In the 1950s, it was 91%, and it seems to me that American business did pretty well back then. I'm not calling for such a high tax rate, I'm merely saying that we have a long way to go before we hit the level at which people stop seeking higher pay.
Dave, my problem was with the reason for raising taxes as stated in the poll question - "because it levels the economic and social playing field" - not necessaily with the idea of raising taxes.
Ah. Sorry. Sometimes my knee jerks a little too easily.
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