Have you noticed the Republicans have been trying to reframe the argument against raising the tax rates on the highest income bracket in the U.S. as inhibiting "job creators"? The implication, of course, in classic Reagan-era "voodoo economics," is that the wealthiest Americans are able to boost our economy by creating jobs (and not just for Mexican lawn boys).
There are two problems with this theory. First, all evidence points to the fact that the wealthiest Amercians are not spending. They are hoarding. They are not creating jobs. The tax breaks have been in effect for nearly a decade. Where are those jobs that they were going to create?
Secondly, the true "job creators" are ALL OF US. We go to the store, whether it's the local market or the Wally World. We buy goods and services that make it possible for companies who provide those goods and services to employ more people.
One of the major reasons there aren't more jobs available is that the suffering middle class doesn't have the income to buy a new camper or a new refrigerator or have the lawn maintained or the car detailed. The GOP can blather on about tax incentives all they want; the simple fact is, jobs will appear when companies need to meet a greater demand. Giving millionaires a tax break will not increase demand.
Anything that helps the vast majority of this country get over the hump during this mega-recession (or whatever they're calling it now) will ultimately create jobs. If that help comes at the expense of raising the marginal tax rate on income OVER $1,000,000 per year by 3%, I say it's well worth it. If I ever make $1,000,001 in a single year, I will happily pay 39 cents of that final dollar in taxes.
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