Salon - "GOP: No tax hikes -- except for the poor"

[TomCADem]

Here is an interesting story in Salon discussing Republican opposition to Democratic efforts to extent the temporary extention of the payroll tax cut, which mostly benefits the middle class due to the $102,000 cap on wages that are subject to the cap. The Republicans don't even try to hide their hypocrisy, because the American people have been conditioned to Blame Democrats, Give Republicans a Free Pass.

http://www.salon.com/news/taxes/?story=/tech/htww/2011/08/22/republican_tax_increase

How does the Republican Party continue to win elections? The Associated Press is reporting that GOP legislators are opposing the extension of a payroll tax cut that will expire on Jan. 1. The clear, unavoidable message: Americans workers should pay more taxes, while the rich should pay less.

That's not a joke, and it's not an Onion headline. The very same Republicans who have fought tooth-and-nail to keep George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy from expiring are now in favor of doing away with a tax cut that will primarily hit wage-earners -- people who actually have to work for a living, people who are struggling to pay their mortgages and wincing every time they fill up their gas tank.

* * *

"It's always a net positive to let taxpayers keep more of what they earn," says Rep. Jeb Hensarling, "but not all tax relief is created equal for the purposes of helping to get the economy moving again." The Texas lawmaker is on the House GOP leadership team.

The theoretical basis for this argument, such as it is, is based on the assumption that keeping taxes low on the "job-creators" -- the rich, and corporations -- will spur investment and hiring. The empirical evidence for this theory has always been slim -- some of the strongest economic growth rates of the last century in the United States occurred when taxes on the wealthy were at their highest rates -- but it's particularly absurd right now, after two years in which corporate profits have been high, taxes have been low, and employment growth has been paltry.

[indurancevile]

1. The people they're dog-whistling to are the upper-middle, who are currently taxed at higher rates

(combined) than any other bracket -- including the truly rich. Medium-sized business owners, well-paid professionals, etc.

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

2. Tax the poor, until there are no poor, no more ?

That just might work ! :rofl:

[Selatius]

3. The payroll tax cut was only there because Obama caved on the Bush tax cuts.

If you remember, the extension of the Bush tax cut and the added payroll tax cut were the concessions to Republicans in order to get an extension for unemployment benefits.

Many opposed the deal in the first place because it looked like a huge cave to regressive forces favoring defunding of social programs and low taxes for the wealthy. I don't mind paying the old rate for Social Security taxes because it will help guarantee its solvency, and it's my money and my program. What I do oppose is making Social Security partly or wholly dependent upon the General Fund to make up any shortfalls in funding because of a payroll tax holiday. If SS becomes too dependent upon the General Fund for shortfalls, then that will make it easier for Republicans to gain leverage over Social Security in order to privatize it in the long-run.

[Fumesucker]

4. It's already happened..

The last round of "tax cuts" *raised* the effective tax rate on those making under $20,000 per year.

And Obama signed it.

[tanyev]

5. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

[SpiralHawk]

6. Republicons against Americans. As usual.

Freaking FatCats & their SuckerPuppet Fox-watching patsies.