Oh really? Why did we run a multi-billion dollar deficit then? I think Reagan showed very well that 'supply-side' does not work. The rich, who had their taxes cut, didn't invest or spend their surplus to help the masses. They saved it. Those who invested may have helped the retirement plans of the middle class but what about the lower to lower-middle class who could've used that little bit of extra money just to feed their families each month?
In reality, 172, you are raising a VERY important point. Not only was there a recalcitrant democrat congress who finally bowed to public pressure on the tax cut issue, and the lag time discussed above for economic changes to come into full bloom, but the deficit spending had a very real cause. Some of it was justifed, as Carter had left our military hung out to dry, without the funding necessary to keep the services vital and up to date. Reagan helped to start to rebuild our military to the point where they were subsequently ready to fight the persian gulf war. There was a lot of other congressional spending that was far out of control, and the deficit ballooned. Some republicans went along, but the passage of those spending bills was firmly laid on the doorstep of the democrat controlled congress.
Thanks for asking about that. The
reason for the large deficit is often ignored by the critics of the Reagan tax cuts.
I think Reagan showed very well that 'supply-side' does not work. The rich, who had their taxes cut, didn't invest or spend their surplus to help the masses. They saved it. Those who invested may have helped the retirement plans of the middle class but what about the lower to lower-middle class who could've used that little bit of extra money just to feed their families each month?
Actually, supply side DOES work. No matter what the largest taxpayers in our society do with their money (let's stress
their money) the outcome is good for the middle class. If they save, that money is invested by banks. Businesses grow and employ more workers. New businesses are started, and people from welfare to work programs are
hired and empowered. If they invest directly, stocks go up. If they
spend their money, goods and services are sold to them. Maybe my company puts on another airplane, and two more crews are hired. Do you see? Money not taxed out of existance is free to be passed around our entire society, bringing security and stability wherever it goes!
If families had received only the "little bit of money" that you speak about, and it is spent, is it enough to open a new supermarket that employs 50 people who had been out of work? Or, on the other hand, does that "little bit" get spent on a few lottery tickets, or a night in Atlantic City? You have to remember that chestnut about the difference between giving a man a fish, and teaching him
how to fish. When the top five percent of taxpayers get a tax reduction, a whole lot of people learn how to fish.
It is hard for many of us to relate to the kids who grew up with booze, crack, and daily abuse. These are the people who you propose taking welfare away from. Easy to blame their situation on the parents but what should we do for these kids? Should they 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' as you guys keep spouting? Think the corporate tax breaks are helping out their retirement plans? Think the corporations they might have a chance to work for will pay them a wage they can live on? Should we let them starve to death? I don't like the welfare system either but what are the alternatives for those unprepared by their parents to survive in this world?
Bring it on, my friend. You remind me of myself when I was a liberal. Let's take a look.
It is hard for many of us to relate to the kids who grew up with booze, crack, and daily abuse. These are the people who you propose taking welfare away from. Easy to blame their situation on the parents but what should we do for these kids?
Some of these problems are
cultural. This means that members of these communities have to better police themselves against these domestic cancers. If solutions came from outside these communities, the first card played by the self-appointed "leaders" is the race card. They say that "the white man wants us under his thumb". Folks need to take back their communities, and not allow the open air drug markets, the gangs, the criminal lifestyle. Glorifying "gangstas" and bad attitudes is a symptom. Read what Walter Wiliams has to say about this. He grew up in the Richard Allen Homes in Philadelphia. I myself lived in some of Philly's most poor neighborhoods, so I have a personal insight into this. The problem with the kids is this: they are growing up idolizing dope dealers and murderers. One big problem, especially in the black communitiy, is the idea that if you live a clean, repectable, law-abiding life, study hard, and go on to college (based on your meritorious work) you are widely seen as "acting white" and are seen as an outcast, a pariah. This accusation suggests that to do the obverse is to be "acting black". A number of black writers have worked on this subject, if you doubt the perspective of a white man.
Think the corporate tax breaks are helping out their retirement plans?
I think that corporate tax breaks free up investment money and charitable giving to foundations that are working to help people escape these horrible conditions. A large part of this is the coming reality of "faith based initiatives" which will make better use of government money than the old "welfare" system. There is a large Christian component in the black community, and they stand ready to do an admirable job.
Should we let them starve to death? I don't like the welfare system either but what are the alternatives for those unprepared by their parents to survive in this world?
No. I don't think anyone is starving to death. There is a great deal of inertia to be overcome as we try and help these communities to slow and then reverse their moral decay. We quite effectively removed any sense of right and wrong from the classrooms where these children attend school, and now we wonder why they will shoot another child for a pair of sneakers. Almost every minority who is successful for some skill not related to music or athletics is a person who was raised by people of
faith, and got where he or she is today by hard work. Or, as their detractors would say in their old neighborhoods today, they are successful because they
acted white. That is racism of the worst kind, to sabotage the children who could become decent citizens.
The only satisfying movement to bring about this cultural change must come from within the poorest communities, and be assisted by the rest of us. Government checks on the first Monday will only slow the healing.
I hope that this helps you to have a better understanding.
). I concede on the big business issue, but clearly the Ds are more pro-labor than the Rs. I prefaced my remarks with "simplistic," which they are. Could you kindly point out, in equally simplistic terms, where I am incorrect?
). I agree many dems are centrists -- so are many reps. When our elected officials start getting out too far either direction they represent the interests of small and sometimes militant groups.
