...a political suggestion.

The subtitle of my blog is "Music, Movies and More".  The more can be any number of issues including, but not restricted to, political issues.   In that spirit, I would like to talk about one of the most ridiculous political moves in recent history.

I am a fairly partisan democrat.  Which sometimes makes me feel like I have masochistic tendencies.  Its not because I have issues with what most of the democratic party stands for.  It is more that I am frustrated by how easily the democrats in the Congress and in the Senate fold under pressure in not supporting their ideology.  The most recent example is the debate surrounding extending the Bush era tax cuts which are set to expire this year.

Now, the tax cuts, as they are currently written, themselves are causing serious problems with the national budget increasing the national debt (the eight years of the Bush administration after these cut saw the national debt increase four trillion (with a "t") dollars.  So the democrats initially supported continuing the tax cuts for those making under $250,000 while allowing them to expire and return to Clinton era tax rates for those making over $250,000.

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that businesses both large and small managed to do all right under the tax rates from the Clinton era.  But now, what used to be the middle class, is hurting and needs help.  So the republican insistence that they will filibuster any tax cut that doesn't include cutting taxes for those who are making a very comfortable living seems extremely ridiculous.

So why won't the democrats push this legislation?  Why won't they bring it up for a vote?  Why are they scared of republicans filibustering a tax cut bill in the Senate?  Isn't this what the democrats need to not only keep seats in November, but maybe even increase their majorities?  Either they will give the American people a popular tax cut for those who need it, or make the republican look foolish and elitist blocking its passage.

I have an even better idea.  Let's introduce a tax bill that completely cuts income taxes for those making under $250,000.  No taxes.  No withholding for taxes.  Then, let's make up the lost revenue by increasing the taxes on any money earned over $250,000.  Basically for everyone, the first $250,000 will be completely tax free.  Need an economic stimulus?  How about all those millions of working class people having more money in their pocket.  The economy will recover quickly.  Worried about increasing the national debt?  Make the tax cuts expire in ten years, unless Congress decides to extend them.

Can you imagine the republicans campaigning against these tax cuts?  Even if they do, so what?  What the democrats will have done is to take the tax cut issue away from the republicans.  It will be harder for republicans to campaign effectively by painting their opposition as "tax and spend".  If the bill passes, the democrats benefit.  If the bill fails because of republican opposition, the democrats benefit.  It seems a win-win situation.  Why the politicos in Washington cannot see this (apologies to those in Washington who aren't blocking this legislative effort), defies any reasonable explanation.

I am afraid that Jon Stewart was correct when The Daily Show talked about how will democrats [screw] up the tea party gifts they were being presented with during the midterm elections.