March 22, 2012 by David K. Sutton
Republican Budget Plan: Reich Explains Why It Is Social Darwinism
As always, Robert Reich offers an intelligent and easy to understand analysis in his article, The Republican’s Social-Darwinist Budget Plan:
The real contrast is over what the plan does for the rich and what it does to everyone else. It reduces the top individual and corporate tax rates to 25 percent. This would give the wealthiest Americans an average tax cut of at least $150,000 a year.
The money would come out of programs for the elderly, lower-middle families, and the poor.
Seniors would get subsidies to buy private health insurance or Medicare – but the subsidies would be capped. So as medical costs increased, seniors would fall further and further behind.
Other cuts would come out of food stamps, Pell grants to offset the college tuition of kids from poor families, and scores of other programs that now help middle-income and the poor.
Republicans continue to dig their heals in when it comes to laissez-faire capitalism, tax breaks for the rich, and sticking it to the poor. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s new budget proposal further reduces taxes for the rich and corporations while slashing programs for the poor. Ryan touts it as a meaningful attempt to cut the deficit and long-term debt but without tax increases it’s far from a serious effort.
Republicans have taken Grover Norquist’s pledge to never raise taxes and that is reflected in Ryan’s budget. Something you should know about Norquist’s pledge…if taxes are decreased they can never be raised again. Yes, that is how Norquist’s pledge works. You can lower taxes but you can’t raise taxes. It’s completely irresponsible for elected officials to sign such a pledge. It also shows no courage because Republicans know this kind of tax rhetoric works with the public. After all, who likes paying taxes?
Thanks for your efforts Mr. Ryan, Mr. Norquist and Republicans in congress. I’m glad we have grown adults running the country.
dks
More reading:
Wonkbook: Why the Republican budgets make the poor pay
Paul Ryan budget proposal sparks criticism from Democrats and some Republicans
