Politics Thread

[paulxu]

Some people have a hard time with facts and reality.
And feel compelled to resort to name calling like 3rd grade kids, or our president.
Does that make you feel superior or important some how?

[paulxu]

Politics in a big bill:
1 - Let's cut the hell out of Medicaid, and use the savings to extend the tax cut favoring the really wealthy
2 - Wait...that might cut rural health care, especially hospitals, and our majority depends on these rural states and their outsized voting influence
3 - OK...we'll delay the cuts until Dec 2026 (magically after the midterms) or maybe even until 2028 (after the general)
4 - that might help us hold on to the senate seats
5 - but then these rural hospitals might close...so lets add $25 billion to support them (Collins wants $100 billion). That will keep those rural folks voting to keep us in.

Perfect !
(What about the people who will be hurt by medicaid cuts? Let'em eat cake, or whatever)

[xuphan]

Politics in a big bill:
1 - Let's cut the hell out of Medicaid, and use the savings to extend the tax cut favoring the really wealthy
2 - Wait...that might cut rural health care, especially hospitals, and our majority depends on these rural states and their outsized voting influence
3 - OK...we'll delay the cuts until Dec 2026 (magically after the midterms) or maybe even until 2028 (after the general)
4 - that might help us hold on to the senate seats
5 - but then these rural hospitals might close...so lets add $25 billion to support them (Collins wants $100 billion). That will keep those rural folks voting to keep us in.

Perfect !
(What about the people who will be hurt by medicaid cuts? Let'em eat cake, or whatever)

You don’t think the Dems do the same thing for votes? I honestly don’t understand why the ultra wealthy deserve tax cuts. Jeff Bezos ultra expensive wedding should make that clear. Not sure why people support this other than it lines the pockets of politicians. With that being said, the Dems seem to support people living off snap and Medicaid. They have turned it into a lifestyle. For example, my folks used to run a small business in a rural town. They would get multiple people come in wanting not to interview for a job but to sign their paper saying they tried to interview so that they could remain on government assistance. Why should the government support people who just want to live off the government? Shouldn’t there be plan in place to get people off of government assistance? I’d rather see government money given to people who are atleast working if they aren’t paid well than to people who just collect the paycheck as they call it here. Dems are just the other side of extreme compared to the pubs.

[paulxu]

I certainly agree that people who violate the program should not be allowed to use it.
But I don't agree with punishing those in need; especially to support the super wealthy who have never needed the massive tax cuts.

[Strange Brew]

I certainly agree that people who violate the program should not be allowed to use it.
But I don't agree with punishing those in need; especially to support the super wealthy who have never needed the massive tax cuts.

How massive are the cuts Paul?

[paulxu]

Extending the expiring 2017 Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) would decrease federal tax revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034.

https://taxfoundation.org/research/a...econciliation/

[Strange Brew]

https://taxfoundation.org/research/a...econciliation/

So no change from the current rates since those have been in place since ‘17. In other words, no new cuts.

What you actually want is one of the largest tax increases in history by letting the 2017 rates expire. BTW, that will raise taxes on everyone who pays them.

[paulxu]

Since the 2017 tax cuts primarily helped the top earners, they would bear the cessation of the cuts...after 8+ years of benefits.
Yes, the lower percentiles would have to pay a little more. True. The current iteration actually has the lowest decile paying more..but the top is not concerned with that at all.

But, since it willl not increase the annual deficit and total debt (something I thought fiscal responsible Republicans are concerned about), and would help lower those burdens, I assume you would be in favor of letting them expire. But I do appreciate your scare tactics.

[Strange Brew]

Since the 2017 tax cuts primarily helped the top earners, they would bear the cessation of the cuts...after 8+ years of benefits.
Yes, the lower percentiles would have to pay a little more. True. The current iteration actually has the lowest decile paying more..but the top is not concerned with that at all.

But, since it willl not increase the annual deficit and total debt (something I thought fiscal responsible Republicans are concerned about), and would help lower those burdens, I assume you would be in favor of letting them expire. But I do appreciate your scare tactics.

So, yes. One of the largest tax increases in history on everyone who pays them. Also, the lowest decile does not pay more by % or real dollars.

It’s no mystery why the Ds didn’t rescind and raise the 2017 rates when they had control of the Congress and the POTUS.

I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you the Clinton/Obama era rates in exchange for $3T in spending cuts. The repeal of the IRA would make a huge dent in your side of the ledger. Deal?

[paulxu]

You only have so much political capitol in 2 years with a congress on your side.
R's used it to cut taxes (primarily helping the rich) which increased the deficit.
D's used it in an effort to get medical coverage for millions of Americans (Obama) and jump start the economy/deal with Covid (Biden).
The IRA was for infrastructure (what Trump talked about every week but never did), prescription drug, help, etc.

So, no deal. But if we had kept the Clinton tax rates in place for 25 years, used the projected surplus to pay down the debt (like you might at home), and not started unfunded wars (as we never did in the past)....perhaps there wouldn't even be a deficit/debt problem. You've got the right idea to return to those rates though. They created the balanced budget you hear so much about.