National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru says the GOP candidates are blowing the tax issue. They're offering no tax relief to families, and protecting tax breaks for the wealthy. Excerpt:
For years, liberals have said that Republicans talk about “family values” but won’t do anything to meet the economic needs of families. Right now, on taxes, that charge hits home. ...As the Republican Party has gotten more socially conservative, its voter base has become lower in income. Many of the working-class social conservatives on whom the party relies are parents trying to make ends meet, or young people who want to start families but have financial worries. They have no particular attachment, or hostility, to free-market principles. A Republican Party that found a conservative way to meet their economic needs would both hold and expand its base.
Conversely, a Democratic Party that would give social conservatives a real place at the table could build a durable majority. I don't think the pro-abortion dogmatists in the party would let that happen. But damned if I can figure out why the GOP is so dogmatic about tax breaks for the wealthy, and crumbs for the middle and working classes who are their natural supporters.
(HT: Ross).
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"But damned if I can figure out why the GOP is so dogmatic about tax breaks for the wealthy, and crumbs for the middle and working classes who are their natural supporters."
Say Sailer and Ponnuru:
The Republican elites haven't realized how much their base has changed. And they are trying to tell them!
Plus, I suspect Charles Murray might have something to say about elites having such a hard time learning about the regular people, too.
For example, Pres. Bush shares my religious values, but he doesn't know what it's like to be middle class with a large family. He's so insulated that he can't feel the implications of a growing illegal underclass. Unlike me, he'll never know what it is like to have a member of that group beat one of his children, like my seven year old son, with a wide tree limb for no reason and nurse his injuries throughout the night, crying. He'll also never know what it's like to settle for a more downscale neighborhood because said larger family leaves you poorer.... And then have the elites resettle members of the underclass there at government expense!
Creating better family leave policies for workers would be nice...
How about eliminating the marriage penalty provisions in SSI for couples with disabilities? Under current rules, such a couple will lose 25% of their already meager joint income if they refuse to live in sin. Where is Sam Brownback on this issue?
How about eliminating the marriage penalty provisions in SSI for couples with disabilities? Under current rules, such a couple will lose 25% of their already meager joint income if they refuse to live in sin. Where is Sam Brownback on this issue?
The Republicans suggesting, in any circumstances, that SSI payments should be higher?
Gee, I wonder why they don't do that. ;)
Maybe because they'd rather support a war machine than good religious poor people with disabilities. Now why would they do that? Can you say Seamless Shroud?
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