Let Bush-Obama Tax Cuts Expire

Copy of a letter sent to other member of the Hebron Democratic Town Committee. Also see my earlier posts on this subject.

Dear Fellow DTC members -

I am dismayed by President Obama's surrender to Republicans regarding the expiring tax cuts.

I was opposed to the cuts when they were proposed during the Bush administration. The intervening years have proven one thing: They didn't work.

I feel that the best course would have been to let them all expire because they are increasing our national debt (which our children and grandchildren and great...etc, will have to pay dearly for.) Even the teabaggers knew that bringing down the debt should be a national priority.

Our President and other elected officials should be howling this message from the rooftops: the cuts are fiscally irresponsible. The national debt is money we owe primarily to other nations, particularly China. This outside ability to cut off our access to funds threatens our national security...It may easily be money we need for national defense, and we've put ourselves in a position where our potential adversaries can control our economy.

Ideally, the tax cuts could apply only to the most important 98 (or 99%) of us - those of us netting less than $250,000 (or $1,000,000). This would keep money in the hands of those who spend it on things that create and sustain jobs. those who net more than these amounts can, and should, pay more tax on the amounts above these numbers.

Republicans would have us believe that this would hurt small businesses because they have to spend money on wages and supplies. In a word, bull. These Republicans either do not understand how business taxes work, or they're lying. Any business paying taxes on gross income (before deducting costs of labor and supplies) needs to find a competent tax advisor. Small businesses will not pay the pre-Bush taxes unless they have a net profit (i.e., the dollars the owners get to keep) unless those numbers are over the minimums.

If push come to shove, I would much prefer to see all the cuts (including mine) expire, rather than continue them for the super-rich. I don't really want to pay more taxes, but I understand that my civic duty sometimes requires that I do things I don't like.

Kathy & I have contacted Courtney, Dodd & Lieberman asking them to oppose the cuts. See a copy of the letter on my blog.

I also just learned that Rep. Peter Welch, Democrat from Vermont, wrote a letter last night saying NO to this deal and asking his fellow Representatives in the House to stand with him. Within minutes, many other Representatives added their name. Can you call Joe Courtney, and ask him to sign the Welch letter and fight against this deal to give tax cuts to the rich? 1-202-225-2076. I called, and got a "He's not here, and nobody here knows where he stands on the issue."  ( ! ! ! ! ! ! )

Please help. I think we need to push Pres. Obama to learn to negotiate before he gives away the most important parts of legislation, not after. And in this case, the"deal" does major harm to our economy and to our children.

Thanks for your attention.

Peace,
Gil Salk

Also see my earlier posts on this subject, today and in Nov. Thanks. Comments very welcome