I know, dear reader, that you are shocked that Robert Reich thinks we need higher and higher taxes.
Here's how the local press covers it.
Here's how the local press covers it.
Reich said similar concerns existed regarding the country's substantial debts at the conclusion of World War II, but the nation grew its way out of debt during the Eisenhower years.
During the 1950s, the United States made substantial investments in highways and education, which the government financed at a time when the wealthy faced much higher marginal tax rates than at present.
"The only way we can get out of the gravitational pull of the Great Recession is to revisit the social contract we once had," Reich said.There's a lot that is demographically wrong with the picture that Reich suggests. 1950s America was an ethnically homogeneous, young country. We didn't have all the retirees that we do today. In fact, we live in the echoes of those times because all of the young people of those years are now living into their nineties. In other words, young countries do better; older countries grow old.
It's a globalized world, Mr. Reich. If you tax us, we will leave. (Some of us will stay and fight, however. That's what the tea party was all about.) You want to pay higher taxes or contribute to highway funds or what have you? You pay for those programs with donations or through charity. Nothing is stopping you.
Of course the real reason Reich favors high taxes is control. Many of us will take the themes of that new movie, Atlas Shrugged Part I and "go Galt."
Of course the real reason Reich favors high taxes is control. Many of us will take the themes of that new movie, Atlas Shrugged Part I and "go Galt."
8 comments:
"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."
"1950s America was an ethnically homogeneous, young country"
Yes, Johnson, I agree. If our country had more white people, we would not be in a budget crisis.
Read a little Tocqueville or Putnam and get back to me, race-baiter.
Race baiter? Charles, you're just like every other fat, white, Tea Party birther. If we could only go back to the 1950s, right? Everything would be perfect. Fat white men could run the country and everyone else...well, who really cares about every one else.
Wow, you're pathetic, you know that?
I was making a point about how diversity isn't actually a net positive when it comes to assimilation and moving along. The country is older and greyer and less homogeneous. That's just how it is demographically. Less homogeneous countries tend to spend more on defense, and hunker down, a la Putnam.
In other words, read a sociology book. Keep name calling, loser.
Wow, you're pathetic, you know that?
I was making a point about how diversity isn't actually a net positive when it comes to assimilation and moving along. The country is older and greyer and less homogeneous. That's just how it is demographically. Less homogeneous countries tend to spend more on defense, and hunker down, a la Putnam.
In other words, read a sociology book. Keep name calling, loser.
"Less homogeneous countries tend to spend more on defense"
As I recall, the U.S. spent more on defense (per GDP) during the homogeneous 50s. I know your response: The 50s defense budget was well justified under the context of the Cold War.
Fine. But are you implying that the wars on Afghanistan, Iraq, Lybia are partially a result of a lessening homogeneous society?
I think not.
Go ahead and go Galt and see if anyone misses you.
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