Display:
I think tax rebates ARE a bad idea.

Go for infrastructure project, full steam ahead. Refurbish buildings so they become more energy efficient, and you'll win on all counts: you'll find employment in the building industry which is depressed, those people probably WILL spend the money they earn, you'll reduce this frightening energy bill, and make a (however small) dent in global warming.

And because you keep taxing at the same rate, you'll get more of your money back.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 09:50:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]
That's a great idea, and six or seven months from now, when the economy's digging a giant hole, I'm sure Congress will get around to passing it.  In the meantime, what?

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 09:53:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Will Bush have to do this by executive order?

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:02:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Do what?

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:09:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Whatever it is that needs done.

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:09:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm not sure he has the authority to do any of this by executive order (not that it's ever stopped him before).

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:16:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
If the economy is in trouble, then it could theoretically weaken the military.  Since the US is at war, a weakening in the military would be a weakening in overall National Security.  Thus, the economy is a national security matter, and thus the president's unlimited power as commander in chief authorize him to take whatever actions are necessary to address this deep and troubling threat to national security.

Or some might argue.

by Zwackus on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 05:38:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, why would they be quicker to pass anything else? So whatever we come up with, you may answer that Congress will wait until the election's over.

Hang on, there's an idea: haven't we read everywhere that this campaign was the most expensive ever? And contributions are almost all from very rich people, so it won't change their consumption patterns. There you have it, money being poured into the economy!

All you need now is to make the election close enough that the campaign costs 2% of GDP.
Of course, if Republicans win, contributors sure will expect to be paid back in policies. But by then, the seven months will be over and Congress may have passed our initial idea. Neat, isn't it?

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:08:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't know what you're on about with the campaign, but wiping out the 10% bracket with general agreement in Congress is a lot simpler than setting up a massive program to refurbish buildings for energy efficiency.  That's not to say that the idea doesn't have merit, -- it does -- but you're talking about moving an enormous amount of bureaucracy and dealing with all sorts of fights in Congress.  My point is that they need to be pumping money into consumers' hands now, and then move to public works projects.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:15:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It seems to me that taxes are already way too low in the US.
Also, tax cuts hit the wrong targets (if you don't have a job you probably don't pay income taxes). And they don't have much of an immediate effect either -it comes with future earnings.

But this guy may explain it better.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 at 10:28:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series