The Democrats need to realize that they should just keep it simple. It is unbelievable that McCain and Palin just get away with the false "Obama will raise taxes for EVERYONE" line of attack despite Obama's clear pronouncement about reducing taxes for middle class and poor americans in his acceptance speech. That's because Democrats never give a consistent unified "We also try to minimize taxes" message. Have you ever noticed that property taxes in republican areas are really not any lower than the Democratic party controlled areas for comparable locales? I have not done any serious research on it, but it seems that way to me.
Even freaking Obama will say that he will reduce taxes in one breath but then give equal emphasis in time and tone to "i will increase capital gains". Why the hell do you do that? Just mention it quietly on rare occasions. Just keep it simple. Make your message "I will reduce taxes for nearly everyone" and do the little footnote thing about higher taxes for only certain segments. I have seen Obama get a little more forceful in recent weeks in emphasizing the lower taxes thing. But over the years, the DEmocrats have done a lousy job in fighting for lower taxes that it is ingrained in people's mind that we stand for higher taxes even when the Presidential candidate has veered away from such a tired old approach.
It doesn't help that quite a few democrats have advocated higher taxes in the past making it easier for Republicans to confuse the people with distortions. Hell, even on this blog, I differ with many of the readers on this issue. Let us get this straight. The deficit will not be cleared by just raising taxes. Congress will just find a way to increase spending with the new found money. The key is to drastically cut spending.
NOw where do we cut spending? The republicans serve their constituents well by fighting for their causes and enrich Halliburton. The DEmocrats do the same with their constituents, many of who are not as rich or fortunate as Halliburton and the assistance is to a lesser degree. But there is one HUGE difference. Republicans will not ask for higher taxes in most cases. They will do their best to kill off the Democratic Party programs. IN an ideal two party system, the Democrats should be doing the same with the other party's programs. Instead, they offer meek resistance and then turn to the tired old "well we need more taxes" mantra. So what ends up happening is the republicans get away with their programs with very little going to much needed liberal programs. How about curbing spending to the minimum(and with the predicted majorities, make most of the cuts in useless areas such as oil subsidies, war on drugs and other useless bullshit wars). Once you have proven to the taxpayers that you can spend responsibly, raise taxes if you must. Do not ask for higher taxes whe you do not fulfill your duties as responsible representatives that care about how our taxes are spent.
P.S.: Sorry for posting this accidentally on the front page. I realized it and made it a diary instead of an entry.
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