Gov Mark Sanford’s cure for the GOP blues
By Jeremy Hinton | Sunday, November 30th, 2008 | PolicyWith all the recent commentary and discussions here (and elsewhere) on how the GOP gain regain its seemingly diminished stature, I thought some here might be interested in a recent op-ed from South Carolina Gov Mark Sanford in Politico. Sanford, if you recall, received some buzz early on as a potential 2008 presidential candidate, and again as a running mate for McCain. From what I have seen, I believe Gov Sanford’s views would receive a warm reception from many here.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
We're 75% there! Thank you to everyone who has so far contributed! Just $2000 to go!
Comments
5 Responses to "Gov Mark Sanford’s cure for the GOP blues"
Yeah, we all benefit from hindsight.
But will the Republican coalition be broken up? Will the Republicans come around to the center and the middle class or will they continue to insist giving more to the wealthy is the way to go?
My money is going to be placed on the middle class. The wealthy have the money but they do not have the votes. At least not any more.
Littledavid,
Just a point of clarification here… im assuming your point “giving more to the wealthy” is in reference to the bush tax cuts (which by the way cut taxes on everyone and made the tax code more progressive then is was prior).
Could you please explain to me how taking less money through the threat of force is “giving” more money to the wealthy?
If I came to you with a gun every week and forced you to give me your paycheck… but then one week i force you to only give me half you check, am i “giving” you money?
EJ,
If you are opposed to the “American Way” I am willing to take my gun and force you to comply.
Under my understanding of the American Way the wealthy pay more under a progressive tax code.
I voted to run Thelma Drake out of office because she wanted to raise my taxes by about 5 grand a year to give the likes of Paris Hilton a tax cut.
I fear the new Republicans as much as I fear communists. In fact I look at the Republicans turning their back on the American Way as risking the spread of communism by failing to keep the masses happy. If the masses are not happy, they might revolt. Fortunately for us, they can revolt at the voting booth.
The American Way is a progressive tax code. While I might not be willing to take up arms to defend it, I sure am going to be willing to defend it at the voting booth.
You guys that are against the American Way are actually in favor of furthering the appeal of the communists.
Oops, I misspoke. I am not willing to take my gun and force you to comply. I am only willing to send the cops after you to get you to comply.
I will continue to defend the American Way at the voting booth. I only hope that I do not have to take up arms one day due to stupid voters.
EJ, that “Bush’s tax cuts made the system more progressive” line is a canard. That supposition is based on CBO data that showed percentage of the tax burden payed by wealthy families increased slightly over the time prior to the tax cuts. But this is due to the skyrocketing incomes of the top 1% of earners and the growing income gap, not the tax reform (see Prof. Lane Kenworthy’s blog entry). The top 1% of earners payed on average 5% less of their income towards taxes after Bush’s cuts, a bigger drop than any other income group, per the same CBO study. This paper by the CBPP breaks it down nicely.
The evaluation of the progressiveness of a tax code needs to be based on its impact on the individual tax payer, not on the percentage of the tax burden shouldered. The second metric is invalid, as it introduces too many additional variables unattributable to the the direct income tax code.
Leave your response