Taxing financial equality

Michael Reagan over at Human Events Online lists a number of things that Bush should work on to continue what he calls the "Reagan Revolution." A number of his items have actually been made worse by Bush's first term (deficits, inability to appoint judges), but one point in particular needs to be addressed right now.

Tax reform is a must. Our burdensome and absurd tax code must be junked and replaced with a sensible revenue-raising system that does not punish success as does the current tax system.

The current tax system does not "punish success." The rich in the country continue to get richer in spite of the current tax system. And if you remember correctly, our President himself campaigned on the idea that the rich don't pay their share of taxes anyway (that's what lawyers are for, he would claim) in order to scare the middle class into thinking that Kerry would be forced to raise taxes on them.

But this is the idea that the Republicans are going to try and push forward. That the current system penalizes the wealthy and discourages the poor and middle class to strive to join the upper bracket is a false meme that they will try hard to push. But I ask anyone reading this if I offered to pay you $500,000 more than you do right now, would you take it? Of course you would. And that proves that talking point false.

More importantly, Democrats need to start talking about the tax issue not only in the deficiencies offered by the other side, but also the greatness of what it is they propose. Everyone but those who celebrate the flat/sales tax understands that it shifts the burden from the wealthy to those in the middle class, and it is important to begin pushing that idea. But also make it known to the middle and lower class that the progressive system actually encourages movement up the ranks of the social ladder, not only by allowing those classes to keep more of their money, but also by freeing more capital up to flow amongst the classes.

This is a very rudimentary and quickly thought out idea, but listening to the Republican heads on TV, they often tell me how great things will be for me if I listen to them. Maybe the Democrats should take the same tactic. Leave the Republicans to defend themselves against the positives of liberalism. Put them on the defensive for a change.