There are several ways to counter this. And to survive the fiscal cliff, Republicans must make the case for permanent tax relief to get us out of the economic jam we are in.
Congressional Republicans would also be wise to point out that even if rates increase on couples making $250,000, and individual filers making $200,000 and above, it would only raise an additional $42 billion of revenue in 2013 according to the Congressional Budget Office.
That would reduce the $1.2 trillion deficit by just 3.5 percent. We would come nowhere near balancing the budget, let alone being able to retire any portion of the $16.1 trillion national debt — which has grown every single year since 1957.
All of which makes raising rates on top salary earners nothing more than a punitive measure.
They need to say that they are not going to turn the American people against one another for the sake of class envy, that permanent tax relief for everyone is the only fair solution.
Besides clearly messaging its position on a daily basis, the House should pass permanent extensions of current tax rates every single day during the lame duck session and send it to the Senate.
When Harry Reid sits on the legislation, it becomes his fault for not acting on the only legislation that can end this crisis — and avert future ones.
And at the end of the day, if Obama is comfortable flying off the cliff because he couldn’t stick it to the rich, he’s ultimately the petty one who deserves all of the blame when everyone’s taxes go up.
Far more sensible than looking like a fool while enabling a statist progression, don't you think?
