Legal Commentary

Progressive Agenda: How About Some Progressive Taxation?

By Big Tent Democrat

Earlier I wrote about President Obama's boasting about his progressive accomplishments. What he can't boast about yet is any accomplishments regarding making our tax system more progressive. And it's not like this is an unpopular part of the the progressive agenda. Citing a poll (one of many) showing strong support for increasing taxes on the rich and corporations, Matt Yglesias writes:

[H]igher Social Security taxes for the rich, higher income taxes for the rich, higher corporate income tax[. . . .] That’s pretty much an aggressively leveling agenda. Broad tax increases are deemed unacceptable, as are broad reductions in retirement program spending (even when formulated as changes to the retirement age), as are cuts to defense and cuts to federal education spending. That’s what the public wants. [. . .] I don’t see why a practical politician would do anything other than talk about these measures.

(Emphasis supplied.) That is precisely what a good progressive politician would be talking about right now. That and jobs. Hello? Anyone? Bueller?

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 17, 2010 (boomark / email).