The proposed 2012 budget...

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by tater

How does raising taxes improve business conditions and encourage employment?

It does'nt and I don't see anyone here arguing that it does.

[gimpy117]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

It does'nt and I don't see anyone here arguing that it does.

I think its more if it hurts it or not. I go back to the 93% tax bracket argument. Unemployment was how low then? the economic climate was different back then, and offshoring wasn't really possible, but taxes were still high. If high taxes on the rich was to kill the economy we still would have been in the depression.

Originally Posted by tater

Regardless, a 93% tax bracket does not mean anyone ever paid anything remotely close to 93%.

The year John Kerry ran he paid an effective rate of ~15%. His top marginal rate was 39%.

So? it shows the politicians are also using all the loopholes in the tax system to get richer. Do you honestly think Kerry is the only one? Besides, It also shows that politicians know full well that there are huge loopholes, but don't close them because they use them and their friends in high places do too. I mean look at GE. they get all sorts of government contracts but pay no taxes, yet, we still hand our public money over. If our government had any sense they'd stop working with them and make what they are doing impossible...but do you think they will?