To defeat the conservative ideology, we liberals need to convince the public that we have a better way forwards.
Back in the 1960s some wealthy conservatives were frightened at the direction the country was taking. They undertook a project that, through various twists and turns, has persisted, whose primary aim is to assure the primacy of business interests in controlling the United States, and to reduce government regulation.
Fast forward to the present time, 2000 to 2014. I think the chief appeal of the conservative ideology is -- first and foremost -- the promise to cut taxes and the promise never to raise taxes. This is very heavy duty ammunition, because it promises more money in your pocket, within a short time period, and most of us have a strong attraction to dollars.
But it has a critical weakness that should be attacked with power, vigah, and fervor.
In the long run, taxes that are too low will damage our infrastructure, our research capabilities, and cause a large segment of the population to experience very low wage jobs, cause a sharp decline in the quality of life, cause more job insecurity, raise the level of crime and violence, and make our nation a much less pleasant place to live, and in the long run, cause our economy to be smaller and less prosperous.
The crucial question becomes: when are taxes too low ?
Answers include the following:
[a] When government needs to borrow to pay its bills, or stays afloat by stealing from pension funds and other malpractices;
[b] When infrastructure is not maintained properly, and when construction of necessary new infrastructure is cancelled or delayed
[c] When spending cuts prevent government agencies from functioning properly;
[d] When spending cuts cause unemployment
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It will be appreciated if this question can be forwarded to Paul Krugman, Joe Stiglitz and Robert Reich, by readers with some personal connection.
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Will appreciate suggestions. This is a work in progress.
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UPDATE, November 6
I asked a friend to take a look at this article, and he responded with the following --
"I recently read this article in Fortune Magazine--which you would not expect to be arguing that taxes are too low:
and this :
http://www.investopedia.com/...
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