Show Me the Money!

Ezra Klein has a good post up regarding Obama and taxes. Obama has refused to label himself as a tax cutter or a tax raiser when queried about tax policy, as he should. He has said that the real question is who's taxes are being raised? Rich? Poor? Both? One can assume that Obama is implying that he doesn't mind raising taxes on the rich. Which of course, we should do, and should've done years ago.

Anyways, Ezra goes on to say that the real question should be what are we paying for? I think Ezra is exactly right about this. After the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis and breaking of the levees in New Orleans it is clear that this country needs to consider serious investment in infrastructure. Tax policy is a topic that Democrats have long been afraid to discuss, and rightly so, I might add. Republicans have been very successful in labeling Democrats as "tax raisers" and fiscally irresponsible. The time is ripe for the Dems to show just how archaic this line of attack is. The Bush administration has enacted one of the most devastating tax cuts in history, and the benefits went almost exclusively to the very, very rich. Simultaneously, Bush has ballooned the federal budget. It would not be too difficult to point out to the American public how unjust the Republican tax policy really is.

Once this point has been established, the Democrats could educate the public on how a progressive tax policy can be beneficial to all. No one enjoys paying taxes, I sure as hell don't. However, Americans need to understand that the services they demand and cherish are funded by taxes. Rolling back the tax cuts enacted in 2001 on the very wealthy would free up a lot of revenue. These funds could be allocated towards insurer more people, improving schools, rebuilding America's infrastructure, and a number of other priorities of the progressive agenda.

Democrats need to stop conceding defeat to Republicans on tax policy. A smart campaign would confront the GOP on taxes and educate the public on just how disastrous the Republican policy truly is.