Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut
Here’s why I can’t take these “tea party” protests seriously: In an op-ed in the WSJ, Glenn Reynolds’ first sentence declares that thousands of taxpayers are taking to the streets “to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending.” If government spending is your pet peeve, then fine, protest the Obama administration’s spending projects, but please try to offer an alternative, reasonable way to stimulate the economy.
But to protest taxes after one of the biggest tax cuts in American history? Come on. Most of the protesters at these tea bagging parties are paying lower taxes thanks to the Obama administration’s stimulus package. Obama’s tax cut was larger than cuts passed under Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. This would be like anti-war protesters protesting troop withdrawals, or PETA protesting against endangered species protections. It doesn’t make sense.
And to top it all off, participants like Glenn Reynolds are trying to portray it as a mass uprising against the socialists of the Obama administration. But public polling paints a very different picture. Public polling shows that most Americans—71%—approve of the way Obama is handling the economy. Public polling shows more Americans are okay with the amount of taxes they are paying than any point since 1956.
The problem is, many of the people protesting today don’t have any idea what they’re really mad about, or if they do, they aren’t conveying the message with clarity. It’s like Glenn Beck pouring gasoline over an “average American” to express his disgust with Obama’s immigration plans—it’s over-the-top and the intended symbolism only gets through to the handful of individuals who already agree with him.
It’s just undirected anger, that was conspicuously absent when the Bush administration was running up deficits, bailing out Wall Street, and pouring billions into an unnecessary war.
Cross-posted at Ablogistan.
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19 Responses to “Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut”
Certain tax cuts are stimulatory. Why else did Obama put them into the stimulus package?
And you want the demonstrators to offer solutions? How does that work, exactly- holding up signs with detailed budget proposals or something?
I find it hysterical that the left now ridicules demonstrations, which have always been a hallmark of patriotic dissent from their side.
The solution to high government spending is obvious. Lower spending. It's not going to happen, because the People don't want the programs to go away. Tea parties are just organized whining.
Probably true, Ryan, but that's how dissent rolls in our country. Just as Jazz pointed out, the Iraq War protest movement grew pretty large but didn't have much direct effect.
Your tax cuts sunset after one or two years depending on whether the House or Senate version of the budget is followed.
The title of this post sums it up perfectly.
Just for the record, I'm not at the tea parties and I do not preclude the need for some to pay more tax than others.
However, I do wonder if those who deride the protests do so in the assumption that it will be someone ELSE who pays the 'patriotic higher taxes'. Or if they send in more than required because they want to pay 'their fair share'.
Just wondering
Well, according to Paul Begala over at CNN, today is actually Patriot's Day:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/begala.t…
I would be interested to do an audit of everyone in government, just to see who owes back taxes. Seems to have been a bit of a problem this year.
It's a free country and so let them protest. And when I want to protest an concerning an important issue for me then I expect the same ability to protest.
Other than saying I disagree with these particular protesters, there's really nothing else for me to say.
BTW: I'm actually glad these protesters are out protesting. These conservatives usually (but not all) roll their eyes at “liberal” protesters. I can't recall ever seeing the conservatives come together to do this. Hopefully this will give them an exanded view of the world.
Protest away!
CStanley–
Do you mean the entire left now ridicules demonstration?
Or just, you know, “much” of the left? ; )
I see that the Secret Service shut down the DC protest because someone allegedly tossed something over the fence.
If they did toss something then I do understand the action.
But I wonder how the media would have reacted if they'd done the same to shut down an anti-Bush protest a year ago ?
Reportedly it was a box of tea bags. Hopefully they moved everybody into the bunker.
I find it hysterical that the left now ridicules demonstrations, which have always been a hallmark of patriotic dissent from their side.
Well, CS, as someone who has been going to demonstrations since Vietnam days, I don't recall any demonstrations for liberal/progressive causes where the thing we were protesting wasn't actually real. Protesting tax increases when taxes have just been massively cut is… well, I think the kindest word I can think of is “uninformed.”
The “teabagging” thing is hilarious, too, since they clearly don't have the faintest clue of the other meaning of that word.
George, you might have a valid criticism of the way I expressed that if you could point me to a single lefty blog or publication that has expressed support for the idea of demonstrations even if they don't agree with the ideas being expressed by them.
The “teabagging” thing is hilarious, too, since they clearly don't have the faintest clue of the other meaning of that word.
Yeah, who knew that so many people were still in Junior high mentality. {giggle! He said “teabag”}
And I get your point about taxation, but those who are focused on that are saying that the massive spending IS going to result in tax hikes down the line. There's just absolutely no way of getting there from here without raising taxes on people of lower and lower incomes- or else we'll see a continution of the current hidden taxes like cap and trade, or sin taxes like the current ones on cigarettes.
But I do think it's a mistake for this movement to center on taxation; that's really not what I hear as the direct complaint.
Basically, what I see and hear (and feel, personally) is that when Obama and other Dem leaders say that people are OK with expanding government because they don't care about size but only about whether or not it works, we're responding by saying that we are completely unconvinced that this new government is going to work any better than the old- that at the very minimum, if you want to convince us, then start getting MUCH more serious about transparency, and cutting waste and fraud. Frankly I'm among those who don't even think that's possible- with so much money in politics, we'll never get rid of the corrupting influence. And that's why I'm highly skeptical of growing the government- as are a sizable minority (nearly half, I'd say) of Americans.
Oh my.
It turns out that it was up to me to support my smiley little wisecrack!!
I can hardly believe this is your answer–in light of the argument we just had on that other thread, where you complained about unsupported blanket condemnations.
I was just teasing you here, but my goodness, how blind you are to your own hypocrisy!!
OK, peace, George. I admit I got carried away and decided to make a related point instead of taking the humorous jab in stride.
I was a born a free american and I plan to be that way all the days of my life I was raised up in school and home to think that way and to stand up for what is right ,if that makes me a whinner than so be it I will serve GOD Almighty in Jesus name and family and be the best free American I can be may god open american eyes before it is to late
clearly you dont but thats your right just like it is my to be at the party and express my right to have values no matter what my values are on taxes ,socialism or whattever the case my be but thats whats so great right now that I can do that just like you have your thoughts
My taxes have been cut? So my tax burden for for 2009 will be less than 2008? Really…….Lets see, Obama has changed the tax tables for 2009 so I (my family) will pay $800 (2 adults $400/per) less in taxes. So say my taxes were $6000, before the 2009 stimulus, after the stimulus my tax burden is $5200. Now, under 2008, say I owe the same $6000, with Bush's 2008 stimulus, instead of changing the tax table I was given a lump sum of $1800 ( 2 adults $600/per, 2 kids 300/per) so my tax burden for 2008 was $4200. Now take the difference………do I have to? Under Obama I will pay $1000 more in taxes this year over last. Tax cut? Well I guess it's all in the wording, in political terms, yes Obama did cut my taxes, which will expire, but my tax burden actually went up. Did I go to a tea party? No. Am I tired of people saying Obama's giving me a tax break? Yes.