Peter Buttigieg on Tax Policy.

[crazytown]

In an interview with CNBC, Mayor Pete lays out his ideas on tax policy
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/2020-candidate-pete-buttigieg-on-taxing-the-rich-future-of-us-capitalism.html


* Repeal Trump Tax Cuts ‘a trillion dollars robbed from the Treasury’
* Higher marginal tax rates on the wealthy
* A Wealth Tax
* A Financial transactions tax
* More progressive Estate Duties.

If we want to do more — if we want to have better infrastructure, which we absolutely need; if we want to deal with climate change, which is no longer optional; if we want to actually deliver on health care; if we want to continue to grow as the kind of country that can actually lead the world — then you don’t get something for nothing.

On Capitalism

The fundamental truth is, it turns out a rising tide does not lift all boats. Not on its own. Especially if some of the boats are tethered to the ocean’s floor. And that’s the kind of pattern that we’ve been on.

John Harwood: ... you think the system is in some way rigged?

Pete Buttigieg: Yeah. It’s pretty typical human behavior for people to try to make sure the rules work to their benefit. That’s why the U.S. is based on the idea of a robust legal system and constraints on the excesses of anybody, especially concentrated wealth. And yet we’re at this moment where concentrated wealth has begun to turn into concentrated power. More than begun. It’s well underway. The thing that makes capitalism capitalism is competition. But as you have more and more corporate agglomerations of power, you’re going to see less and less competition.

(snip)This didn’t just happen. The economy is not some creature that just lumbers along on its own. It’s an interaction between private sector and public sector. And public sector policies, for basically as long as I’ve been alive, have been skewed in a direction that’s increasing inequality.

(snip) We all do better when we all do better, as Senator Wellstone said.

[True Dough]

1. Meanwhile Donny keeps patting himself on the back over the stock market

Pete gets it. Drumpf only cares about the rich.

[crazytown]

2. Trump goes on about a rigged system.

He doesn’t say that he and his fellow billionaires rigged it.

[mobeau69]

3. This guy is soooo good.

His answers are well thought out; not memorized talking points. Can't wait for the debates.

[crazytown]

4. This

We don’t have to speculate on what happens in a Western society that delivers health care to everybody, or that has more social mobility or that invests at a higher rate in infrastructure or education. We know exactly what happens. What happens is you’re better off.

The American dream is slipping away. You’re much more likely to experience that if you’re a kid in Denmark right now than if you’re in America. And while people can think up all kinds of excuses why something that worked in other societies hasn’t worked here, the reality is, when we’ve tried it here in our history, it’s also served us pretty well.

[mobeau69]

7. Yep, good Q&A throughout.

Pete is a much needed and refreshing voice for the progressive movement.

[marylandblue]

5. He's exactly right and takes about it without ideology

It's not Ayn Rand vs. Karl Marx as we've usually framed it. It's what we have always done: use the public sector to either help or hinder certain private interests. Right the public sector is promoting tje private interests of the few.

[crazytown]

6. He's arguing self interest:-

We don’t have to speculate on what happens in a Western society that delivers health care to everybody, or that has more social mobility or that invests at a higher rate in infrastructure or education. We know exactly what happens. What happens is you’re better off.

[bullwinkle428]

8. I can't believe I'm paraphrasing Don Jr., but...

"IF IT'S WHAT YOU SAY - I LOVE IT!!"

[PatrickforO]

9. I like Pete better every day.

Here's a guy who understands money and tax policy. He is really elevating the primary dialog. The other candidates should review his positions here as well, because he is proposing solid tax policy. If we could enact these things, we'd be a lot better off.

[Grins]

10. "we're at this moment where concentrated wealth has begun to turn into concentrated power."

Stealing that!

[KPN]

11. Gotta love this guy.

[Hortensis]

12. I'm liking him too, but understanding that this is

just another issue all the main, liberal candidates agree strongly on. Methods of fixing what's gone very wrong since the nation swung right at the end of the 1970s vary, but not conviction that fixing is very necessary. We are united on this.