How do you personally feel about extending the Bush taxcuts?

[kentuck]

[bemildred]

1. Other: I want to go back to where we were in 1970, taxwise. nt

[kentuck]

2. In hindsight, it was a mistake by Clinton to only raise taxes to 39%...

He should have raised them to 50% on the high income. It hurt our economy, rather than helped it, in the long run. By permitting more and quicker access to foreign markets thru tax incentives.

[dsc]

7. His plan won by one vote in each house

I can't see him being able to get any more of an increase.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Also repeal of Glass-Steagall and allowing conglomeration of media...

[aquart]

3. But wouldn't you prefer the Eisenhower era rates?

[kentuck]

5. on some people, yes.

Such as loudmouth radio propagandists and over-paid athletes, I would support a higher rate. Otherwise, I think 50% on the top rates is a fair compromise.

[aquart]

8. My compromise is 75% on the top one percent.

No man should be so rich he has nothing left to buy but his government.

[JonLP24]

15. What about actors or directors?

They provide entertainment just like athletes. In sports ownership makes far more money than employees though.

[kentuck]

19. Only those that stink.

:-)

[bemildred]

10. It would not bother me, but I think they (income tax rates then) were a little high,

but we had much higher capital gains taxes back then too. I generally favor taxing corporations at much higher marginal rates than biological persons. Make them plow it back into the business. My point is that we have not what I would consider a sound progressive tax system since the FICA deforms of the 80s and the Raygun tax butchery.

[aquart]

11. No argument from me there.

[avaistheone1]

4. I agree.

The Reagan tax cuts should expire as well.

[ZombieHorde]

6. I voted, "They should vote on extending middle class taxcuts only"

A balance of necessity and politics.

Great poll, recommended.

[angstlessk]

9. Other: raise taxes on the wealthy and give breaks if they invest in the US

I don't know for sure, but it seems that the S&L debacle happened after tax code changes that stripped value out of American Commercial Real Estate? When investing was no longer better than hoarding cash saved by tax breaks.

Same thing happening here, corporations, wealthy have no incentive to invest, hence the hoarding of cash, or spending on lavish parties.

[obxhead]

13. Other. I think we should just do away with taxes altogether.

Might as well just bankrupt this country now and get on with the handover to China.

:sarcasm:

[tritsofme]

14. Not allowing middle class tax rates to rise is paramount. Obama will be a one-term president if he

presides over an increase in middle class tax rates. Higher taxes on this group would also be harmful to the economy.

As Republicans appear ready to shoot the hostage, that is why in the end it will likely become necessary to accept a short term extension on the rates for the wealthy. I would be very surprised if there was any other outcome.

[kentuck]

16. What do you mean, "shoot the hostage"??

Do you mean we have to do what they ask or they will shoot us?

Doesn't that sound rather criminal in nature?

If we vote for the middle class taxcuts and they block it, they will shoot us to death with their lies and deception, so we must do everything they say or our middle class will suffer and they will blame us and we do not have enough courage to stand by the truth.

[dkf]

17. Yet the "middle class tax cuts" cost way more than the "tax cuts for the wealthy"

4.6x as much. If we can't afford the "tax cuts for the rich" we can't afford the "middle class tax cuts" even more.

[kentuck]

18. And yet...

...you are correct.