For decades and in every election cycle, Democrats have exploited class envy to gain votes. This emotion has provided the Democrats a powerful sword that they repeatedly use to pound the Republicans relentlessly. The Republicans response has limited effectiveness in converting Independents and Democrats. I would like to suggest an effective strategy to counter this. The Republicans should put forward a tax policy where we have one tax rate for all earned and unearned income. This can be made acceptable to the Republican electorate because:
1) Its a flat tax
2) Money is shifted from the very high earners to high earners (and small businesses)
The Democrats will reject this plan because:
1) Its a flat tax
2) It burdens low and fixed income tax payers
3) It softens a powerful sword that they use to hammer Republicans
4) Its rigid in that it limits Congresss ability to implement tax policy
If the Democrats reject this plan then the Republicans win. If the Democrats accept this plan, the Republicans win. If the Democrats counter, the Republicans win.
After this plan is publicly proposed, the Republican can respond to the Democrats use of the class warfare card, the 99% card, and the Republicans only care about the rich card as follows:
We proposed a tax policy to the Democrats where anyone making more than someone else will pay a higher effective tax rate, but the Democrats prefer the current tax system where the Warren Buffets of this world pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries. For decades, the Democrats have been purporting that they are for such a tax policy but now that the Republicans have proposed one, the Democrats retreat. This shows the true colors of the Democrats. They are only interested in tax fairness if it is to their political advantage.
Republicans should advocate the usage of the term effective tax rate arguing that the effective tax rate represent what tax payers actually pay what actually comes out of their pockets. It takes into account both the tax rate and the personal exemption that, in effect, makes this tax policy progressive. Republicans should also argue that any other term other than the effective tax rate is misleading because it doesnt represent what people actually pay in taxes.
Still the Democrats can effective argue item 2 above that this proposed tax policy burdens low and fixed income tax payers. As part of the plan, Republicans should counter this by demonstrating flexibility in the size of the personal exemption. This is where the Republicans need to have the new battleground in tax policy the size of the personal exemption. By raising the personal exemption to effectively counter item 2, the Republicans will reach out to these voters. This also address item 4 in that Congress still has the ability to make the tax system as progressive or non-progressive as it want by raising or lowering the size of the personal exemption.
By advocating this tax policy, the Republicans can take the high ground and accurately argue that they are for a make more, pay more tax policy and the Democrats prefer the current make more, pay less tax policy. Republicans turn the Democrats talking points upside down and disrupt the very core of their appeal to their own constituency and effectively counter the class warfare card.
If you agree that this is the best approach for Republicans then feel free to spread this message to others in the hope of developing a grassroots movement to help our Republican politicians be bold, change the narrative, and better the country.
Dave von Hausen
1) Its a flat tax
2) Money is shifted from the very high earners to high earners (and small businesses)
The Democrats will reject this plan because:
1) Its a flat tax
2) It burdens low and fixed income tax payers
3) It softens a powerful sword that they use to hammer Republicans
4) Its rigid in that it limits Congresss ability to implement tax policy
If the Democrats reject this plan then the Republicans win. If the Democrats accept this plan, the Republicans win. If the Democrats counter, the Republicans win.
After this plan is publicly proposed, the Republican can respond to the Democrats use of the class warfare card, the 99% card, and the Republicans only care about the rich card as follows:
We proposed a tax policy to the Democrats where anyone making more than someone else will pay a higher effective tax rate, but the Democrats prefer the current tax system where the Warren Buffets of this world pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries. For decades, the Democrats have been purporting that they are for such a tax policy but now that the Republicans have proposed one, the Democrats retreat. This shows the true colors of the Democrats. They are only interested in tax fairness if it is to their political advantage.
Republicans should advocate the usage of the term effective tax rate arguing that the effective tax rate represent what tax payers actually pay what actually comes out of their pockets. It takes into account both the tax rate and the personal exemption that, in effect, makes this tax policy progressive. Republicans should also argue that any other term other than the effective tax rate is misleading because it doesnt represent what people actually pay in taxes.
Still the Democrats can effective argue item 2 above that this proposed tax policy burdens low and fixed income tax payers. As part of the plan, Republicans should counter this by demonstrating flexibility in the size of the personal exemption. This is where the Republicans need to have the new battleground in tax policy the size of the personal exemption. By raising the personal exemption to effectively counter item 2, the Republicans will reach out to these voters. This also address item 4 in that Congress still has the ability to make the tax system as progressive or non-progressive as it want by raising or lowering the size of the personal exemption.
By advocating this tax policy, the Republicans can take the high ground and accurately argue that they are for a make more, pay more tax policy and the Democrats prefer the current make more, pay less tax policy. Republicans turn the Democrats talking points upside down and disrupt the very core of their appeal to their own constituency and effectively counter the class warfare card.
If you agree that this is the best approach for Republicans then feel free to spread this message to others in the hope of developing a grassroots movement to help our Republican politicians be bold, change the narrative, and better the country.
Dave von Hausen