tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937362710016241910.post7053775793124735383..comments2022-11-20T11:36:07.968-08:00Comments on Thoughts From The Mountain: Tax Bill In Your StockingRandy Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631385549094410645noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937362710016241910.post-8139783381342503092017-12-24T07:57:26.719-08:002017-12-24T07:57:26.719-08:00I agree with all your analysis and commentary on t...I agree with all your analysis and commentary on the recently passed tax bill. The only question I have is will the “blue collar Republicans” in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc. realize how they are getting passed by? They have continued to vote Republican in spite of the fact that it’s against their economic and personal self-interest. Some of it is on social issues (God, gays and guns). But, much of it is on racial issues – belief that hard earned money is going to support the “black urban welfare queen.” As long as the Republican Party is successful in reinforcing these beliefs, they may very well continue to get voted back into office. <br /> <br />One doesn’t have to go back to Reagan to see the failure of tax cuts to stimulate the economy. Kansas, Louisiana and North Carolina are all recent examples…. With Wisconsin heading down the same road. In Kansas, the Republican legislature finally voted to increase taxes – and overrode Governor Brownback’s veto just so they could keep the schools open. The Kansas school system was formerly a very good system – but, has fallen in stature in the last eight years. <br /> <br />Meanwhile California and Minnesota are going the other way – judicious increases in taxes – and fueling a growing economy. We can make fun of “Governor Moonbeam” in California – but, he was able to lead the state out of a $36 billion deficit into a $4 billion surplus in less than 24 months. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937362710016241910.post-62823676692954846252017-12-24T07:45:40.163-08:002017-12-24T07:45:40.163-08:00I agree with all your analysis and commentary on t...I agree with all your analysis and commentary on the recently passed tax bill. The only question I have is will the “blue collar Republicans” in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc. realize how they are getting passed by? They have continued to vote Republican in spite of the fact that it’s against their economic and personal self-interest. Some of it is on social issues (God, gays and guns). But, much of it is on racial issues – belief that hard earned money is going to support the “black urban welfare queen.” As long as the Republican Party is successful in reinforcing these beliefs, they may very well continue to get voted back into office. <br /> <br />One doesn’t have to go back to Reagan to see the failure of tax cuts to stimulate the economy. Kansas, Louisiana and North Carolina are all recent examples…. With Wisconsin heading down the same road. In Kansas, the Republican legislature finally voted to increase taxes – and overrode Governor Brownback’s veto just so they could keep the schools open. The Kansas school system was formerly a very good system – but, has fallen in stature in the last eight years. <br /> <br />Meanwhile California and Minnesota are going the other way – judicious increases in taxes – and fueling a growing economy. We can make fun of “Governor Moonbeam” in California – but, he was able to lead the state out of a $36 billion deficit into a $4 billion surplus in less than 24 months. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937362710016241910.post-53387038070948434002017-12-23T21:02:46.275-08:002017-12-23T21:02:46.275-08:00Excellent summation of the end result of this grea...Excellent summation of the end result of this great rush to nothing meaningful — at least nothing meaningful for those who need/deserve it most.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937362710016241910.post-68883421576905179182017-12-23T08:08:26.629-08:002017-12-23T08:08:26.629-08:00Yes, yes, yes! Plus, the $1.5 trillion "bump...Yes, yes, yes! Plus, the $1.5 trillion "bump" to the deficit may set the stage for Ryan et al to try cutting certain social and health benefit programs, but not defense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com