# Fuck it, just raise my taxes, OK **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484 "2010-11-30T23:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/1 "2010-11-30T23:49:12Z")
Compromise? Compromise? Demanding that the sunsetting tax cut for the rich be extended as is or else is what the Republicans call a compromise? Fuck this. Let the entire Bush tax cut sink below the horizon. I’m middle class, and I will be perfectly happy to do my part to reduce the deficit. Frankly, I’m amazed that my taxes did not go up when we went to war. The deficit will not be mended simply by cutting spending; it requires a tax increase as well. Let’s all chip in and do our part. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/2 "2010-11-30T23:51:20Z")
Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/3 "2010-11-30T23:53:10Z")
We’re hardly going to get out of this mess by continuing the exact things that got us into it, are we? Times are good? Hey, we can cut taxes! Times are bad? We need to cut taxes some more! Deficits? Those don’t matter, Reagan proved it! Oh, btw, we’re only talking taxes on the _rich_. And “We need certainty”, as if the expiration date hadn’t been known for ten fucking years now. ---
**Author:** ![Cammacdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Cammacdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cammacdon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/4 "2010-12-01T00:21:56Z")
This is America, not a democracy. The opinions of the lower classes don’t matter here. Sad story say sorry. The ignorant win on sheer volume alone. We are doomed. Say hello to the new feudal age ladies and gents. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/5 "2010-12-01T01:27:37Z")
I’ll gladly sign on for higher taxes along with a commensurate reduction in spending. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/6 "2010-12-01T01:45:10Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > I’ll gladly sign on for higher taxes along with a commensurate reduction in spending. If I did not make it clear in the OP that I believe spending reductions are also required, I apologize. I support both spending reductions and tax increases. The where and how of each I certainly expect to be open to honest debate. However, honestly, I do not, and will not, consider exempting the rich from the necessary tax increases to be a part of honest debate. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/7 "2010-12-01T01:51:31Z")
That all makes sense; too bad what politicians care about is getting elected/re-elected, and raising taxes and balancing budgets just isn’t sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/8 "2010-12-01T03:05:20Z")
I just heard today that by January 31, 2011, two million American unemployed (known as the 99’ers) will have no unemployment benefits. One of the little republican slugs who met with Obama today (not Boner, the other grey-haired old fuck, whatever his name was) said, “We can’t extend emergency unemployment benefits. It would cost the government too much.” Yet, Bush’s holy tax cuts for the rich must be preserved at all costs! Even when Obama asked that the tax cuts for the wealthiest people be voted on separately from tax cuts for the middle class, the republican shitheads said no. Yeah, that’s right folks. Rich people will get their precious money. Fuck the unemployed. Fuck the downsized, the streamlined, the victims of a changing global economy who can’t live on six bucks an hour like the rest of the world! Fuck you and your families, 99’ers! The filthy fucking rich must have their tax cuts by any means necessary. Good luck finding work suckers! Enjoy your dumpster diving! ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/9 "2010-12-01T03:11:06Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If I did not make it clear in the OP that I believe spending reductions are also required, I apologize. > > I support both spending reductions and tax increases. The where and how of each I certainly expect to be open to honest debate. However, honestly, I do not, and will not, consider exempting the rich from the necessary tax increases to be a part of honest debate. I wish there were someone, in either party, who could just tell the truth. We need to raise taxes and cut spending. And not cutting “waste” or piddling programs like NPR and what ever the left wing’s bogey man equivalent is, some real substantial cuts to the military, and I hate to say it, transfer payments too. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/10 "2010-12-01T03:11:24Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Good luck finding work suckers! Enjoy your dumpster diving! It won’t get that bad. If this happened on any really significant scale there would be rioting in the streets along with a general breakdown of law and order as the masses of “technically” homeless poor did what was necessary to feed and clothe themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/11 "2010-12-01T03:22:20Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I just heard today that by January 31, 2011, two million American unemployed (known as the 99’ers) will have no unemployment benefits. > > One of the little republican slugs who met with Obama today (not Boner, the other grey-haired old fuck, whatever his name was) said, “We can’t extend emergency unemployment benefits. It would cost the government too much.” 'Tis a tad more complicated than that. One exchange had John Shadegg denying that the benefits do anything good for the economy. They’ll save it, he said. Spending money doesn’t grow the economy; it’s only job creators create jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/12 "2010-12-01T03:26:39Z")
> [@](#): > > And not cutting “waste” or piddling programs like NPR and what ever the left wing’s bogey man equivalent is, some real substantial cuts to the military, and I hate to say it, transfer payments too. I think the left’s eqivalent boogeyman _is_ the military. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/13 "2010-12-01T03:46:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think the left’s eqivalent boogeyman _is_ the military. If so, that shows the left is smarter since the military makes up a huge portion of the budget and NPR is a rounding error of a rounding error. I’m sure that the left will try and kill some insignificant programs that they simply object to on a political basis. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/14 "2010-12-01T03:47:58Z")
[Weed, guns, and axes We don’t pay no taxes Cause we don’t exist On any government list](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVS-dI2Etx0) ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/15 "2010-12-01T04:09:31Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The deficit will not be mended simply by cutting spending; it requires a tax increase as well. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/16 "2010-12-01T04:12:43Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > It won’t get that bad. If this happened on any really significant scale there would be rioting in the streets along with a general breakdown of law and order as the masses of “technically” homeless poor did what was necessary to feed and clothe themselves. There should’ve been rioting in the streets a long time ago. And as for “It won’t get that bad.” Yeah, just keep telling yourself that. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/17 "2010-12-01T04:43:19Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > It won’t get that bad. If this happened on any really significant scale there would be rioting in the streets along with a general breakdown of law and order as the masses of “technically” homeless poor did what was necessary to feed and clothe themselves. You’re taking your comparisons from either a time or a culture that didn’t have corporate media blasting mindless bread and circuses 24/7. As long as the majority of people get their American Idol and Dancing With The Stars, they won’t want to hear about how they’re getting screwed by the corporocrats and their buttboys in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Soft\_Touch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Soft\_Touch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soft_Touch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/18 "2010-12-01T06:45:41Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Compromise? Compromise? Demanding that the sunsetting tax cut for the rich be extended as is or else is what the Republicans call a compromise? > > Fuck this. Let the entire Bush tax cut sink below the horizon. I’m middle class, and I will be perfectly happy to do my part to reduce the deficit. Frankly, I’m amazed that my taxes did not go up when we went to war. > > The deficit will not be mended simply by cutting spending; it requires a tax increase as well. Let’s all chip in and do our part. Well said. I’m happy to pay my share, because I realize that I didn’t get what I have in a vacuum by my own miraculous bootstraps, and I love the country that made my life possible (though honestly? I could do without Rep. Joe Barton). At the very least, let the Bush tax cuts expire as written and next year pass a new set of moderate _Obama_ tax cuts for the middle class and working poor. Let the halfwit Rs hold those hostage for the benefit of their bloodsucking masters, if the chickenshits have the balls. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/19 "2010-12-01T06:53:37Z")
Be careful what you wish for. We need higher spending and possibly tax cuts over the short run, and a lower deficit over the longer haul. Conventional monetary policy has reached its limit – you can’t cut the fed funds rate below zero. Inflation is falling which implies that the _inflation adjusted_ interest rate is increasing. Which tends to put a damper on economic expansion. The Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has called for additional _fiscal_ stimulus; I wish that this mattered. There’s so much budgetary nonsense floating around – and I have to include Obama’s proposal to freeze federal wages on that list. But here’s a hint: the long run budgetary problems are insolvable and have always been insolvable absent health care reform. On the next round, somebody needs to take on the doctors and the hospitals. It’s going to be messy. Health care spending has risen faster than inflation and even the economy for 30+ years. That cannot go on forever. And that which cannot go on forever will stop. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484/20 "2010-12-01T07:15:35Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m middle class, and I will be perfectly happy to do my part to reduce the deficit. Frankly, I’m amazed that my taxes did not go up when we went to war. No war in a democracy should be approved without the means to fund it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-it-just-raise-my-taxes-ok/562484.md?page=2)