# Romney jobs plan: Cut taxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 6, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440 "2011-09-06T22:45:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/21 "2011-09-08T21:36:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Why is it that although most competent economists keep repeating that cutting taxes AND cutting spending at the same time is lunacy in a recession, the right just doesn’t seem to get it? I suppose it’s because Keynes was gay. You can’t trust the economic theories of the queers because they may sneak up behind you in the shower or something. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/22 "2011-09-08T21:41:17Z")
> [@gatorslap](#): > > I love his idea to eliminate capital gains tax for the middle class. Because the middle class pay so much capital gains taxes, and it’s really putting people in the poorhouse. :rolleyes: You would be surprised. Pretty much anybody that invests in mutual funds pays capital gains taxes. Now there’s an idea - make “capital gain distributions” fully taxable (rather than at the CG rate); this might get more people to buy tax-free (read: government bond/note-backed) funds, which puts some quick money into the treasury. (Here’s a better idea; if _that_ many small businesses don’t pay corporate tax (but instead pay personal income tax, presumably by the owners), then give them a fair amount of warning before adjusting taxes so corporations that invest pay less but high-end personal income is taxed more.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/23 "2011-09-09T00:26:58Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Some of these ideas are no-brainers-more free trade and increased exploitation of domestic resources for example (yes we’ll probably have more oil spills here but its better to clean up here actually than for the Nigerians or whatnot to do it). The oil market is global. Unless we pump a lot more oil, it is not going to make much of a difference. The Saudis could easily stop pumping the increase, and then it makes no difference. You also can’t add production right away. Adding it a few years from now won’t help the current problem. A much better way would be to increase the gas tax. We’ve seen that there is quite a lot of swing without affecting the economy much. This would - get more money for the treasury (though regressively, I admit) - put downward pressure on world oil prices - encourage conservation That is like adding more wells with no chance of spills. Not going to happen, of course, but it makes a lot more sense than your plan (or Romney’s which is too lame to even consider.) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/24 "2011-09-09T03:25:48Z")
> **[Global Renewable Capacity Has Now Exceeded Nuclear - CleanTechnica](https://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/05/global-renewable-capacity-has-now-exceeded-nuclear/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%2BIM-cleantechnica%2B%28CleanTechnica%29)** > > The world has now breached a tipping point of some significance. According to Phyllis Cuttino, Director of the Clean Energy Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Michael Liebreich, CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the worldwide installed... In spite of the bleating about renewables being not ready, a lot of countries are going ahead. There is hope. They don’t listen to our politicians. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/25 "2011-09-09T04:49:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > And exactly how is Romney’s plan worse than Obama’s given that we are at 9.1% unemployed and unenumerated numbers underemployed or given up? Obama is president, not dictator. > [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > You would be surprised. Pretty much anybody that invests in mutual funds pays capital gains taxes. Sure, but not very much. If you want to help out the middle class with a tax cut, how about raising the standard deduction? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/26 "2011-09-11T15:55:00Z")
Romney’s kid came home with a great report card. Romney cut his taxes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/27 "2011-09-11T17:34:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Romney’s kid came home with a great report card. Romney cut his taxes. That’s not a kid- it’s an “A Creator”. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/28 "2011-09-14T19:38:30Z")
With the unemployment rate durably high, and with Obama’s approval rating low the Republicans are in danger of doing what the Democrats did after the election of 1964, and what the Democrats did after the election of 2008. They are in danger of misunderstanding why their approval rating is as high as it is, and they are in danger of over stepping their mandate. “In 1966, the National Election survey found, as in four previous surveys starting in 1958, a large majority (65%) saying they trusted the government in Washington to do the right thing just about always or most of the time. That majority held through the rest of the decade.” > **[Would Americans Welcome Medicare if it Were Being Proposed in 2009?](https://www.pewresearch.org/2009/08/19/would-americans-welcome-medicare-if-it-were-being-proposed-in-2009/)** > > Much of the opposition to health care reform today is being fueled by anti-government sentiment that did not exist during the mid-1960's. During the election of 1964 the national consensus was that the federal government, under the leadership of the Democrats, had ended the Great Depression, and won the Second World War. Barry Goldwater ignored that consensus, and ran against the basic reforms of the New Deal. Consequently, Lyndon Johnson won 61 percent of the popular vote, and the Democrats won two to one majorities in both houses of Congress. That did not even happen during the Great Depression. The election of 1964 was a referendum on the New Deal. After than election the Democrats had mandates to preserve the New Deal, and to avoid war with the Soviet Union. The Democrats over stepped their mandates by continuing to pass civil rights legislation after the black ghetto riots started, and by making welfare payments more generous and easier to qualify for with their War on Poverty. The result was the beginning of the Republican domination of the United States that continues. In 2008 the Democrats had mandates to achieve successful conclusions of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and to get better economic numbers. Instead, President Obama forced through an unpopular health care plan as the unemployment rate and the national debt continued to rise. Consequently, the Republicans did well in the last election. What they do not seem to understand is that they have mandates to do what Obama was unable to achieve in two years, and that the mandate stops there. Mitt Romney’s plan for the economy is nothing more than a corporate wish list. There is little reason to suppose that it would reduce unemployment. Indeed, there is little reason to suppose that the corporate establishment wants a decline in unemployment. Corporations are making record profits by laying people off. A high unemployment rate relieves employers of the need to compete for employees. Romney is the “moderate.” The other candidates are even scarier, and want to restore laissez faire capitalism. I doubt that what any of the Republican presidential rivals want is politically sustainable. Nevertheless, if unemployment remains high, or gets higher, the electorate will be scared and angry enough to give the Republican presidential nominee a chance. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/29 "2011-09-25T17:20:39Z")
Government was more respected until Reagan and the Repubs pushed a mantra that government is not the solution, but the problem. Since then the Repubs have said it loudly and long. It has taken root, because people really can by won over with inculcation. You can convince them of practically anything if you have a platform to pound them over the head. That platform is Fox and right wing radio. It worked. It certainly worked on NEW DEAL. The fact is the health care bill was very popular. It was not shoved down anyone’s throats. But the rightys have pounded it to death sapping its following. If you hear it enough, you begin to think it must be right. That is if you do not know better. I suppose when Obama came in with a majority in both house and senate, NEW Deal saw Repub domination. It can not be easy to do so, but he did. Then the Repubs introduced a new and exciting use of Filibusters to bring the government to a halt. They fight every program , every appointment and every bill that the Dems offer. Then complain that the government is not doing anything. Well duh. they are the cause . Now they are going to give us another government shutdown. Of course that will be followed with statements that the government is broken. They broke it, they ought to know. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/30 "2011-10-05T18:48:31Z")
[http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/10/03/333912/reagan-tax-loopholes-crazy/](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/10/03/333912/reagan-tax-loopholes-crazy/) Yet Reagan could actually see the truth on occasion. The fundamental flaw of allowing the wealthy to determine how much tax they are willing to pay is hurting our solvency. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/31 "2011-10-07T18:16:42Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > The other candidates are even scarier, and want to restore laissez faire capitalism. At this point, it’s only slight hyperbole to hope America reverts to old-fashioned dog-eat-dog capitalism! Instead, with its bailouts, pro-monopolistic rulings, police powers, denial of free speech, misbegotten pro-industry health programs, etc., the Federal Government, led by Republicans and gullible Democrats, are actively supporting a Pinochet-style kleptocracy. The _Occupy Wall Street_ movement gives me a sudden rush of optimism! As a grassroots movement their initial agenda may be quite naive but it will improve, and I hope progressive Dopers give the movement their full support. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/32 "2011-10-08T02:29:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Why is it that although most competent economists keep repeating that cutting taxes AND cutting spending at the same time is lunacy in a recession, the right just doesn’t seem to get it? Without revenue, programs, grants, contracts, etc. tend to be either postponed or cancelled. This means that the people who would work on those programs, contracts, etc. either get laid off or don’t get hired in the first place. Money dries up for states, which causes infrastructure projects to be put on hold, and unemployment rises. The federal government is a fucking HUGE contracting entity, the largest in the country and probably one of the largest in the world. What do these morons think is going to happen when money for contracts goes away because they’re intent on pandering to the Tea Party assholes? The Republican attitude toward the unemployed is that if they were worth anything they would have jobs. Right now Republicans want unemployment to go up, because it makes President Obama look bad. Republicans enjoy identifying with those who are better off than they are. They also enjoy feeling superior to those who are worse off than they are. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/33 "2011-10-08T02:40:43Z")
I’m really trying to like you Mitt but when you say that we need to **increase** military spending, I’m just at a loss. The military needs a haircut just like a bunch of other programs, not increased spending. Christ. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/34 "2011-10-12T04:00:52Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > I’m really trying to like you Mitt but when you say that we need to **increase** military spending, I’m just at a loss. > > The military needs a haircut just like a bunch of other programs, not increased spending. Christ. Just wait awhile. he will change his mind. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/35 "2011-10-14T17:09:50Z")
Labor Department data shows that 2 tenths of a percent of layoffs are due to regulation. Businesses are not hiring because there isn’t enough demand. It has been said in so many ways. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440/36 "2011-10-14T18:32:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The oil market is global. Unless we pump a lot more oil, it is not going to make much of a difference. The Saudis could easily stop pumping the increase, and then it makes no difference. Outside of the fact that we generate jobs here, and the money spent on oil stays here instead of going to the other side of the globe. Ditto the $7B Canadian pipeline that’s being proposed. Right now we have companies sitting on massive piles of money with nothing to spend it on because demand is in the toilet. I’m all for the government spending money to spur demand, let private industry free up some of their own money to hire people and spur demand too. Letting the Saudi’s (or Russkies, or Venezuelans) pump extra oil is just NIMBYism. Not only are we tacitly saying “go ahead, ruin your own ecology for our oil”, you know our controls and safety would be better, and the oil wouldn’t have to be shipped across the world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-jobs-plan-cut-taxes/595440.md?page=1)