Latest tax lie
Republicans want to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent. Democrats want to repeal the cuts for those making over $200,000 (single) and $250,000 (family). Republicans say this would raise taxes on small businesses.
I wasn’t surprised to learn that this is not true.
July 30th, 2010
The issue in the article you cite is the number of small businesses who will face tax increases. The author concedes that some small business will, in fact, see a tax increase. Where the GOP is engaging in smoke & mirrors is the notion that scores of people will lose their jobs as a result – which I would agree with you is not true. The small businesses most directly affected by it are the ones who are structured as sole proprietorships, independent consultants, real estate agents, small mom & pop shop owners who are not incorporated, etc. – and even then, that’s only if they show an operating profit above a certain level. I highly doubt a small software or light manufacturing firm with 20-100 employees is going to go under or not be able to fund any growth because of the expiration of the tax cats.
July 31st, 2010
The author concedes that some small business will, in fact, see a tax increase.
Sure, less than 2% of them.
August 2nd, 2010
OK, I’m having a hard time seeing what exactly is a lie here. I see several quotes that may be posturing and exaggeration like:
when our good friends on the other side of the aisle say raising the taxes on the wealthy, what they are really talking about is small business
And
the tax relief in 2001 and 2003 helped to stave off what was poised to be a very difficult time in the life of our economy
But I don’t really think you can count them as lies unless you are willing to count quotes like this as a lie also.
the stimulus will save or create 1.5 million jobs in 2010 after saving or creating as many as 2 million jobs thus far.
And
passage of a large economic-aid package would boost the economy and keep the unemployment rate below 8%.
Before you go off on me, “Yes” I know the difference between a prediction and a promise but I also know the difference between an outright lie and political posturing.
This would be a lie.
President Bush wants all your children to smoke and die from lung cancer.”
This would be political posturing with truth in it.
President Bush and the Republicans are “in bed” with the tobacco industry due to large donations and won’t pass laws that would help prevent children from starting to smoke.
The article you linked above is mostly about political posturing. That’s fine as far as it goes. You certainly have the right to disagree with one side or another’s posture and rhetoric but I think supporters of both political parties are awful quick to accuse each other of lying when it’s just not the case.
Misleading? Yes,
Not the whole story? Sure.
Lies? I think that’s a bit of a stretch unless, like I said above, you are willing to apply the same filter to both sides.
August 2nd, 2010
When I said “lie” it was just a misleading exaggeration–a bit of a stretch–for political posturing. You know how it is.
August 2nd, 2010
LOL!
OK, Tuch’e
August 2nd, 2010