Republicans Have No Tax Policy, That's Why They Win

I've been wondering why Republicans so often wipe the floor with Democrats on tax issues, even though Democrats only want to raise taxes on a small minority of relatively wealthy Americans.

Republicans successfully pushed to extend all the Bush tax cuts last year, and you can bet they'll wage an epic battle to extend all of them again. Last month a Rassmussen poll found likely voters trust Republicans more than Democrats on tax issues, 48 percent to 37 percent.

Now, Congressman Paul Ryan's budget calls for even more tax cuts. Why does this policy work so well for Republicans?

I finally realized that Republicans don't really have a tax policy -- they have a tax philosophy. A simple, clear, logically flawed philosophy that all taxes should always go down all the time.

Democrats try to fight this tax philosophy with a more nuanced argument: Sometimes it might make sense to raise some taxes on some people.

Democrats have a conditional policy. Republicans have an absolutist philosophy. And in general, that philosophy has greater resonance with voters.

When Republicans talk philosophy they can sound like bold leaders. When Democrats talk about policy, they often sound like nerds.

 

Follow James Kotecki on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JamesKotecki

Comments

[loucasa]

08:56 PM on 04/22/2011

The question that no one ever asks these people is, "how low is too low?" At some point, it becomes impossible to reduce taxes and maintain a sustainable government and economy. We are well past that point now for the top 2% and it's time for the Dems to take the bull by the horns and show that if we want the America we were taught exists in school, we need for the wealthy to start paying their fair share again.

[tompoe]

07:40 PM on 04/22/2011

Celebrating GOP by claiming they win, because they have no tax policy is outrageously ignorant. The GOP has an extraordinary tax policy. DO NOT TAX OUR CAMPAIGN DONORS!

[hawhite2000]

03:46 PM on 04/22/2011

I like nerds; they're smart

[ben616]

03:22 PM on 04/22/2011

"I finally realized that Republicans don't really have a tax policy -- they have a tax philosophy. A simple, clear, logically flawed philosophy that all taxes should always go down all the time."

flawed?!?!?!? I would say that if you are in government responsible for spending the peoples money this should be tattooed on your inner eyelid!

This is what makes Democrats just as terrifying as Republicans.
In a way more. I don't agree with the "winner take all in a fixed race" mentality of the current GOP. At least it allows for someone to be a winner. The democrats do not seem to have any vision other than maintaining a broken system.