General Discussion

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

19. Depends

Mon Jan 12, 2015, 02:15 AM

Jan 2015

but growth does not help the middle class if, as under the trickle-down economics of the past 30 years, the increased profits from growth go only to the top percentages of the population.

Depends. If growth means wider access to cheaper "stuff" of various kinds (and it tends to) then stagnant wages still lead to a higher consumer quality of life (as it has). From an hedonic standpoint there's a certain nonsense in saying things like "1997 dollars" vs. "2015 dollars": 2015 dollars can buy things that simply weren't available in 1997. Now, hedonic analysis has its problems, but it seems to be one of the closest models for voting preferences out there.

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Democrats, in a stark shift in messaging, to make big tax-break pitch for middle class: [View all] Kingofalldems Jan 2015 OP

And it's on ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #1

Will they run with this? senseandsensibility Jan 2015 #3

Sure they will, just like they did before the 2014 elections. Orrex Jan 2015 #5

I LOVE Van Hollen's proposals. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #2

Interesting ideas... kentuck Jan 2015 #9

I hate the ideas hfojvt Jan 2015 #30

That's my congressman. Kingofalldems Jan 2015 #25

I like the proposal but on the marriage penalty JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #27

I really thought hfojvt Jan 2015 #31

I think they did JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #33

When you are the opposition party tkmorris Jan 2015 #4

Exactly Orrex Jan 2015 #6

But it does give you something to campaign on and ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #7

Also, why in the hell is the only thing the Democrats can come up with the Republican platform? BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #8

Read the article. The headline misleadingly only mentions tax breaks for the middle class. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #12

I agree with the tax on stock trades BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #13

That is not the only thing that will be on the 2016 platform. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #15

I live in California BrotherIvan Jan 2015 #17

CA raised taxes on the rich, not the middle class. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #18

it IS the Republican platform though hfojvt Jan 2015 #32

Nope, Van Hollen proposes a more progressive tax structure, not less overall taxes. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #34

that may be slightly more progressive hfojvt Jan 2015 #36

No, a LOT more progressive. The stock trade tax raises $800B in 10 years. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #37

and the $800 billion hfojvt Jan 2015 #38

The stock trade tax is not the only tax on the rich Van Hollen is proposing. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #39

no I do not just want to rant hfojvt Jan 2015 #40

Silly insults will not get you anywhere. SunSeeker Jan 2015 #41

+10000 JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #35

Precisely. It will never become law, so they can safely pander to the upper 5% instead of the .001% hedda_foil Jan 2015 #22

yeah, this looks like kabuki theatre to me Doctor_J Jan 2015 #24

I don't like this PSPS Jan 2015 #10

"The plan also would use the tax code to prod employers to boost wages, which have been stagnant midnight Jan 2015 #11

Well, at first glance I see it's the WaPo and not The Onion. SMC22307 Jan 2015 #14

Yes� I would of assumed that right after the banks were bailed out this would of been the next midnight Jan 2015 #23

It sounds like a good start, especially the inclusion of an incentive for people to save. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #16

Depends Recursion Jan 2015 #19

The big problem is housing. The cost of housing rises because the rich can buy properties JDPriestly Jan 2015 #21

Why didn't they do this before Unknown Beatle Jan 2015 #20

Because they might have won. dawg Jan 2015 #26

It is puzzling for sure. Kingofalldems Jan 2015 #28

Well, in one of those 10 - 20 piece jigsaw puzzles for very small children fashions TheKentuckian Jan 2015 #29