Can the Democratic Party survive without taxes??

[kentuck]

True liberals might argue that the average life span of Americans has been increased to some degree by the advent of social programs to help the poor and needy.

Where would our elderly be without Social Security and Medicare? We didn't always have them. We didn't always have unemployment insurance if you lost your job. We didn't always have the minimum wage - people would work for whatever they could make. Times were hard scrabble.

All these programs were paid for with taxes on the American people. We can debate whether or not we would have been better off without these taxes but those that live in reality would have to argue for the benefit of higher taxes.

If taxes are cut, if Medicare is cut, if Social Security is diminished, if Medicaid is done away with, we will be less of a country, in my opinion.

If there are no taxes, there is little need for a Democratic Party. Whether we like to admit it or not, more taxes are necessary for the survival of the Democratic Party. Democrats should not be ashamed or fearful of asking for higher taxes on the wealthy. That is the basic reason for the existence of both Parties. Republicans do not wish to share the wealth and Democrats do. When we cease to do that, we may as well fold our hand and go home.

[phantom power]

1. It's no mystery what life was like before these programs...

but we've replaced actual knowledge of history with some kind of a-historical nostalgic mythology where life was all Little House on the Prairie -- just like today, except like vacationing in a rustic country cottage!

I've said it before -- our society is becoming the victim of its own success. Nobody really remembers how bad it was, and so we're going to throw it all away and have to start over.

:banghead:

[RKP5637]

2. It goes in cycles, lack of generational knowledge, and hence regression. n/t

[Enthusiast]

3. You are on to something here.

And I agree.

[louis-t]

4. The question should be: "Can America survive

without taxes?"

[alc]

5. Democrats need to be the "tax and spend wisely" party

That means making a financial case about the wars. That means setting priorities and possibly making some tough choices. It means not "wasting money on shit" (George Carlin makes a good point: "Have you ever noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff") Democrats need to consider which stuff that is considered shit by a lot of people is it high enough priority to fight for. While it'll be symbolic more than a financial savings it can help a lot for Democrats to lead the way on cuts in some areas.

I don't want to start the debate here, but I'd guess everyone has at some point in the last year seen a Democrat fight for some shit program or spending with as much energy as they fight for SS or medicare - everything seems to be "high priority". We'll all disagree on what is shit and what is stuff, but there are enough things with lower priority than SS or medicare that the Democrats can make an impressive effort (even if it's only symbolic)

[PaulUdouj]

6. The other option no one speaks of

Liberals want to add and Tea Party wants to cut...yet no one has once spoke of making what we have more efficient. If your car starts to stall on you...you don't start adding parts and you don't throw away the engine! Your give it a checkup and make sure it runs smooth. The military, the prison system, and the post office (just to name a few) have never been analyzed to make them run smoother and more efficiently. As a True Grit Democrat our focus is a more efficient government! Join the movement!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/197365236990167/

[jeff47]

7. There is nowhere near enough waste, fraud and abuse to make up for the lost income.

Waste, fraud and abuse is very easy to cut. That's why most politicians happily identify it. Scores points with little harm.

So you will have to cut something that you see as waste, which others see as critical spending. And you'll end up like Bobby Jindal complaining about volcano monitoring.

[kentuck]

8. Democrats should not shirk from the tax issue...

They can show benefits to every American from a more fair taxation system. They seem to want to run and hide when the Republicans bring up taxes...

[TheKentuckian]

9. Of course not, nor can a functioning civilization.

[dtexdem]

10. There's a much-more important question: can the country survive without taxes?

And the real party question is: can the Democratic Party survive by continually failing to support the needs of the country, and rather caving to the Repukes?

[kentuck]

11. I agree with you but....

I doubt that the country could survive very long without a Democratic Party. The survival of the Democratic Party or something similar is synonymous with the survival of the country. The "dog eat dog" philosophy of the Republicans would destroy this nation sooner than we think...