This has to be the first day of a taxpayer revolt. The proposal in the House is so manipulative, so untruthful, that when Trump’s base discovers exactly how contrary this is to their welfare and financial well-being, they’ll turn on him and his cronies that don’t have the guts to say, “This is just so wrong.” To watch Speaker Ryan sit beside this guy, smiling as if he just passed gas, is just revolting. So, let’s revolt. Show me a regular person who supports this, I’ll show you a person who’s blindly following Trump and ignorant of reality.
16
So Cohn touted a $1K car paid for by tax refunds, and today Speaker Ryan touted $1182, like it too was a huge give-back for a family of 4, which is 1 member higher then the avg size of the avg American family. Wow, $1182, thats a whopping $24 a week! 6 bucks a week for each of those 4 family members. Which is maybe 1 Subway sandwich a week. I think.
Plus, we know singles will get nothing. Singles who have taken a slight lead over marrieds.
And the taxes that truly eat away at most of us every quarter, all year long, like rising sales taxes, rising property taxes, overt and hidden fees on everything we touch, school taxes, generic costs of living, health costs, etc - there will be no relief.
Hey Congress you want me/others to have more of our money in our pockets, giving us a pittence next year, for this one (cuts which wont hit us for a few years anyway, so we wait)...aint cutting it! Severely cut our Fed payroll tax deductions! Cut it by 3/4 for anyone making under 60K! Immediately, in 2018.
Raise the interest rates on regular savings accounts. Go after predatory creditors, and their abuses. Give all students a refinancing on their loans.
And if we have a few trillion laying around to give to the rich and Corps...how about we share some of it -since its ours anyway...?
BTW, just tacking JOBS, on to the name of this bill wont make it so. Rumplestiltskin still hasnt shown up...but you guys love that gag. Repeat, repeat, repeat...and your base believes.
16
Although the GOP has done nothing about health care.the deduction is going to be eliminated. Believe me, the cost of insurance, Medicare, RX drugs, copay and doctor visits well exceeds my property taxes (part of which go to indigent health care) and any other itemized deduction. This is a true attack on Senior Citizens and the retired. Since I paid into Medicare for 50-years in payroll taxes, the GOP wants to double tax my health care costs. Good going. Of course real deatails are scarce.
11
I wonder if McConnell's strategy all along was to wear America down with a tidal wave of DOA "health care" bombs so that, when the time would come (i.e., now) to give the country's tax revenues to the rich, we'd be too weary to offer sufficient resistance as they grab their holy grail. It makes sense - haven't tax cuts for the wealthy always been the raison d'etre of him and his ilk? Every other policy issue is at best a distant second, yes?
If this theft of the century goes through then, when the dust settles and Donald Trump is confronted with the fact that this tax scheme is designed for him and his Mar-a-Lago set; and that he (of course) lied about it; and that (once again) he will have wiggled away with his stakeholders' money while leaving them holding bags of dirt, we already know what he'll tweet: "That makes me smart!!"
7
A noble idea--a tax cut for Middle Class Americans! And listen to how it's done--we cut tax rates for the largest corporations--and small business too! We reduce and ultimately eliminate estate taxes (for the 5000 wealthiest families). And--a new! improved! pass-through scheme which helps small business.....and very, very large businesses too. OK--here's where we get to the middle class--businesses are now freed up to do the things they've been yearning to do but couldn't under Obama. They will:
1) raise salaries across the board, with extra attention to women and minorities
2) hire several gazillion new workers
3) reverse a long-standing trend and invest heavily in research and new technology
4) stop parking cash overseas and engaging in stock buybacks
So really--everything will be wonderful and the middle-class family will receive one significant windfall after another. The poor? Next question.
Maybe it's me, but I could envision a different route to a tax cut that benefits the middle class or even the poor:
1) Reduce the tax burden of the middle class and poor.
True--it's counter-intuitive, but it hasn't been tried before.
10
Once again......any discussion that doesn't touch on the fact that capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than earned income isn't a real discussion. True......it may be more virtuous to sit back and do nothing and watch your pile grow than to commute to work, hate your boss, watch the hours slowly pass, work overtime, get home late and harried, etc. Even so.....
Quite a while back, Warren Buffett pointed out that his effective tax rate was considerably lower than his secretary's. Think about that--no, really! It never ceases to amaze that a lot of people don't this a bit unsettling--sadly, I'd guess that many are unaware, Buffett notwithstanding.
11
The fact that he wouldn’t even release some of his tax returns to give a smidgen if credibility to his claim that he wouldn’t benefit tells you pretty much all you need to know about both his taxes and his tax plan
14
No taxes being paid, means no funding for government, no funding for government means no Democracy;this is the Republican fondest dream, ending Democracy, which costs money and rule by the rich, like trump, the swamp dwellers he appointed to government agencies that the swampists fought against;but you already knew this if you read facts; if you listened to news, you still voted republican, and you are the cause of the end of democracy, the rise of the greedy, rule by the corrupt billionaires.
13
Slight of hand, now you see it now you don't. Dangle fresh meat in front of the masses (oh this is propaganda at its peak) and rob the store from the back entrance via AMT riddance, and pass-though tax avoidance. This package WILL break the budget and HARM everyone including those trying to get this past the rest of us in sheep's clothing.
The details are a sham, the optics look like a free lunch for everyone. They even kept the top rate: as if anyone would ever pay it....
Does this plan cut loopholes? No, it adds them. Does this plan help the middle class? Just wait before jumping up and down. I've heard the personal deduction is history. I've heard that most middle class people won't be able to itemize because it is those deductions that are curtailed and with a big standard deduction the Schedule A will be mostly history. That's simplification but nothing that helps.
The rich need to pay their fair share before we do go down an inflation vertex because of their new found optimism that deficits don't matter if they do it.
Why don't we just give everyone a million dollars?
10
I'm so sad! Because the only tax bill that we know Trump has paid was the Alternative Minimum Tax - and now Ryan and Brady want to let him off that, too. Oy......
10
You really shouldn't be so harsh on the guy, he's going on a trip, and you know how much he doesn't like to travel, especially anywhere where the fair complexion is in the minority.
5
It's will be like taking the toddler out to a nice restaurant, hoping he does't make a scene and embarrass the parents.
6
The IRS 2014 data shows that the 10% of highest tax payers had 90% of reported income and the other 90% received 10% ie the 90% of tax payers only received one dollar of every $10 reported to the IRS. Yet, the 90% payers paid almost $3 of every $10 paid to the IRS. Why do we have congressional people and journalist that are either too scared or too stupid to tell the American voters that they are being ripped off by the government and the rich 10%?? Fair Winds--Mike
7
Death by a Thousand Cuts
A new chapter in the Trump horror story.
8
God bless You Gail ! I got to laugh today. What a mitzvah.
7
The Republican leadership is busy taking care of their wealthy donors and are even busier slashing the budget (including Medicare) to generate trillions in national debt through massive tax cuts for the rich. Trump's strong links to Russia are a minor concern for the GOP. In fact Trump's stupidity is a useful distraction while the Republicans dismantle government and fill the pockets of the 0.1% That they humiliate the United States before the world and enhance the strength of our adversaries is of no concern to these traitors.
18
Tax reform is just another ploy for helping the super-wealthy keep money that could go for. . .how about better schools, safe highways, better medical coverage for the most vulnerable in our society. Trump is such a sorry spectacle, a miserable, loathsome, vile excuse for a human being - and the worst President in history, why not talk about taxes as if it's something he knows or cares about (beyond preserving his own family's wealth). I'm sick and tired of this man, his political allies and the misery that they all and together want to inflict on all of us.
17
As George Carlin said "The rich and powerful are in a big club...and you ain't in it!"
15
The most important three minutes ever to be broadcast on TV.
Look for it. George Carlin’s most important three minutes ever.
2
Think about it. If you are worth $500 Million or maybe $3.5 Billion and have 4 or 6 homes, spread all over the world, a few Gulfstream jets, a yacht or 2, a chef, a chef's asst., a staff of house cleaners (or maids), lawn maintenance workers, a personal physical trainer, a home economist on staff, a personal assistant, a driver for your Bentley and Maybach and possibly a clothing specialist to dress you, you are going to want a tax cut. It is only natural. The idea of some wretched Middle Class rube using your tax money for food or shelter is disgusting...am I right? But it all boils down to this: Campaign donations to their Conservative Republican flunkies in Congress. No check-y if not tax cut-y.
17
"...several of whom regard the president as slightly less inspirational than shingles."
Is that shingles the *disease*, or like roofing shingles? Asking for a friend.
6
If the economy is humming as everyone seems to agree- then WHY tax cuts and WHY now? This is just a kick back for himself and his rich friends.. I understand, "it's good to be the King" but what we need are tax increases!
We are fighting two wars costing tens of millions a day... and let's not forget our military footprint without wars... +750 military bases and "installations" in over 100 foreign countries- costing hundreds of millions per day. That's a pretty hefty price to pay for "freedom" which we aren't even fighting for anyway.
Our fight for freedom is taking place here at home! Not chasing some goat herder in Tora Bora.
Every day in our courts and state legislatures there are hundreds of dedicated and selfless people fighting "mano-a-mano" for voting rights, campaign reform, environment, social justice, housing, education, immigration, healthcare, civil forfeiture laws. This is where America's battleground is..
Democrats- You are running out of time! Build a bench- The GOP has a 17 year head start on you. They have been funding local and state elections putting right wingers in charge at the local level- then draw from them for national seats.
There's a lot more going on in your backyard than your compost pile- so PLEASE get involved!
14
Exactly. What she said.
This is not tax reform, it's tax cuts for the wealthy with a few tidbits for some middle-class Americans, such as an easier tax return.
The wealthy do not need tax cuts. Even though much of my retirement income comes from investments, I'm not at all sure that corporations need an almost 50% tax cut either. They will still have plenty of loopholes, just like the wealthy.
And what of the federal debt? This tax plan, I've read, will greatly increase the debt, you know, the thing that Republicans usually claim needs to be paid down.
7
Okay, I laughed several times reading this. But then, since I'm also sitting in this quagmire of self-aggrandizement and outright theft, I felt guilty...
3
ALL TRICKS! NO TREATS! You MUST know that about Trump et al already!
10
Not one cent of U.S. tax revenue redirected to Trump & Co. We want to see his returns to close the loopholes he enjoys wiggling through.
9
FYI - Cities do not have senators. That's worse than saying to when you mean too.
Cities have Senators Just as much as people in the burbs or the country do
5
Regarding taxation, federal or state or local, I will listen and abide by the politician who is NOT less than a millionaire.
Oh, sorry, we're back to talking about unicorns...
6
And remember. With all the bad stuff he did, Al Capone finally went to prison on tax fraud.
12
@j J Heron
I think of that fact often.
6
Will all you pundits stop nattering about "tax cuts" and start focusing on Republican plans to swell the national debt. The national debt matters to all because it must be paid by all. The spurious tax cuts are simply increasing the total debt burden on the United States. "Tax cut" is a fraud, nothing more. Instead of legitimating the fraud by referencing Gary Cohn's mythical growth in family incomes thanks to the generosity of foreign shareholders of American corporate assets you might point out how much that fictional tax cut will cost us over a decade.....at least $450 billion in additional interest payments on the debt. Or to put it another way, every American is going to have to pay around $1300 over a decade for a tax break going largely to corporations and the wealthy. Republican math (full disclosure.....I am a registered Republican and have been for decades but I am not stupid).
Until media reports strip the fiction that this is a tax cut and we are merely fighting over its distribution, revealing that it is actually a plan to borrow $1.5 trillion and give to those who are the most fortunate the plan will move ahead. Why not ask the Republicans to bring a piece of legislation to there floor of Congress simply authorizing borrowing $1.5 trillion and sending 90 percent to corporations and the rich? Save all the time arguing about "tax cuts" and simply call the Republican proposal debt enlargement.
11
Junior was confused. He meant to use "two".
5
the last sentence cut off is:
The money deep in extensive portfolios has essentially dropped off a cliff as its effects won’t be felt often for years. The middle class, not having all its needs met, will spend into the economy.
1
Jr's socialism is the Reagan welfare queen in a Cadillac, if you can find one. If a kid is sick at home (a pre-existing condition on Halloween night) would it be OK to share some of your goodies and benefits, like health care for the uninsured? A family that doesn't understand empathy, trying to justify its selfishness. Repeal without a substantive replacement, or at least undermine, if that makes you a winner.
7
Empathy is all well and good and is a valid topic for robust discussion but it should be supported by VOLUNTARY charity, not confiscatory tax rates enforced by the government. Carnegie decided to distribute his wealth and did it by funding libraries which was his right. He didn't spend his money on medical research, municipal sewer systems, teaching hospitals, childhood education, or a myriad of other issues. Libraries. And that was as much his right, since it was HIS money as it would be had he decided to keep every penny, decorate his homes with gold-plated everything or simply burn it.
1
Len, what I meant, though I wasn’t explicit about it, is that tax payers, people already working and paying some amount of Federal Income Tax over and beyond payroll tax deduction, will take their real money ten thousand dollar tax saving and spend it. . That money will be going into the private sector. It will be spent, and fairly quickly, on goods and services. This money not going to the feds in taxes will be generating higher revenues in the private sector as you desire. As important as investing is, when the wealthy hoard their cash by putting it into the black hole of their portfolios there is no increase in the purchase of goods and services. A real middle class tax cut like this will increase the circulation of capital and increase the velocity of money. The money deep in extensive portfolios has
If you spent 10 minutes reading the "tax bill" I am not sure who you believe is going to receive that $ 10,000 tax reduction. If you had actually paid some attention in basic math you would understand that in order for someone to receive a reduction of that amount they would be earning more than the
$ 300,000. Is that your definition of middle class????
10
It's getting harder to find the laughs anymore with Trump and his freak show but thanks, Gail, you did.
It's best not to have any expectations where Trump and taxes are mentioned in the same paragraph. We know who the winners are. Maybe a telethon for big business would be best. Where's Jon Stewart when we need him?
As for Trump, anything he gets involved in will fail. Being inept and clueless can bring even a good idea to its knees.
After his response to the attacks on innocent people in NYC is it any wonder why his fellow New Yorkers dislike him. I think not.
And I expect that stealing half of Chloe's candy is an object lesson of some sort but too lame to impact anyone but her. Poor kid. But then, she's a Trump and getting shorted on Halloween candy will be the least of her problems.
4
I can no longer read about political news or watch it on TV. It's just too depressing. Somehow in our "exceptional" country, we have given all the power away to a very small percentage of the population - the richest few. I am rather glad to be 61 years old because I have fewer years left to bear the trials of a country in steep decline.
86
Nothing lasts forever (referring to "country in decline"). And, on the plus side, on a good day when there appears to be hope in the form of justice, it is a day to rejoice. As an old dame, pushing 80, you are still a whippersnapper. Whippersnapper, alone, should be enough to tip-off anyone of one's "era."
My sentiments exactly, TR....I have even less time to live than you. I'm 80 years old and see nothing but decline in American democracy. On second thought, I have six beautiful grandkids for whom I wish a brighter future than they will ever have as long as there are 30% of Americans still supporting Trump and his ilk.
Unlike you,, I still follow the news because I have always been a news junkie and its hard to change one's ways as an octogenarian. What is happening in this country is so ludicrous that one desires to see how low politicians, indeed the whole society, can descend before there is a pendulum swing. Besides my very bright l5 year old grandson wants to be President some day, and having heard his political views and seen his leadership /organizational abilities in the 9th grade....I see hope in the future.
8
At 80, you should understand that the postwar era was an aberration in history following a period of severe sacrifice by the Greatest Generation. Unions and their extortionist ways, the rise of the left from FDR through LBJ to the worst days of the Obama years, the social engineering that accompanied that and the artificial rise of a substantial middle class are not typical of any other period in human history. The WWII generation earned the GI Bill. Saving the world from fascism, they were appreciated by a grateful world. My Boomer generation and all subsequent generations have done none of that. The pendulum is simply swinging back, seen NY equilibrium.
This Tax Bill is going to be a real doozy! Gail, it will give you weeks of material. Who knew the GOP could start with "Middleclass tax Cuts and closing of Loopholes", do a drunken about face and propose massive cuts for the wealthy and corporations exploding the deficit with nothing for other Americans, even sneaking in repeal of ACA provisions. And waiting in the wings massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and every other social program. This country will be left with rich people and lots of bombs. The rest of us will need to consider becoming refugees. There a lot of room in Canada, isn't there??
7
It would be helpful for Don Trump Jr to actually know what Socialism actually is, a little education is helpful in life....maybe he never learned to share or have gratitude for being healthy and able bodied....should disabled kids not get to enjoy Halloween too? Halloween was fun because we all went trick or treating together and then shared our treat loot together. The Trump family is pretty dysfunctional and I feel sorry for them and for their kids who have to grow up in that household.
10
Poor Gail, if you had only waited a bit you would know that the inheritance tax threshold has doubled and will phase out completely by 2024. Poor Billionaires.
4
Thank you Ms Collins! My husband and I read your column while drinking our morning coffee....it certainly was a great way to start our day....Heaven help us!
3
Bless you, Gail Collins. You're the only thing that makes me smile when I'm reading the news.
8
Trump Jr. needs to show how Jesus fits into his life!
I dare any Trump offspring, son-in-law or Trump himself to compare and contrast Ayn Rand with Jesus Christ. I'd also ask that Evangelicals to do the same comparison to task them to know who they're partnered with in that party.
5
If Rand isn't your cup of tea then look at Calvinism or the Prosperity Gospel. After all, if God made Mark Zuckerberg the world's richest man and then made a million others homeless, who are we mortals to interfere?
Gail, how do you keep your sense of humor intact during these trying times? I wish i had your therapist. By the way, my daughter loved your book about women in American history.
4
Seeking comedy about GOP tax reform?? How about Paul Ryan’s straight-faced droll explanations??
6
Right up there with the Skittles remark.
In the first place, Chloe getting the free candy is the 'socialism' part. Someone taking half for reasons she can't understand is Republicanism ... or capitalism if you prefer.
DJT Jr. may be a 'good boy', as his Dad says, but he's not necessarily the smartest ... oh never mind.
Of course, he may not have had the best teachers in spite of his wealth and expensive education.
His dad's minions (otherwise known as Republican lawmakers) claim they will give the middle class (we don't need to talk about those other, richer people - it ruins the argument) an income tax cut by ... wait for it ... reducing their tax breaks, including preferential treatment for 401(k) plans and state and local tax deductions.
???
Breathe deep and hink on that one for a minute.
Really, DJT Jr. should ask for his college tuition back. At the very least, he needs to stop tweeting.
And he really needs to stop using his kid to make vacuous points.
47
Trump is our national bully. It is his secret to success, and so far he has been successful, with very damaging consequences to this country.
His fans adore him, and the worse he behaves and the more damage he does, the more they cheer him. They don't care that the GOP health and tax bills will damage them and their families personally, while the rich are made richer and more powerful.
My father used to say that only a bully can take down another bully. But it is really Trump's supporters--the politicians, big GOP donors, and voters--who give him his power. It is they who are even more to blame than Trump is for our terrible situation. Can they be "taken down," and if so, what will it take?
7
Gail, maybe that's why Trump calls his son Don. He's not Trumpy enough to rate the full Donald.
4
The "7/11" reference was a Freudian slip. Trump was actually referring to the date he learned Wikileaks was going to publish hacked DNC emails provided by Russian intelligence. Easy mistake. I'm sure the terrorist victims' families didn't mind.
7
If Mark Zuckerberg had a decent bone in his body (he doesn't) he'd use his app talents to invent an app that mutes and blocks (on TV/Sirius/Online News feeds. etc) the ugly voice/face of Fake Forty Five. No thinking person should be exposed to the toxicity; I think it impacts brain cells and certainly hurts ones mood.
10
Congratulations, Gail, on being funny in a bittersweet way at a time when many TV comedians have bombed. Love your writing!
3
Ms. Collins, I hold you personally responsible for two frequent, related events in my life: saving me from having to check into the loony bin by dint of humour - lately, laughter is all that keeps many of us from the precipice; and the waste of fine wine, which sprays out of my mouth when I read your oh-so-dry wit. I sincerely hope that your employers see fit to give you a wage increase on account of the public service you are performing. What would we do without you?
5
Great article as always!
3
I would not allow my kid to take juniors second candy...probably picked out all the good stuff and only giving away the hard tootsie rolls.
6
The outrage is so persistently outrageous that there's no longer any comment to be made. There's really nothing less than to bury one's head in one's hands and weep. But cheer up! Only thirty-nine months are left in this odious presidency.
I'm tired of living in an America made great again. As for all this winning? I'm just exhausted!
7
I looked at the lead picture.
Donald Trump is not a very handsome fellow.
And I am being civil.
8
" Politics is Show Business for UGLY People". Just saying.
7
He's aging terribly. Look at those forehead lines. So not handsome. So not cool. So not smart.
2
Gail Collins missed the one question everyone is asking: How much hair does The Donald comb, and how does he comb it?
4
No the real question is how much the taxpayers pay for someone to comb that mop and how much for the cans of hairspray to hold it in place. I wonder if had he been out in the hurricane if the hair would have moved
1
Wait a minute. I thought tax reform was meant to eliminate millions of tax loop holes? And then change the brackets to fit. So far all I'm understanding is that the loop holes are being disguised as a change.
27
Estate tax exclusion for decedents dying in 2017 is currently $5.49 million for an individual (not $5.95 million), and $10.98 million for a couple (not $10.9 million).
"After the House, the Senate Republicans have to come up with a plan that will please 50 members of their party, several of whom regard the president as slightly less inspirational than shingles." Destined to become the quote of the decade.
4
Not only is itpublic deliberation as part of preparation for big bills that has gone by the wayside. Given the last-minute horse-trading hours before the measure is made public, Congress hasn't gone in for extensive in-house deliberation, either. Their process reminds me so much of the students I had who clearly wrote their major assignments the night before it was due. While occasionally I would read a brilliant last-minute assignment, nothing brilliant has managed to be brought forth from this Congress.
2
Trump did express all kinds of empathy for the Vegas massacre. Perhaps because the shooter was a rich old white guy, born and raised in the USA.
5
Where arevTrump's tax records?
7
Those poor, pitiful Trumplings. Imagine THAT as your Father. Why any normal, decent person would be embarrassed and flee, never to be seen in public, on TV, or Twitter. That ain't happening. " Billionaire " welfare.
5
Why didn`t Trump phone New York City`s Msyor or Gov during yester`s terror?
He`s the President, they re not.
1
If the Times columnists really want to help us understand our infant president and his collaborators, they should stop writing and simply refer us to the Mad Hatter chapter in "Alice in Wonderland."
That is all we need to know.
3
A few pithy column inches from an amusing columnist in the New York Times will not change anything. I've been a social conservative voter all my voting life but have been forced into the category of RINO by the dominant, sneering, alt.right of the republican party of today. Why is the democratic party so invisible that I have no obvious opportunity to engage?
4
The Republicans big proposals, taxes now, smash Obamacare earlier, are so ugly they have to be smuggled into Congress with a bag over their heads and a bag over the bag to keep anyone from peeking in. No hearings, as little advance warning as possible. Get this ugly thing on the floor and hope that it passes before anyone gets a good look at it or the national uproar roars loud enough to break eardrums.
America needs more jobs. A $700,000+ tax cut for the wealthiest among us could mean a future of full employment, perhaps involving sweeping the aisles and cleaning the toilets on the private jet aircraft of the mega rich. Hey, its a job.
For more than 7 years, the Republicans moaned and groaned that Obama had "rammed Obamacare down our throats" but now that the shoes are on their feet, they are quite prepared to ram anything down the throats of Democrats, if only they can get enough Republican votes to do the ramming. There's the rub. The Republicans can't agree on which direction a two man rowboat should go.
There is great danger here. If the Republicans and Trump can't get taxes done, a death knell will be sounded for the Trump presidency. The potential for Trump to look for something else to do, like blowing up North Korea, will be even greater. This is no joke. Perhaps the Dems should let him have some of these tax cuts for the rich to avoid the potential for other disasters. Strategic planning.
4
To Don Jr.:
OK, take half the candy, give the biggest pile to the military, a handful to Big Ag, some to your dad, and so on, until you get down to the last piece. Give that to a kid with cerebral palsy who wasn't able to trick or treat.
Then complain that she's lazy and isn't trying hard enough. Snatch it back, pinch some of it off, eat it yourself, and hand the remaining bit back to her.
Never too soon to teach her about Republicanism.
12
New tax code - new thinking and opportunities. How about a reading list to decipher Trumpspeak; The Old Testament (none of this the poor shall inherit the earth stuff, rich people will); The Art of the Deal (about lying); and Mein Kampf the 2 vol set which explains where we a headed.
Of course there must be new Trump products, one being the "Trump Roll" a tubeless roll of toilet paper with the Constitution written in full on every roll, except the 25th amnt., to save paper and to demonstrate Trump's appreciation for the Constitution and what he intends to do with it. Hail to the Leader.
2
Gail, you forgot that Trump is playing president on a stage called the United States. For him it's just a reality show. If people suffer, hey, too bad. It's only a show.
4
Gail, your column reads like a bunch of "Dad jokes" strung together. By making light of Trump you are legitimizing him. How about writing a serious think piece every now and then? Trump and his band of deplorables are no laughing matter.
Hey Gail--no snide remarks today about Pence not taking female subordinates to dinner alone? You usually sneak that in somewhere. Oh-I guess with the parade of women finally getting to reveal how they were raped or assaulted by men they worked for or wanted to work for might make that seem a little silly. Who would you rather get career advice from? Mike Pence, or, say, Michael Oreskes?
2
Kudos Gail!
the trump tax plan is like an electric car with a wind turbine on the roof and the proud letters on the door "i won't need a plug "
1
It would be heartening if Congress adhered to John McCain's admonition about following the regular legislative order, i.e., no more midnight sessions, steam rolling, and plenty of open bi-partisan debates on important issues like, Tax Reform...
5
We can all imagine the so called president, running around with that thing on top of his head blazing and sending a trail of orange smoke behind him after he sees whatever he sees on TV that just set him off. We have been told that is his way.
Let's imagine what might happen if he turned on his TV and there was nothing about him on at all. Imagine that going on for a week, two weeks, a month. I can imagine that being more disturbing to him than anything. Just being ignored.
I wonder.........
2
Gail, how can you write about tax cuts and leave out Paul Ryan? There’s no need to dwell upon his arithmetic challenges. Instead, we might quote some of his straight-faced simple “truths” that come across as stand-up comedy.
6
There are only two certainties in life: death and Republican plans to reduce taxes on the rich.
13
I read that if you eliminated all the tax loopholes for corporations, you could only bring the tax rate down to 22%. Me, I favor eliminating the loopholes. I even support a way to bring back money that was sent overseas to avoid paying income taxes. But let's be real, the tax 'reform' isn't about fairness or simplicity. It is about giving the rich more money, because they won't be happy until they have it ALL.
8
Passage of this tax bill will ensure that by spring the world economy will be in worse shape than in 2007.
4
Without Trump's tax returns made public how will we ever know whether this tax bill is not just a give a way to the master tax avoider Donald Trump.
9
I think we can assume that without seeing his tax returns; everything Trump does is about his own bottom line.
6
There is one part of the Trump Tax that I am in favor of, & that is getting rid of the Estate Tax. My mother skimped & saved $10,000 dollars, I don't know how she did it, because there were times we couldn't pay the Rent which was $40.00 per Month. She made the $10,000 a Joint account, & went she went to heaven, I went to the bank to cash it in.When I closed the account, the Bank Manager asked me why I was closing the account, innocently I told him my Mother passed away.She told me I would have to pay an Estate Tax.I needed every penny of that inheritance, & i felt I have just been robbed by the Government.we were far from being rich, or even Middle Class.I can almost understand taxing the the inheritance of the rich, but they should have drawn a line somewhere.
1
Seriously? Are you aware that the estate tax only applies to estates valued in millions of dollars, not$10,000? But thanks for helping spread the GOP's disinformation.
3
This is satire, right? No way a bank manager would even give you advice on a $10,000 withdrawal. The "line" you refer to was provided in the article. It is $5.96 MILLION - not thousand - for an individual and $10.9 MILLION for a couple. If you were "robbed", it must have been in a back alley because it wasn't the IRS.
4
You were lied to; you don't have to pay an estate tax on your own account...
1
The US is on ‘undeclared war’ for over 15 years in practically all the corners of the world. How the funding will come? Continued borrowing? Where are those who want to make the America Great Again to support with funding like taxes-not to cut the ridiculously low taxes as they are in the US now! IS this all about take the money and run? Surely, the leaders examples to follow go right down to nefarious and uninitiated alike.
1
No new tax plan until Donald Trump releases his tax returns for the last five years. This is a democracy. We're all supposed to be in this thing together. As a taxpayer I want to know how the President, Vice-President and other elected officials will make out under the new tax rules. I have a right to know - I help to pay for this government and the salaries of my elected officials with my taxes. It's the right thing to do, Mr. President; release your tax returns and help make America great.
6
For 94% of the country, Trump has a "big first-year moment" weekly if not daily. 38% of the country defines "big" as a major step toward making America great again, while 56% of the country defines it as a sledgehammer blow to an American value and/or program and/or position they hold dear. The other 6% are still recovering from one hurricane or another and are too busy to have an opinion.
1
Gail,
You are starting to write with the cynicism I exhibit when I've had one too (spelled correctly) many.
You need a meditation or a medication or a vacation.
1
It could have been worse for DTjr. He could have been named Scrooge McDuck Jr. just in case he was a loser.
1
Of course, Donnie Junior has every right to be grouchy about socialist taxation, what with having worked so hard to get where he is. Oh, wait....
8
Well, it's probably best he skip the consolatory phone call.
1
To give DJTJ credit where credit is due, he spelled "too" two-thirds right.
8
When a slick, mean, greedy, greasy, dishonest guy, who's taller than you, takes half the candy your neighbors enjoyed sharing, that's not socialism.
That's Trumpism.
7
No. I’m not giving Don Jr. or Don Sr. a pass. And it’s pretty ironic that Don Jr. is dissing socialism when the whole crew is suckling at the teat of Mother Russia
7
Long may Gail Collins write. She serves substance with humour.
9
I think I'll just eat cake. And then go find my pitchfork.
5
Did he really say "7/11"?
3
The best Twitter reply to Don Jr? Perhaps he should find a rich kid and give the child 90% of her candy. To teach her about Republicanism."
7
Gail has a way of making me laugh and making me want to throw-up simultaneously. Oh, the absurdity of it all. Beam me up Scotty!
7
I wouldn't have had the nerve to say it, but that nails it.
1
If you're within hearing range of Trump, McConnell, Ryan and any Trump acolyte when they're talking you're suffering. You're being abused, trickled on.
What's often worse torture is listening to a Trump voter. There's been all sorts of analyses of why someone supports a self-proclaimed sexual predator and thief. They wanted change, the government wasn't listening to their needs, they were left behind etc., etc. Let's face it- they're mostly willfully ignorant racists
8
As soon as I read Gary Cohn's comment about people buying a new car with their $1000 tax savings, I was reminded of Congressional Democrats holding a press conference during debate over the Bush, Jr., tax cuts in 2001. Democrats attention-grabber at the presser was a $49,000 Lexus, the car very wealthy people could buy every year if the cuts became law.
The tax cuts went through, of course. I got $300 and shafted. Most people only got the shafting. The very wealthy? Obviously, they didn't get nearly enough. And a Lexus costs a lot more 16 years later so they need a lot more.
3
Thank you Gail.
I watched “The Night Before Halloween” again but you know what, it wasn’t as funny and scary as Trump’s Reign of terror. It’s the Alternate Reality every day. People ask all the time how did Hitler happen? Well open your eyes and ears. Hitler created an Alternate Reality.
1
If your idea of health care reform is to take health care away from people
If your idea of tax reform is make richer people even richer at the expense of the middle class now and for future generations.
If your idea of a president is an illiterate buffoon, who assaults women, praises Nazis, disrespects the rule of law, good journalism and democracy itself, then congratulations, my child: You truly are a Republican!
12
Throwing out the estate tax would be bad optics for the Republicans, especially going into the mid-terms, but as Gary Cohn remarked, only morons pay it.
Keeping the alternative minimum tax, on the other hand, would ensure that the superrich pay SOMETHING anyway. The AMT is one tax that even Trump had to pay.
4
"...Gary Cohn who suggested that a $1,000 tax cut would enable average Americans to “buy a new car.”
Really? Please direct me to that dealership.
3
Gail: We live in really warped times.
1
Before Don Jr's little lesson on socialism, he took his daughter door-to-door demanding handouts.
6
Chloe is 10, right? I don't think the base is as smart as she is.
2
Trump gives new meaning to the description of our Presidential election system:
"WInner takes all."
4
As my mother used to say, "I'm laughing to keep from crying" about the hardships in her life, of which there were more than a few. I guess we may as well laugh since there is nothing we can do about it until 2018 and cast our one protest vote, which may or may not be counted accurately by the computer voting systems subject to hacking, thank you billionaire tech nerds, may you enjoy your Republican tax cuts. Republicans will have their beloved tax cuts, in one form or another, because social conservatives and angry white people gave them control of our law-making. Working people who aren't rich will get a few crumbs on April 15 but lose half a loaf when Social Security and Medicare are cut. Better not eat too healthy, exercise too much and live too long.
10
The American people will be asked to accept a tax cut bill without having any idea how much it will personally benefit the "president" and his family. Why doesn't anyone care about that? Ah, "Age of Trump." Thanks, Gail.
11
One of the key points here is when Ms. Collins points out -- "Congress doesn’t have public deliberation while it’s preparing big bills any more. It’s totally not Age of Trump."
In this age of concocted "news" stories arriving from all directions, the lack of open discussion in Congress about the bills they are trying to sneak in just makes matters worse. It adds to our lack of knowledge of what's going on in Washington.
So I never want to never ever again hear a Republican complaining about Democrats "shoving" a bill down our throats -- not after they keep trying to slip one out the door in the dead of night.
16
Oh I think that we shall never see
A President as incompetent,
Inept, and as embarrassing
As Donald T.
Imagine Donald J. Trump, who so loves and panders to his base as much as he does, promising his base one thing--like making the rich pay their fair share of taxes--but then reneging and actually pushing a tax bill that greatly lowers all kinds of taxes on the rich, and to make up for lost revenue, sticks it to the middle-, working-class, and the poor. Sort of like the Trump U model, I would say.
So let's all hope the lyin' two-timing, make-a-mess-of-everything President Trump either resigns or is removed from office, right?
Not so fast! Then we get VP Pence. Mr. Straight Arrow; he wouldn't lie to us. Or would he? Wonder why Trump the populist has done an about-face and become the wealthy elite's new best friend?
Answer: KOCHs and big mega-GOP donors and VP Pence! VP Pence was hand-picked by them and is definitely their waterboy and darling. So although the Kochs refused to fund Trump's campaign, VP Pence paved the way, and somehow Trump has come around to their way of thinking--sort of a conversion in reverse.
Please read:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/23/the-danger-of-president-pence
And please don't say I didn't warn you. At least Trump can't get the GOP's agenda done.
7
First, I'm pretty sure the kid got the candy for free, so taking it away from her is capitalism.
Second, no matter how tough her dad's childhood was, that does not explain his inability to spell. He (and Dad) cannot speak or spell English words because they're ignorant and too incurious to learn anything.
Third, the Senate could not conspire on lunch. They know full well that they will outlast Trump and it's pretty clear that they don't much care what he wants, if they can even figure out what he wants. Even if the long learning curve in the House prevents them from comprehending that taking away state tax deductions will lose them the support of the vaunted middle class, and ultimately their jobs, the crazy stops there. That doesn't mean that they won't pass a tax plan--they are a confederacy of dunces--but it's not going to get any further in the three weeks that the Senate has before they break for the holidays.
2
Well, the House tax bill has now seen the light of day. Previously written on the back of a small envelope to honor the legend of the Gettysburg Address, the bill is actually a bit longer than expected.
One feature of the bill stands out for not even bothering to hide its seething anger directed at big-population states which voted overwhelming against Donald Trump and which have large urban populations.
By eliminating the federal deduction for paying state and local taxes, Trump and the
Republicans took swipes at states like California and New York and at cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and a few others. The heartland is spared (with the exception of cities like Chicago).
States with large vacant spaces and relatively low taxes already are the winners again, just as they were in the Electoral College.
If Democrats had ever tried to eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, Republicans would have reached for their muskets and cried out: “Double Taxation!” and “States’ Rights!”
10
No joke, I could've sworn Don Jr.'s quote was going to end with some kind of lesson about sharing or that the candy was going to be donated to some kind of charitable children's program or something. How naïve of me. In hindsight, I can't understand why I would ever think the story was going to end that way.
3
Gail,
Apologies, but DJT, Jr. does not receive a pass, if anything he should be the antithesis of his father, sorta like a neo Luke Skywalker. As the ever sage, Mr. Yoda would observe of DT Jr, "Galaxy dimmest light is he."
The Republicans' Keystone Kops routine of careening and accelerating to pass substantive legislation will soon run into the wall of reality and be stopped---once we all can find out all of the details of this sordid giveaway. It's not going to happen. Trump's legislative agenda, 0-3 or is that 0-4? Such "winning" indeed. How's that "Infrastructure Week" doing? Exactly.
2
I recommend taking a gander at the Representative from New York I saw on MSNBC this morning, responding to a more and more exasperated anchor's questions about such little things as carried interest by prattling more and more and more rapidly about this victory for the Amurrican People.
On his face he had, wider and wider as he sped up, what I fear I may only refer to as a certain type of grin.
No, it wasn't Steve King.
1
In regards to your logic to leave Donald Jr. alone because he had a weird upbringing, you get credit for being compassionate, but many human beings have had weirder upbringings and have grown into normal adults who don't use their own children to score points and can spell "too." If he was still in his teens or his formative 20s, I might agree with you, but the man is 39 years old and does not deserve amnesty.
"Somewhere tonight there’s a child with a $30 million inheritance who needs our help." Someone like Chloe Trump and the rest of trump's grandchildren and children. Oh how they suffer. That $30 million inheritance could buy them some bootstraps if the estate tax didn't exist.
I used to love your columns Ms. Collins because they made me laugh, but in the "Age of Trump" nothing seems funny.
1
I myself thought "the Senate Republicans have to come up with a plan that will please 50 members of their party, several of whom regard the president as slightly less inspirational than shingles" was one of Gail's best lines!
3
We tax-paying losers should be glad that Trump and the GOP are at least addressing the terrible plight of billionaires and tax evading corporations by drafting the much needed "Billionaire Support and Corporate Welfare Act". This much needed bill will be financed by increasing the tax burden of working Americans (who deserve a larger part of the tax pie in recognition of their patriotism and willingness to make sacrifices for those in need) and then passing the resulting Government debts to their children and grand-children.
The children of the billionaires will be happy to have the estate tax abolished for all of us, knowing that for most Americans the estate tax is an abstraction, but death is real and therefore the "death tax" must be evil.
7
When I was a kid all the kids in the neighborhood would go out trick-or-treating as a group. One year, one of my neighbors had just badly fractured his leg and couldn't go. He was devastated to miss this night of frivolity. He had a costume and, well, sat at home while we went out and did the hard work of acquiring free candy from strangers.
We we returned, each of us reached into our own bag and grabbed a big handful of candy which we pooled and gave to our unfortunate lame friend. I don't even recall any parents having to tell us to do this. We didn't want to see one of our own going without. I never missed that handful of candy; seeing the smile on my friend's face was worth more than a big glob of processed sugar.
This isn't socialism. It's called living in a community. And this is what we should aspire to.
19
Personally, I think it's heartwarming to hear the Don J. is making sure that the apple of his eye is not falling far from the tree.
3
Where are tRUMPS taxe returns. Where are the taxe returnss of every one of its cabinet members, where are the tax returns of all congresspeople? Then we can talk about how this disastrous plan affects them and how it affects regular people.
2
Deficits don't matter--unless Democrats can be blamed for ALL of them.
4
It's getting increasingly difficult to write ironic op-eds about Donald Trump and the Republican agenda. Not because there isn't enough material. Actually there's too much material. No, it's getting harder and harder to maintain a sense of what's normal and more importantly, what's abnormal, which irony is intended to highlight. And it's going to get crazier still.
5
I want one of those new cars that cost $1000.00! What a deal!
4
The Trumps certainly know how to put a damper on children's Halloween festivities, with Junior's smarmy 'socialism' tweet and Donald's weird Oval Office comments to kids of reporters. Someone needs to teach those kids not to take candy from strangers. I wonder if Jr.'s candy lecture included examples of all the mountains of off-shored or laundered candy that go undeclared on tax returns? It's worth a follow-up question. I hope one of those reporter's kids dressed as Robert Mueller.
2
After reading your commentary, Gail, I thought it would be brilliant to force feed the population with this information so they really know what's happening. The twisted presentation of this proposed tax law is strictly "slight of hand" GOP tactics. God Bless America !
Don Jr. should take Chloe's candy and give it to some kid who already has more than she needs, with the promise that more will be coming later. Because it's never too early to teach your children about "Trickle Down Economics".
2
Tax reform could be good. And, as reform, the proposed bill isn't all bad.
A financed tax cut for those already doing well -- not needed. Increasing the value of an estate that can be inherited -- not necessarily bad. Eliminating the estate tax ensures that the 0.1% can lock up the counties wealth in their families forever. That's a terrible idea.
The idea that allowing the 0.1% to keep another trillion dollars will be good for employment and wages is just non-sense. To the extent it is observed to be good, it will be the result of the leverage added into the economy due to financing the tax cuts. Any job benefit will be the result of financing tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of our children.
These tax cuts I think will further stimulate the stock market and push asset inflation. The rich don't need to buy anything else but they will need to stuff their wealth into securities. The next bubble awaits.
I
4
So the loyal supporters of Trump don't see that he and Republicans are going to aid the wealthy and corporations by having the middle and working classes pay for the tax cuts? That must be one of the benefits of being a low information voter — thinking that supporting Trump means being on the winning side. High information voters see him and Republicans for what they are and want none of it. We'll reward Trump and Republicans in 2018 and 2020 by voting for their opponents.
Eclectic Pragmatism — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
8
Where are TRump's tax returns ,before he signs a GOP only tax bill that benefits him and his family he should release his tax returns if he was ethical and honorable which we now know he is not. The donor class will be happy with Ryan and fund his fellow republicans for re-election and Ivanka will inherit an extra billion$ or so when her daddy signs the bill ending the estate oh happy days.
7
Another question: How does Trump personally benefit from the tax bill? Can anyone attempt an analysis? How about the leading Republicans at the Capitol - what happens to their personal tax liabilities as a result of this legislation?
9
MJ from Denver, I think this is a terrific idea. NYT to make a graphic chart for us all to "understand" how these "cut, cut, cut" tax breaks will effect our liar-in-cahoots and all his supporters, politicians that is not his base, although the base, they might like to get a handle on this before its the "cuts" are passed.
And a great BIG chart explaining the HUGE increases in the deficit that these "cuts" this will cause, just so our children and grandchildren can look back and see who's to blame, the blamer in chief of course! How sweet in a sickly sort of way.
common sense like economic sense does not play well in the Republican agenda. Because of the word 'common' and the word 'sense' do not exist in the platform of the elite bullies of wall street who got steroid shots rather than drained from the swamp. And it apparently does not figure in to those who support a party of truth dodgers, fact deniers and opacity of details as to what is really going and its ultimate affect on them. So what we end up with is the party of 'non-sense' be it healthcare, taxes, diplomacy, environment, education... or as Houston 'Texans' Football coach might have called it, an- 'inmates running the prison' moment. But in this case the only ones taking a knee will be taking one for the party of lottery believers tied to the string (along) theory that tax cuts for the rich will make us all rich.
When my taxes go up in order the create a tax cut for the ultra wealthy, my Republican representative that voted for this will be voted out of office.
5
No Democrat is going to vote for job-producing tax cuts. They already pay no fed income tax and certainly don't want to get a job and go to work.
While most college boys were dreaming of things more exotic, Paul Ryan was in his dorm room dreaming of block granting Medicaid to the states.
Now that Republicans have been put back in control of Congress (as voters now must pass through a gauntlet of voter suppression laws, gerrymandered districts, and outright vote tampering), we can report that deficits no longer matter again. Deficits only matter when Democrats control Congress (or the White House). So Republican wealthy donor maintenance disguised as tax reform can commence. Let us know when you get you $4000 to $9000 tax cut. Trump pays no taxes (or how would we know, I guess). Makes him smart.
2
Drive a Stake through an Estate so big the tax applies.
Why do I feel so burdened every time there is talk of Interest Carried? Will we be the ones bearing the weight on that deal?
When the Ax is turned on the Tax code our limbs
Gail:
Let's begin to call the Republican scheme what it really is: tax robbery, not tax cuts. The largest theft in history, it will rob America of its future.
Historically, our Nation invested--through our taxes--in projects that built the middle class and made us stronger together. The successes of our common investments are monumental: educationally (GI bill, land grant colleges), health wise (air and water pollution controls, Medicare), technologically (rural electrification, internet development, satellites and space programs), personally (civil rights, women's rights), internationally (Marshall Plan, NATO, UN).
To remain a great nation, we must remain committed to our heritage of common, future-oriented investments. The proposed tax thievery deprives America of that opportunity. It guarantees mediocrity. It is a shameful declaration that our Nation no longer believes in "We".
157
You forgot to mention that fade-out on the estate tax. Six years Trump needs to hang on, then his kids (like Don Jr.) get an extra few hundred million... you bet they're watching out for his health. I won't be joining Trump's family in wishing either him or the Republican "tax reform" robbery bill a long life.
So the stock market is setting new record highs because companies are reporting good sales and revenues, but they need a tax cut "to be competitive"? If business is so good, why wouldn't these companies be trying to hire more people and raise wages now, without a tax cut? Doesn't anyone in Congress see the contradiction here?
10
There are numerous times when I have been terribly disappointed in Trump but I have never felt that I would have been happier with Hillary Clinton and her cabal of public trust sycophants
You do know that the Clintons and the Trumps used to be good friends. That the Clintons attended his latest wedding, #3. That their daughters are good friends too. Its that wealthy people connection. Small people like us can't buy a place in Martha's Vineyard you know.
1
What Republicans do in Congress the Dems can undo. Not only can they reverse a $1.5 trillion giveaway to the wealthy, I hope they sock it to Trump and his ilk by reinstating the estate tax, jacking up the tax rate on anyone worth more than $1 million, fining and prosecuting corporations that avoid taxes by stashing their profits overseas and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Trump and the cowardice of his Republican enablers have insured that the GOP will never again control Congress or win the White House.
3
Ms. Collins has a wonderful way of showing how the GOP's fixation with keeping the wealthy happy with tax cuts are not only myths but as effective for economic growth as eating trick or treat booty to prevent caries and gum disease.
Her humor and sharp insight are most welcome in this time of scoundrels.
2
What a sick tweet about Halloween - was that supposed to be a joke? So he feels that trick or treating is hard work, and a kid who can't take part is, what, lazy?
What is so great about keeping all your candy for yourself anyway? Many kids do give portions away because no one needs that much sugar.
This metaphor actually works really well doesn't it.
5
I have a feeling “learning about socialism” from the old man won’t make as big an impression on wee Chloe as Grandad hitting the slammer for helping a foreign government swipe an election right here in the good old USA. Hope she’s a history buff.
3
Ryan and his merry band of alchemists are still mucking around in dross.
Producing those golden tax cuts takes more than magical thinking and fake math.
4
The whole leave ‘the kids out of it’ is off the table.
2
Hey, I'm sorry, but I cannot feel sorry for Jr., okay? With Donald Trump and Ivana as parents, he was way better off with his Nanny, dead or alive. Anyway, his Dad probably just lied about it to Jr. and said Ivana made up the whole story after talking to Hillary Clinton.
And, yeah, taxes? You're assuming Trump has any idea what's in the tax plan. Probably he just called Bannon or Stone and asked if it was "good for Trump." "Yes, Boss, it's good for Trump," will be the answer. So, now, he'll say, "those losers in Congress better pass the bill or I'm going to Tweet about it," which will actually scare the losers in Congress. His spectacular, mega-dealmaking done, he can then get back to the important task of blaming Democrats and the Mayor of London for terrorist attacks while watching Fox and Friends.
6
The Trump Jr story is one of the actual good lessons he could be teaching his daughter. Great that she shares her candy with the less fortunate. To [sic] bad that he thinks this is a negative lesson. I hope his daughter sees it differently.
1
Wait, DJ is going to steal his daughter's candy, that she worked to get, and give it to - the 1% who stayed home? Oh, he learns quickly.
5
Gail writes with flair and touch of elan, but I still have to rush to the large emesis bowl. By all means skewer this buffoon, this plague sent to torment us. He can't complete a coherent sentence, so he is unlikely ever to have a coherent thought--a sequence of disorganized reactions, more likely. We need to know if he is ahead of the Russian bots or if they are leading him. But we also must get over being distracted by this theater of the absurd: the real drama has been unfolding since the 1960s at the latest: voter turn-out at presidential elections were a smidgen over 60% in that decade. They've never reached such heights since then. And we call this democracy? We have tinpot leaders in Church, Chapel, Congress, Colleges, the Military, and spread out all over TV, and what is their leadership message? Buy mine, my snake-oil! Not with a bang but with a jingle!
2
Junior goes on safari, on daddy's daddy's dime, to slaughter magnificent creatures who take of themselves. He's amused by it, and it makes him feel like a "man". This is what you're dealing with. Just sayin'.
6
Don Jr.'s simpleton explanation of socialism is like the GOP's simpleton explanation of their tax reform (sic) proposal. Yes, his kid did give up half her candy, but in a socialist system it does not go to the kid who stayed home. Some goes to maintaining the sidewalks she walked on, some to the police who make her Halloween perambulation safe, some to pay for the street lights and the electricity to light them, some to those who provided her costume and bag, and fed her before she went out, and yes, some to those who confined to bed with illness could not go out. What Don's example could just as easily explain is the capitalist employer who benefits from her labor by withholding half of the value of the value of that labor to distribute to those who invested in her costume and bag. See, from the perspective of the worker, it matters not a tinker's dam, yet Americans prefer private gain to collective gain because the latter is boring and the former holds out the promise that one day they too will be able to benefit from the labor of others and thus slip the yoke of wage slavery (where one's earnings are limited to the finite number of hours they can work in a day).
2
If Trump, Jr. was teaching his daughter about Socialism, he'd see that she got free health care, free dentistry, and free education through college. Oh, wait, she already has that since the Trumps have big bucks. Maybe Jr ought to provide that for the kid he's going to give half her candy to.
Why can't Trump release his 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 taxes? Will the IRS ever give this guy a break?
Imagine this scenario: the tax bill passes, which costs enough Republicans to be voted out in 2018 to flip both House and Senate, which leads to vigorous investigations into Russian influence on the election, which leads to the impeachments of both Trump and Pence, which leads to the inauguration of Nancy Pelosi as President.
You scoff? Ridiculous, impossible, you say? I say stranger things have happened, and proof of that statement is that Trump is President.
Where's the tax return?
1
What's pathetic is that so many Dems, as well as Republicans have bought into the idea that we need a big tax cut for corporations. So many have bought into the idea that corporations are doing us favors by letting us work for them. That corporations are struggling. Well, Apple, IBM, and friends reap trillions in profits, and spend it on what? Increasing production? Better salaries and benefits for their workers? Lobbyists? No. They buy back their own stock, and yes, American companies have literally spent trillions doing nothing but enriching their stockholders. And they want a tax cut, to be paid for by eliminaring middle class deductions? People, are you insane?
6
“some kid who sat at home. It’s never to early to teach her about socialism.”
But it is apparently too late to teach Jr. and Sr. about humility and hitting the genetic jackpot of inherited wealth and power. A real pick himself of by his bootstraps and self-made man is Jr.
2
sometimes you think to yourself "these people can't be that bad maybe the media does give them a bit of a going over"...... and then you get a quote like the one from Don Jr.. almost as bad as the WSJ calling people that make less then $10K and pay no tax as "lucky duckies"
1
Do you think Donny Jr. might consider that some of the kids that stayed home that night lived in neighborhoods that were unsafe to go trick-or-treating in? Or that some of them didn't have parents available to take them out or drive them to safer neighborhoods, like Donny's multi million dollar condo high rise, for ringing doorbells. Do you think that thought crossed his cranium, the one with the perfectly coiffed art deco, film noire, slicked down WWII type hair cut atop. BTW, can't remember who told me but I heard that Donny's costume was one of those Gestapo officer get ups, with the leather great coat and the tall officers hat and the fake luger, was a laugh, great guy, great mind. MAGA
I sincerely hope, in respect to Family Trump, what goes around comes around.
Maybe half of Chloe's candy should go to the kids who were too afraid of being shot by the police to go out and trick or treat. Just sayin'.
3
GOP tax plan developed in secret. Average middle class family saves $1000.00/year Average multi-millionaire family saves hundreds of thousands of dollars. How do Republicans get any votes? Oh yeah, racism.
2
Gail, when the headline says "Trump, Taxes and ... You know" I immediately think "Groping ... what does Groping have to do with Taxes?"
But then it is Little Donnie stealing candy?
Ah me ... the House of Trump. It does cheer my day to think that Little Donnie and Kushner are on Mueller's short-short-list. Almost certainly Mr. Schneiderman's too .. right along with Flynn.
I doubt that stealing your children's candy would interest these men. Fraud, money laundering, conspiracy will. Here are some of Mueller's people who are very interested in the House of Trump:
James Quarles, from the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. specialist in campaign finance violations
Andrew Weissmann, one-time general counsel at the FBI who once led the Justice Department’s fraud unit. Weissmann oversaw the Enron Task Force.
Lisa Page, experience with money laundering and organized crime cases, including work with an FBI task force in Budapest, Hungary, that focused on eastern European organized crime.
Michael Dreeben, who has argued over 100 cases before the Supreme Court,
Janine Rhee: specialized in financial crimes (including tax fraud), as well as in prosecuting RICO
Now folks, do you think Little Donnie and Kushner have been naughty .. or nice?
And just imagining push comes to shove, who would you bet on here?
Cleverly written! Meanwhile, this presidential family is becoming absurdly wealthy since entering the White House. It's a family affair. The evidence mounts by the day:
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-family-profiting-presidency-books-deals-bu...
3
Dear Gail, can poor Hillary explain how she gained exclusive financial control over the democratic party since 2015?
"Poor Hillary Clinton. Sometimes she’d give little lectures at her campaign rallies explaining how carried interest worked so her supporters could understand the details …"
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/02/clinton-brazile-hacks...
1
I've noticed that The Donald's response to disasters (either natural or man made) seems to correlate with how the state, in which the disaster happened, voted. Texas and Florida - immediate sympathetic response (both voted for him); California and Oregon burning to the ground - not much of a response at all. Puerto Rico? Well, they voted against him in the primary and can't even vote in an election, so, why bother?
And, of course, he intuitively understands his base. Las Vegas - a crazy, white, American, Christian man shoots over 600 people, but, "we can't politicize this". A crazy, Muslim, loser decides to "make his mark" by mowing down bikers - well, "off with his head".
The man is unfit to be a school principal, let alone president. God, SAVE US.
1
There's a shot for shingles. There as yet seems no antidote for Trump. However, if Mueller can indict him maybe we can send him to Gitmo.
2
Apparently lawmakers have yet to settle on a name for the tax plan.
According to the NYT, the president has suggested “The Cut Cut Cut Act,” which fits perfectly Mr. Trump’s rhetorical style.
Other suggestions might be:
“The Only Little People Pay Taxes” or “The Leona Helmsley Tax Cut.”
“The Deficit-Exploding Tax Cut, the Likes of Which We’ve Never Seen Before.”
“The “You’re Gonna Love This Tax Cut Plan, it’s Unbelievable.”
“The Math is Completely Overrated Tax Plan.”
“The Koch Brothers, Robert Mercer, Jeff Bezos Middle-Class Tax Cut Plan.”
“Tax Plan, Inc.”
2
Gail, there is really nothing to do but sit back and count the days left in the Trump administration: 1,174. It's like a giant advent calendar! You put it on the refrigerator. The little windows are always cute and surprising, and . . . before you know it . . .
2
It seems that Don Jr. also taught Chloe a lesson in capitalism: go up to your friend Mindy and offer to trade your Snickers Minis for some M&Ms. After getting yours, turn around and walk away with all of it. That’s right, never too young to learn to stiff people.
3
His father didn’t want him named Donald Jr. in case he turned into a “loser.”
Wouldn't it be funny if...? oh, never mind. That'll never happen. Not with this Congress.
Trump looks tired. I know I am. Of him.
2
This this is getting very depressing. If Trump and the Republicans weren’t so incompetent and devoid of workable ideas we would already have lost a free press, have a state religion, used nuclear weapons and returned to the glorious days of slave ownership.
2
Who hasn't been trapped by a lie? Imagine the insane level of insanity "spinning hugely out of control, a level of out of control like no one has ever seen" inside that sorry excuse for a brain. Who would of thunk it?
Speaking of poor Chloe, what are the chances Junior, his wife, and the other sibs and their spouses will be helping to dish out food for the homeless on Thanksgiving? I don't include trump and Melania, as he will be golfing.
3
"Almost as out of date as the idea that a president should call the mayor of a city that’s suffered a terrorist attack on the same day it happened."
A most vindictive president if ever there was one.
2
I wish that there was something in this column to chuckle about. There isn't.
I think the Trump dysministration deserves a thumbs up for keeping mum about Jared's progress on his "Peace in the Middle East" assignment.
2
I say let the Republican's publish their tax plan, and they'll probably pass it, increasing the income inequality, with no jobs to show for it. The sooner the better so that Trump's base will learn that they've been sold snake oil and the sooner they'll wake up to the fact that they've been conned by the world's greatest con artist now in the White House and his propaganda machine, Fox News.
Give the Republican's enough rope.....
As a American patriot who's not serving in the military, I don't have a lot to sacrifice and put on the line, but I'm willing to pay more in taxes in the short term (next 4 years) if it will help accelerate the removal of this most dangerous demagogue and con man from the most powerful position in the world with his finger on the button of Armageddon.
Trump's base will learn that they've been sold snake oil? I wish but dream on....
Gail, is it Socialism if some enterprising person gathers a wide assortment of wild animals on a "game farm" so others ("sportsmen" or "hunters") won't have to walk around the dangerous forest to bag a trophy for their den? I'm asking for a little girl n New York named Chloe whose father has been trying to explain complicated stuff to her.
In the meanwhile, a ten year old little girl has been hauled to a detention center in Texas because she got sick and needed surgery.
This country should be screaming and protesting FULL might.
What has the United States turned into in a year?
2
Keep it up, Gail, PLEASE keep it up!
1
Thanks Gail, you have provided one of the few items in todays paper that I did not read yesterday or last week.
The Republicans are destroying the country, but God bless Gail for helping us laugh. Thank you.
5
Reading all these comments I have to say "What's wrong with you people? Don't you honor and respect the uber-wealthy and secretly wanna-be one of them?"
This is capitalism in American, the land of unfettered rapacity where, in the pursuit of financial uber-security, we don't care who we step on: native Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans....the list goes on through all the waves of immigrants who came for just plain old vanilla flavored security.
Now its the turn for all us poor slobs who aren't among the uber-rich. In fact, it has been our turn for the last 40+ umpty-trump years.
If you don't like it, consider waking up and doing something about it.
3
"Always carry a bag, place over your hand, and remove it from my lawn." Standing orders for those who claim that they would vote for him again.
Cutting number of brackets from 7 to 3, now just 2 more to go. Off my lawn!
Cutting estate tax and alternative minimun tax. Off my lawn!
Removing state tax deductions and doubling standard deduction to hurt blue state residents and to disincentivize modest mortgage interest. Off my lawn!
Not taxing pass-through income!! Halving corporate taxes to favor those with large portfolios which includes foreign investors!!! I don' want to see your big elephant again!
1
Ms. Collins, Don Jr. could have made so many dentists happy if he had only said he was giving half of Chloe's candy to her dentist to teach her about good oral health, but, no, he had to make the innocent celebration of Halloween by rich kiddies begging for candy in their gated communities or doorman-secured buildings a political statement. Obviously Don Jr. never had a father who was a role model for innocent good times with the kids.
Thank you for the reminder that Trump continues to think of 9/11 as 7/11. Why he does is a mystery since one doubts he has ever entered a 7-11 store in his life, but perhaps Fox commercials are to blame. If Trump can so easily brush off the horrific tragedy that was 9/11, why are we surprised the recent bike path terror attack in NYC (which killed 5 people from Argentina among the 8 victims so I guess "foreigners don't count as victims to Trump) did not make an impact on him?
Trump does not see this terror attack which killed 8 innocent people as anything more than an opportunity to lash out at Muslims, tell his base he loves "Gitmo" and the death penalty and try to make only Democrats who voted for immigration"diversity" signed by Bush I into villains.
Those of us who aren't talking about taxes, are thinking about the polls showing how many of us--Democrats, Republicans, Independents, old and young alike-- think our country is on the wrong track and fear the future. Trump is why we fear the future.
Vote for Democrats in 2018.
6
Hold the phone, Gail, you're just jumping all over the place, complaining about this and that crazy tax idea that would only benefit our more well off citizens and leave the rest of us with the bill. How about a serious, item by item analysis of the proposed GOP tax law as it has been published and publicly debated? Oh... oh wait... nevvvver mind.
101
You know, you just have to turn the page to find it. Or open a separate window. You're welcome.
1
Doesn't everyone feel sorry for Donny Jr. now? Let's let him inherit those billions and billions of dollars tax free that his father cheated out of hard working Americans. It is the least we can do for the poor little rich kids in America.
6
You need to give Trump a break here Gail. After all Melania did tweet her sympathy. Trump has priorities you know, like robbing the poor to give to the rich.
First things first.
2
Wow, Gail, I didn't know that,
"His father didn’t want him named Donald Jr. in case he turned into a “loser.”"
That's the most compassionate thing that I've heard about Trump Sr.
Right, don't talk politics with family during the holidays. I made the willful mistake of doing that last year and learned about my Trump-supporting step mother's problems with her parents. Go figure. Trump is a psychological basket case (I think that's a Freudian term).
So psychology and taxes are something to talk about. I think that Trump people feel bad that the wealthy are getting a raw deal with having to pay income tax, even though they avoid it anyway through carried interest (whatever that is) and other clever mechanisms that they pay accountants lots of money to figure out.
Why Trump people feel that having lower taxes for the wealthy benefits the average Trump fan requires a psychiatrist to figure out. Maybe it's the vicarious thrill they got from watching Trump on TV shout, "You're fired!"
And conducting these tax deliberations sans hearing might help us all. It's kind of like having a baby. I like kids and all that, but I'm a guy and don't care to see how the doctors make it all happen.
But then the result could be a kid who's a loser. Maybe congress shouldn't name their tax plan "Donald Jr."
22
Back in the day, I used to trick-or-treat for UNICEF. There was a rule: if you UNICEF, you weren't allowed to take candy as well. But I still did it, as did many of my friends. We were taught that we didn't just exist for ourselves.
So, maybe Chloe is learning a valuable lesson!
6
Gail, you didn't mention the Republican insistence on reducing the national debt--though it's true that they don't seem to give it the same importance that they do when Democrats are doing the math. After all, when their usual tax-cut fantasies fail, the Republicans have a Plan 2: cut some more of the social safety net, including Medicare and Medicaid and, if they can get away with it, Social Security.
32
Carrobin - Reducing the National Debt? That is so yesterday. And yes, the GOP loves staged implementations of legislation, so "watch this space" - Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security take up SO MUCH of our budget and we really do need to get ready for war.
The photo selected to run with this piece ... just gaze upon that face.
Another commenter here remarked about it, and so must I. I have never seen a photograph of Trump that captures his imbecility so distinctly.
In other photos, it is easy to look into his eyes and be alarmed by the sheer vacuity. But this is the first shot I've seen where the eyes appear actually crossed.
34
I cannot gaze upon the face. I scroll anywhichway while I read the news, in order to avoid that source of pain.
2
He looks like a crocodile, totally at home in his swamp.
I really do not understand how the republicans expect to pass a bill that will mean a tax hike for constituents of congress-people from states with high state and local taxes. Why would ANY representative of one of these states vote for such a proposal?
20
Speaker Ryan is one of those representatives. He'll vote for it. It's hard to understand.
Dr., excuse me but what country do you live in? Anything is possible in our "great country".
Because they are Republicans. The nation hasn't grasped yet that the Republican Party, like cigarettes, is bad for one's health.
Thank you Gail for making me laugh out loud about today’s new cycle. Your wit and charm are worth a million. Thank you
38
These tax cuts are solely intended to give Republican donors more cash in their pocket, so that these donors can spend more money buying their favorite senator or congressman.
45
I no longer worry about Trump not releasing his tax returns as I am sure the Mueller investigation has them.
Don Trump Jr. was happy to give away candy collected by Chloe as it came from other people. This is how multi billionaires stay wealthy, they spend other people's money, and they only share other people's largesse. Pay it forward just like their tax plan, money from the already poor or financially strapped living within budgets going to the extremely wealthy.
Thank you for more ironic humor to temporarily relieve the stress of Trump. Americans should get a class action suit together against Trump for 'mental cruelty and emotional distress'. We have all his deeds done against the people as well as his tweets as overwhelming evidence.
I believe one foresighted citizen filed early on in his administration, as in his first week of taking office, stating that he was a direct cause of harm to her physical and mental well being. Maybe we can add 324 million additional names to this court filing.
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I'm in. That's one class (action) that I'd like to take.
1
Once again, Ms. Collins indirectly reminds us that the 'skills' required to win an election differ sharply in many respects from those essential to governing well. Trump excels at the divisive tactics that enable a candidate in these troubled times to hack out a narrow victory in the undemocratic electoral college. But those same methods, a reflection of his abrasive personality, have split his own coalition and exposed his incompetence in office, despite the majority enjoyed by his party in both houses of Congress.
Hillary Clinton, by contrast, ran a campaign that educated but did not inspire the electorate, as suggested by her attempt to help voters understand the meaning of carried interest. But the former senator had mastered the details of her proposed policies and had demonstrated an ability to work with legislators during her years in Congress. She understood thoroughly, moreover, the rules governing the behavior of a competent president and possessed the normal capacity for empathy so lacking in the current occupant of the Oval Office. With all her faults, Mrs. Clinton would have made a fine president, and we would not have spent the last nine months obsessing over the behavior of a man who sullies everything he touches.
72
Install Hillary Clinton!
1
The GOP/Republicans never grow tired of seeing tax history and the attendant consequences repeatedly take place.
The simple concept of cause and effect also has escaped their simple-minded approach to anything having to do with numbers.
But then most of them are mathematically challenged.
I wonder if they are aware that the normal distribution of IQ indicates that half of the population has an IQ of less than 100.
Probably not inasmuch, for all intents and purposes, most of them can be found on the left side of that telling distribution.
(By the way, would it be at all possible to replace actual pictures with cartoon images instead. Just asking - somewhat desperately.
The eyes do tell it all however.)
11
Conflate the exquisite Manafort-Gates tax dodge (which is surely more than just a tax dodge) with the Republican ideals of tax breaks for the already well-subsidized rich, and what do you get? When thinking of taxes, in general, how many wealthy Americans stop to think about what they get for their investment in this country? How much they benefit from the infrastructure?
Like Sarah Huckster Sanders talking about "comparing apples and oranges," with profound respect for her boss, aren't we "comparing apples and oranges" when we talk about the corporate tax rates of other countries, compared to ours? What do we have and have to pay for--protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--that they don't? (well, except for a more expensive health care system)
12
In *1960* you could have bought a new VW Beetle for 1,500 *1960* dollars. That’s about $12,500 in today’s money. Today $1,000 won’t get you much more than a set of new tires.
22
In 1969, I bought a Beetle for $1,836.00. It was all I could afford and was all the money I had.
I would not feel sorry for any of the Trump family - Ivana eggs on PresvYrump’s Twitter postings. The kids met with the Russians during the election, they don’t like the Secret Service watching them, they are capitalizing on the Presidency. And tax “reform” will benefit the wealthy Republican supporters. All the talk of Obama and deficits - it was Bill Clinton who balanced the budget and George W who went to war. Consumer protection from the banks was overturned and so we are at the mercy of the people who bundled bad mortgages - but oh yes - Trump profited - and boasted about it. I feel sorry for the country - it will take decades to recover from this family.
37
Thank you for your thoughts. Now, can I rub some more salt in my wounds, lick them clean, and repeat? Then it will kill two birds with one stone; because I like salt, It will shorten my miserable life and drive my blood pressure up, thereby requiring ever-vanishing medical care.... and what else? I forgot
Some of the nonsense about tax reform would be okay, but read the fine print. Corporations do not in fact pay the rate listed. In fact, they pay a rate near the bottom of the civilized world. My bet is they will lower the rate without closing the loopholes which will mean our corporations will be the lowest in the civilized world which will give them more money to lobby against helping people. Our health care is among the best in the world if one can afford it. The super rich like it that way. They only get their panty's in a knot when the thought of providing healthcare for everyone rises to the level of discussion. They, the rich, are very good at pitting the middle working class against the poor lower class while sitting on the sidelines counting their profits. The tragedy is seeing a middleclass mom watching a low class mom shop using food stamps. Instead of compassion we have loathing. The old saw: "We worked hard and made it and so can you!" races through their mind. Anyone who gives this scenario a thought realizes how complicated it is. The accident of birth never enters their thoughts. My kids were born with high IQ's and a penchant to learn. Both graduated from an Ivy league college. Both of them have wonderful jobs. Nether looks down at the less fortunate as some of their high school peers who are less educated than they do. Developing a world view is important. It is the only way to avoid bigotry and hate. But, we are being lead by the master of bigotry and hate.
27
They should call this bill the political donors tax break bill as those are the only ones that benefit.
Trump Tax is a plan to bankrupt America. It levy's gigantic tax increases on millions of salaried workers to fund enormous tax breaks for really rich people and will explode the deficit and bankrupt America.
Republicans are delusional if they think this is the one thing that they want to run on as an accomplishment.
23
Even the Cut Cut Cut Act is a distraction from the Mueller investigation.
110
Reality can be so much fun. It is rare that I can get a good laugh while being royally raked over the coals at the same time. I don't think Spielberg could have written a better or more surreal plot than the Trump administration and his dysfunctional congress is providing on a daily basis. The entirety of their agenda seems to evolve around how to make the masses feel good about being taken advantage of. Taken advantage of again, again and again. In retrospect forget Spielberg, this seems a whole lot like the movie "Groundhog Day".
Thanks for the chuckle!
14
Jr.'s ideas about Trick or Treat exemplify Trump Family Values, which are the essence of Republican Family Values, all Conservative Never-Trumper arguments aside.
They might put it this way: Either you give me candy, or we will roll your yard, soap your windows, smash your pumpkin, and, if we are really insistent on getting our way, put sugar in your gas tank. Now, where is our candy?
Of course, after they get their treat (tax cuts) they will argue that they have the right to destroy the country because, well, we didn't leave our sofas to stop them.
16
The main thing that strikes me about Don Jr's candy story is that he apparently thinks it's funny, when what it is is mean.
20
A president talks yuge about beautiful tax breaks and is unable to release his tax statements. Curiouser and curiouser.
26
The key is to focus on the true goal this so called “tax cuts/tax reform”: destruction of our already tattered social safety net: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. You might throw in public education as well. You run up deficits, so you have to cut the programs that help the peasants while you remain fat and happy in your mansions and gated communities. Wonder what pitchfork futures are doing.
220
Gail Collins' spot-on column as well as readers' comments have made my day--plenty of scathingly funny sarcasm. While our political climate remains anxiety-laden, leave it to the columnists and readers to provide their unique take on matters--while providing respite to the beleaguered.
This is laugh-out-loud funny. Thank you!
5
Actually, Trump Jr.’s story about his daughter is a perfect way to describe this tax “reform” bill. The wealthy get a big bucket of tax breaks handed to them by the middle class, and then they keep it all.
19
Even Mr. Trump's loudest Republican critics in Congress gleefully vote each and every time for bills to gut our environment and workplaces, leave workers with no protections and protect corporate criminals. Do not think all the squabbling of late means they won't come up with a tax bill intended to destroy what's left of our democracy by giving the richest donors everything and the poor and middle class voters nothing. In fact, they will give us less than nothing by removing funding for schools, roads, police departments, fire departments, parks, hospitals, Medicare and Medicaid.
They will pass their tax "reform" bill in minutes, and the establishment Democrats being backed by the same wealthiest Americans directing these puppets in Congress will say very, very little.
7
The president is definitely less inspiration than shingles...but way more painful.
16
And there is no preventative innoculation.
1
The saddest thing, so sad..., is that the Republicans in Congress will vote for whatever is put in front of them and trust the con men as to what's in it. And so their besotted followers will support them, eager to embrace magical thinking - that cuts for the rich will make the supporters' little bank accounts bigger. Truly a male view of life. All lies, all the time.
8
Wait a sec, I'm confused. Is Don Jr., teaching his daughter selfishness or socialism? Confused again. Is sharing socialism? OK, maybe it is.
Maybe, however, selfishness, the me, me, me of the Ayn Rand school of thought, the darling of the Republican right... is a kinda new
Christianity. Well, the evangelicals seem to like it. Wait, back to Ayn Rand, who was neither Christian (an atheist) nor terribly kind. But, it behooves us to remember, that this icon of selfishness or self-madeness be remembered for her dislike of government and government assistance, a very take-care-of-yourself person. Oh, let me not forget to tell you, she did accept and enjoy the money from Social Security and Medicare...or was it Medicaid. Oh, No need to differentiate, she profited from government programs for herself. So what's a little change of philosophy when you need the government?
15
In college I had a bumper sticker stuck on my notebook which exclaimed "Support Reaganomics, Nuke the Poor!". This frightened some of the students in the local college in the mid-south, I know. They weren't rich but the destruction of our society was just beginning so it was confusing. All they really knew was that they were struggling to get their courses completed. We worked too, most of us that is. They didn't know their school funding was going to build MiRVS and TOW missiles.
Trump and the republicans stayed quiet about the murders in Las Vegas. Thoughts and prayers? How will thoughts and prayers compensate for the destruction? The manufacturers of the weapon and the devices that modified that gun should have to face the claims of liability.
The red herring of tax breaks leading to jobs that started when Reagan took office doesn't seem to work anymore but they're going to flog it anyway. We have a society that rewards those who will say anything for money.
The nuclear war threats don't bother me that much anymore either. N Korea isn't the threat that Reagan could use with the Soviets. Trump looks more like a loose canon that's aimed at me than at them. It's part of his gimmick too. Scare all those people he'd like to harm if he could. He could, you know. He doesn't even have the basic respect for life that a leader should at least pretend to have It's like a comic book. Or a tabloid.
"BatBoy bites man, sends tweets". Same as the day before.
10
The only thing that keeps me from getting seriously depressed about this administration is humor -- from the late-night comedians, and Gail Collins. Keep it up Gail. It's more important than you can imagine.
39
In my house we have a Daddy Tax on Halloween. It's the cut of candy daddy gets for dragging the kids all around the neighborhood as they tirelessly and endlessly trick or treat. The children happily pay it because I make it clear, no tax, no trick or treating.
My kids are different than Donald Trump Jr., and many of the rest of America's rich on money and poor in spirit class...
If my kids were like him, they'd want my services, call the Daddy Tax socialist, and tell me to borrow candy from China.
20
But it is all about "Age of Trump" but I will wait till Muller indicts Donald Junior to talk about him. It will be almost unfair. Meanwhile, let us concentrate on healthcare. After all, that will pay for the tax breaks for Trump's friends. Is killing people that way a form of passive terrorism?
14
"We're talking about Taxes, man, Taxes! We're not even talking about the actual wall. Taxes!
6
Boy, I just read a whole article about taxes that said nothing new about taxes. Sounded like something fresh from the GOP basement.
On the flip side, that picture is good news. It has been said that the presidency rapidly accelerates aging. From the looks of things, Grandpa is more than ready to settle into his rocker and leave the thinking stuff to people who still have something to work with.
Please.
20
In order to accelerate aging, you have to be aware of your surroundings and the consequences of your actions.
There are those of us who know what “carried interest” means, not because we have ever been in a position to take advantage of its benefits, but because we read about it.
We, the readers, should all be ashamed of ourselves for wasting time.
Anyone with half a brain knows that the Republicans – once the ink is dry on the tax bill they are busily writing in a hermetically sealed vault – will do nothing to remove any tax benefit currently being enjoyed by any rich person in the United States, including trust-fund babies.
And, borrowing the definition of “person” created by Chief Justice Roberts in the Citizens United case, no benefit will be withheld from any person just because it happens to be a corporation.
The new semi-secret tax bill which Donald Trump hopes will be his crowning achievement – and his anti-impeachment elixir – is all about cutting taxes without showing any mercy for the U.S. Treasury when it comes to pleasing the rich.
President Trump wants everyone to win. Unless, of course, it’s a person who happens to work for a modest living at an average job or – worse – someone who happens to belong to what we gently call the “working poor.”
As the holidays approach, Donald Ebenezer Trump has more pressing things to worry about than people who spend their money on rent, food and – heaven forbid – medical care.
30
I have not seen nor heard, but did the Mayor of London Tweet out that the President should have been more cautious and diligent about terrorist attacks, even in his own city?
34
While Don Jr. is explaining the perils of “socialism” to his young daughter
through the specter of redistribution of half her candy to a child who didn’t work (walk) for it, Donald Trump and the GOP are explaining to the middle class and “undeserving poor” the perils of not cutting taxes enough for the very rich.
Well maybe with the approach of Christmas, Chloe is also not too young to learn another lesson from the GOP-
Yes, Chloe there is a Santa Claus- but currently only for the 1%.
25
Tax cuts to drive up employment rates is a scam meant to throw more cash on the already trillions of dollars cash piles of the large corporations and wealthy people.
In all my years in business leadership roles, from small start-ups to large multi billion dollars corporate behemoths, never did we hold off hiring in anticipation of potential tax breaks to cover the cost of new hires. Never. We hired if the business projections pointed to revenue growth enabled by more employees or we cut jobs if projections pointed to a revenue downturn for our business. We found the money to hire, by borrowing from investment banks or by re-allocating employees from less revenue generating endeavors, or whatever else it took to increase revenue by hiring more employees to increase productivity.
96
Why don't you try giving this basic economic lecture on the reality of tax breaks to Trump's supporters and throw in the myth of the "trickle down theory" that the Republicans love to throw at tax payers.
10
"Somewhere tonight there’s a child with a $30 million inheritance who needs our help." Laughing Out Loud! Gail thank you, I needed this. 2 unrelated points:
1. Delightful to hear you on "The Daily" recently. I have a voice to put with the words.
2. I want a Do-Over on the election. We deserve it.
88
Gail, please don’t ever go away.
Irony at it's best. But not for Trump, who wouldn't understand it...while republican 'mandate' under dummy Trump to cut taxes for themselves is what keeps them together. Deficit hawks converted into greedy hypocrites...so they can balloon the debt on our backs. Trump's tax returns are the only item off the table.
36
Trump's plan for "carried interest" apparently was a sham. Yes, he did say that he would repeal carried interest, which under present law is taxed at capital gain rates (20% to 23.8%) instead of earned income rates (39.6% for high earners). The hedge fund managers would at last pay their fair share of taxes. But Trump simultaneously said he wanted the corporate rate to go to 15%, and pass-throughs would be taxed at the corporate rate. So hedge-fund managers, now paying tax on carried interest at 23.8% would end up paying 15% on their carried interest, now categorized as a pass-through income. Trump, as I recall, claimed that he would close the "carried-interest loophole." Had this actually gone through as he pledged, those hedge-fund managers would probably be urging Trump to close even more loopholes, since the one he closed was so lucrative for them. As things stand now, if the "tax reform" goes through, it is likely that "carried-interest" may remain taxed at capital gain rates, and pass-throughs will be taxed at corporate rates, which may be about the same. But personal income rates will be 35% to 39.6%. Hedge fund managers will probably not put up a fuss if they lose their carried interest loophole and are taxed at corporate rates, as long as they don't have to pay 35% to 39.6% tax on personal income. If the carried interest loophole is closed, Trump will proudly take credit, even though the hedge fund managers pay would about the same as they pay today.
38
Money talks. The larger the amount of money, the louder the voice. One wealthy billionaire GOP campaign contributor drowns out many thousands of middle-class taxpayers. A dozen GOP sugar daddies are enough to silence all the pleadings of the struggling middle class. The rich take the cake, the rest of us get the crumbs. And as the cake becomes larger, the crumbs become ever smaller.
60
The Trump GOP are about to propose a tax plan that lowers the top rate for the rich, lower the corporate rate, and eliminate the estate tax for the wealthy.
To partially offset this giveaway to the rich, the Trump GOP will increase the tax rate for the poor and the upper middle class, eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, and take away most 401k deductions.
This reverse Robin Hood plan will shift money from most Americans to the super rich and increase the deficit. Can there be a tax plan that is worse?
81
Some people don't realize school taxes are SALT. If it's gone, how many school districts will lose votes on budgets and bond issues?
10
I sounds like you think tax deductibility of school taxes on your federal tax return is a selling point for the New York State United Teacher’s Union, when in fact if the standard exemption is doubled the vast majority of taxpayers will be unaffected by the deductibility or non-deductibility of school taxes
1
Remember when Iran captured American Embassy personnel in 1979 and held them hostage for more than two years? Every night, ABC's Ted Koppel would count out the number of days the hostages remained prisoners. It was a bitter reminder of American failure and impotence.
I'm hoping one of the news networks (or, all of them, really) would start a countdown on the number of days Trump has been in office, holding the vast majority of Americans hostage in their own country. It would be a constant reminder of American pathos on the world stage.
56
It might be a better service if they would remind Americans of the dismally low percentages of our citizens who even bother to cast a ballot, which gets even worse as you go down the line to state and local races. Or when they do, Americans who base their votes on political commercials they see on TV, or rants they hear on one of the stations blasting Rush, Hannity, et al, 24/7. Stations that I discovered this past year while driving from one end of America to the other, that you will find 100% of the time when you scroll that dial across the radio band, LITERALLY everywhere in America where there is a radio signal. Unlike progressive voices.
Flip both houses in 2018!
6
MSNBC's 11th Hour with Brian Williams has been doing that from day one.
Brian Williams does this every night on MSNBC, enumerating the days of the Trump administration, exactly as though the nation were being held hostage.
A lovely article, as usual. Thank you.
There is another potential area a real tax reform would address; namely the level of return for various individuals and groups.
I mean the Republicans are always lamenting the benefits "given" to the weak and poor. What about the amount given to the rich and powerful, from government subsidies to Industrial Farms and Businesses to increased levels of government protection for wealthy communities?
When you add in State and local taxes and distributions the imbalance becomes even more pronounced. I have always been amused, for example, at the wealthier residents of New Jersey complaining about high taxes when their property and school taxes are funneled to their own communities and away from the poor areas.
The estate tax is another thing. Our founding fathers labored hard to insure we would not end up with a class of inherited wealth rich people. They couldn't foresee the effects of the coming industrial age, when property would not be the major way to pass on wealth. The estate tax brought us back closer to what the Founders envisioned. It is ironic that a party calling itself Republican is the one trying to pull us back to the days of Lords of the Manor.
Keep up your wonderfully witty columns, Gail. We all need you so munch!
39
I fully expect the GOP tax plan to be a disaster like its health care bill. Republican Congressmen are more interested in making political statements, and keeping their cushy political jobs based upon their gerrymandered districts, then actually helping people. The lack of ethics is mindboggling.
51
Before there is any consideration of the tax bill, the President should disclose his tax returns so that the people and their representatives can understand exactly how he and his family will benefit. A vote without that information is unconscionable.
64
Somebody keeps electing these unethical charlatans. We the people?
As far as I can tell, from the 100,000 years that have occurred since November 9th, the new tax plan (cuts!!) will correspond to something like this: every middle class person will have to give their car(s) to all those who make over $465,000 per year (for the help) and they will be required to be happy about it. Most importantly, a Robert E. Lee statue will need to be installed in each front seat, before the hand-off. The poor will mostly pay the same or even more, but will continue to be ignored. We can't have those one percenters fleeing!
24
Ok, the Robert E Lee statue reference made me snort coffee through the nose. Best comment of the WEEK!!
7
So Don Jr, a multi millionaire by birth, thinks that income re-distribution is a dirty word?
Well let's consider just how the wealth was distributed in the first place.
For many years, decades, the CEO's and Boards of corporations have been "distributing" the record profits they have been making to themselves - leaving out one big stakeholder -the employees who actually worked to create the profits. This was true not just of corporations but of business in general, companies large and small, whose owners and top executives made money on a 300:1 ration or better than their employees.
Does anybody think that it's not a problem that the average Walmart worker would have to work 1,000 years to make what the top executive makes in 1 year - every year? Now, that's income distribution for you.
If the original distributions of this countries wealth had been remotely fair, there would be no need for it to be re-distributed.
It's sort of like the thief that cries foul when you take the purse he stole away from him, and give it back to the rightful owner.
35
Tax breaks given to corporations and investors have never once "trickled down" to workers or other members of the vanishing middle class. Ever since that idea became the talking point for Reagan-era Republicans expecting to plunder the economy at will, it will not die no matter how repeatedly debunked. Welcome to 30 years ago on the flat American learning curve.
49
Tax cut to deregulated Markets over 4+ trillion dollar set in overseas account. Tax -inversion to Monopoly with the out law windfall tax. Trickle -down economic to free up capital from are deregulated market that went overseas with the job they took. And now because of the Republican policies that made the Frozen economy and Bail-out . The Republican/GOP want more to feed the few that receive the most that now control the Markets. Sorry this will not work . We have been there before.
7
Yes, let's not talk about tax cuts, every day in Trump world is already very taxing. So, you won't be able to retire if you can't put tax-free money away in your 401k plan. But, that's the beauty (or is it Yeats' "terrible beauty") of the cuts; you'll need that extra money to pay for your health insurance. See how thoughtful they are. So, you won't be able to sell your highly taxed house if the SALT (state and local taxes) are cut. Yes, it may seem like salt in your tax cut wounds, but again these clever pols have you in mind. What's wrong with "aging in place" when they'll be no Medicaid money to pay for you to move into an assisted living facility that would eat up all the profits from selling your home. Who knows, you may even be able to benefit from the estate tax exemption! So, as the thoughtful Tax-Cutter-in-Chief claims, you'll be "very happy."
19
You didn't even touch on the fact that, to pay for the massive loss of revenue from the elimination of the estate tax and cuts for the very wealthy, the Trump plan actually raises taxes on middle-class taxpayers in states with income taxes. By doing away with the deduction for state income taxes, a large percentage of us in New York, Connecticut, California and elsewhere will actually pay considerably more under this tax "cut" plan. Take that, Blue State losers! But at least heirs and heiresses won't have to pay any taxes on the inheritances they didn't earn.
34
David- "You didn't even touch on the fact that, to pay for the massive loss of revenue from the elimination of the estate tax and cuts for the very wealthy, the Trump plan actually raises taxes on middle-class taxpayers in states with income taxes."
which is 43 or 44 states in our country. How do these republican senators explain *that* one to their base? (Is their base the 47% that Romney disparaged? Somehow I doubt that their entire base is made up of that group.) Or will their clueless base even know that once again they have been fleeced by the deplorables they continue to send back to Washington to fleece them some more?
2
Sorry, I can't leave Don Jr. alone. He just doesn't do profound (or anything)well. Remember the Skittles lesson from Prof. Don?
Victor Hugo discussed how people who are wealthy think it is all due to their merit, and not just good fortune or outright theft'. Examples, Don Jr. and Sr.
31
It really should be a no brainer to figure out what a liar Trump is when he says, he will not benefit from this tax reform package. Giving your children a possible 4 billion dollar tax break would seem like the largest financial gift a President has ever bestowed to his children at U.S. taxpayer expense. He makes this claim with a straight face and Republican voters salivate at the crumbs he throws their way.
30
I'm thinking about that kid who sat at home, the one who would inherit half of Chloe's candy. It could be that the kid is the child of that nurse who has a greater tax burden than Don Jr. Said nurse, likely, has to work on Halloween as part of the double-shifts that holiday engenders for nurses (kids get hit by cars, fall off steps, etc.), so her daughter, likely, was busy all day doing the work of the household after school, and now she is too tired (and disheartened) to don her princess outfit (sewn by Mom in the wee hours of the night before) and work the neighborhood for sweets. Meanwhile, Don Jr., whom his father might call a "paper pusher," likely, instructed the nanny to pick up Chloe's costume from the prop department at the Shubert and then, after making sure Chloe took an edifying nap, to take her trick-or-treating through a few recommended neighborhood buildings. When Chloe came home, with bags bursting with boxes of La Maison du Chocolat and macarons from Laudré, Don Jr., inspired by the capitalistic industry of his daughter, tweeted, archly, "I'm going to give half of Chloe's goodies to that lazy kid (meaning, likely, the nurse's daughter) to make a point to Chloe about socialism." Meanwhile, in another borough, the nurse's daughter, alone in her apartment, slept, having collapsed from fatigue amid her homework texts; her unworn costume lay where it had fallen on the floor next to her empty trick-or-treat bag.
34
I’d wondered about Mr, McCain’s “regular order” when it came to this tax cut legislation. Will he support this bill despite the fact that there has been not one hearing? Should anyone?
23
No, JJB, most definitely not.
I have friends I call the Wall Streets Wiz (obviously because of where they worked and what the did). They both say the new tax bill is the biggest ripoff of the American people ever and nothing more than a gift to the super-rich. And don't get them started on the 401K cut.
23
My idea of tax reform-
Get rid of the tax cuts that have crippled our ability to pool our resources to do together for our country what individuals, business and charities can't do on their own.
1. Repair our infrastructure
2. Fund Social Security and the social safety net
3. Fund programs to reform our economic system to address the coming robot revolution and income inequality.
4. Fund efforts to fight climate change, divest from fossil fuels, switch to clean energy
5. Fund efforts to reform our broken and unjust criminal justice/prison system
6. Fund the public school system, reforrm it, encourage quality teacher hires/salaries/support
7. Fund programs to develop and implement programs that make housing and higher education affordable again. (The government shouldn't have to pay for college and people shouldn't have to saddle themselves with crippling loans.)
8. Fund efforts to promote affordable health care
9. Fund pure research and the arts to promote the pursuit of knowledge, spawn new industries, and promote a thriving and creative culture.
10. Fund a nationwide truth and reconcilation program to confront slavery and racism in the U.S. past and present with honesty, determined to move forward as a united American people.
Get rid of spending that:
1. Feeds the war machine
2. Funds the surveillance society
3. Funnels money to corporations
25
While we're talking about taxes, let's not forget that Trump still has not released his tax returns.
What's that line authoritarians always use to justify surveillance on the public...if you haven't done anything wrong then you have nothing to fear.
21
The GOP plan raises taxes on a large portion of the middle class. i.e., those with wages totaling $50,000 to $200,000 per family.
These are not the Romney-maligned "47 percent" who pay no taxes or get more back than they pay in.
These are the backbone of America--the ones who work, punch the clock, commute, balance their checkbooks, save for their kids' college, and pay the bulk of US income taxes too.
And they try to save for retirement too, especially knowing how their employers keep looking for ways to step away from defined benefit plans.
And the data analysis already shows that these tax hikes on the middle class, such as taking away the tax deferral on their 401k, are going to be used to give free money to the rich --those "making" over $1 million a year (not by working, but from investments and profiting from other people's labor): these multimillionaires are going to get $250,000 in free money each --each year --the same money that the GOP is stealing from the middle class.
All while Trump's campaign director is indicted for Tax Fraud, Money Laundering, and the Treason of helping a foreign adversary (who is pointing nuclear weapons at us, I.e., Russia, not to mention that Ukraine likely gave North Korea its nuclear technology), and hiding this relationship from the US government, which is against the law.
And all while Trump himself refuses to reveal his own tax returns.
There can be no tax reform until Trump reveals his own tax returns.
21
I recall Halloweens when I was a child in a small southern town where we went door to door collecting money for UNICEF (a children's support charity). Perhaps that is the better choice for a counterpoint to DT Jr's child collecting candy for herself.
4
What happened to Ivanka and Jared? Are they busy calculating how much they'd gain through tax 'reform'?
7
I'd have no problem taking half of my kid's Halloween candy and giving it to a kid who sat at home, because the kid lived in a dangerous place, or was sick, or couldn't afford a costume. It's never to early to teach a child about basic human kindness.
I don't have a huge problem paying taxes, either. But I am getting pretty tired of hearing about people who need to be able to take it with them in order to die peacefully. And overtaxed hedge fund managers who have to pay 15
whole percent of their income.
And how do they want to fund it? By raising my taxes by disallowing the deductions like state income taxes that leave enough income leftover so we can partially pay for healthcare which we can't get at a reasonable cost. So, business people, I gotta ask: as you get rid of taxes and place the burden on the middle class, who do you think will be left with enough spare change to buy whatever it is you are selling?
The only certain things in life are death and taxes , unless you have more than $10M in assets, in which case you can try like heck to avoid both.
10
Under Trump, 8 ideas weaponized or deterred.
Racism. A system of power/privilege. In its latest incarnation, let a former 4-star Marine general contradict undisputed video evidence to lie about a black female member of Congress and then refuse to apologize or acknowledge his heinous error. Weaponized.
The Civil War. No matter which side you think should have compromised: Weaponized.
Slavery. Sign of the returning times--not the abomination protested in world governments and social movements in its heyday. Weaponized. (Mythologized, too.)
Healthcare. Trump: “give your individual mandate up for a tax cut”—not for you, for the rich. You will receive less care, higher premiums, coverage caps. 18 million Ameicans will make this “choice.” Weaponized. (“Do Something!”)
Gun control. The Second Amendment is more important than death or liberty or terrorism. Weaponized. (America defenseless.)
Women's rights to safe space. Weaponized. (Push to global victory! Who thinks this should be only America alone?)
Hidden stories. Deterred! One of the most important: how Trump's executive order for US healthcare funding effects women, families, and children across the globe, contributing to higher rates of pregnancies and abortions, AIDS, health issues of women and reproduction.
Trends and Markets. Deterred. The global middle class with real purchasing power will double in a decade. US share will fall from 17% to 8%! Trade deals will not recover or channel this record-setting demand.
29
Limiting 401K contributions means corporations are matching less, too. I did the math on what the loss would be on my own payroll deductions and match. 4% doesn't sound like much but, compounded over remaining working years is significant. I encourage everyone else to do the same on their own.
25
"Somewhere tonight there's a child with a $30 million inheritance who needs our help."
That pretty well sums up the GOP attitude toward tax policy for the last 37 years. In 1986 Congress eliminated many middle and working class tax deductions for interest on consumer loans, credit card balances,etc. The same tax "reform" also taxed social security for the first time. The tax burden on the middle class wage earners increased, while the wealthy paid less.
Meanwhile the "carried interest" loophole that benefits about 2000 high income financial managers, has been an issue without remedy no matter which party holds a majority in the House.
For some reason, I seriously doubt there will be much difference in any 21st Century "tax reform. The American income tax is a labyrinth created by legislators in the hip pockets of the lobbyists who write such laws.
The simplified tax systems of other industrialized nations should be studied with adoption of the best ideas and practices. Republicans and their owners on K Street, however, will not allow any meaningful change or reform.
America is no longer of, by, and for the people. Rather it has become a GOP/Democrat nation of, by and for wealthy and corporate tax dodgers.
207
Yes, we are rapidly becoming an oligarchy. Democracy requires informed voters. Thanks for your summary of our recent tax history under Republican rule.
2
We don't have to go far for an example of sympathy, Former Congressman Mulvaney expressed his view that Americans need to have sympathy for the people who pay those high taxes.
So, funny thing, when the budget was last balanced (under President Clinton,) federal revenues reached 20% of GDP. Even then, the US had one of the smallest government sectors in the develop world, with only Mexico and South Korea smaller (still true.)
Under President G.W. Bush, federal revenues averaged 16.5% of GDP, deficits and debt blossomed, but "deficts don't matter," or something.
Under President Obama, average revenues were up a bit, to 17.1% of GDP, but deficts were ruinous according to Republicans, Great Recession or no.
The point being that those currently shaping tax policy have no real interest in controlling the deficit. That was just a convenient obstruction narrative in the Obama era, now put aside as they *needlessly* set to pass the "Cut, Cut, Cut Act" if DJT gets his way.
We'll be piling up deficits and debt and/or cutting programs for those who need it most, but the rich will have more to spend. Mission accomplished.
62
You're right that the Republicans have no real interest in cutting deficit, it is used only to help them cut social programs. Remember that their Hero Ronnie Reagan lefty us with a huge debt increase, But that never was their concern.
l
47
There are many in the GOP (particularly in the House) who hope that Americans never figure out that "debt" and "deficit" are not the same thing.
Note to Don Jr.:
Why not keep Chloe at home next year and give her a bunch of candy from the huge stash you inherited from your father, which he inherited from his father? And be sure to tell her that she'll never have to worry about candy again-- unless she "rebels" and goes to work as a bartender, in which case she'll be cut off. But all will be forgiven if she's willing to toe the company/family line. She'll be set for life.
It's never "to" early to learn the upside of being an entitled jerk.
117
One of the persons I follow on twitter responded to Mr. Mean and Lazy:
"When I was 5, I ran a high fever on Halloween & stayed home. A neighbor gave me half her candy, teaching me the value of compassion & generosity."
236
So according to DJT Jr, wealth distribution is equivalent to stealing candy from one child and giving it to another. To think of money as candy is interesting. Some people don't have the chance to think of it that way.
9
When I was seven I went out alone on Halloween and was attacked by two teenaged boys who pushed me down and stole my candy. Two kids I barely knew, the children of a police officer who lived a block away, brought me half of theirs. Their father had taught them that first, you help the victims.
2
And to date, I believe many in the middle class have yet to do the math and realize that the new $24,000 standard deduction will not begin to compensate for losing the mortgage and local and state tax exemptions and the personal exemptions, plus deductions for charitable giving. They are going to pay more - much more, and the results on the economy, with some income now double-taxed and so much discretionary income pulled away from local economies, will be disastrous.
84
Ah, if only it were a $24,000 deduction....
1
'Doing the math' is a bit much for the kind of people who can't make change without looking at a computer screen.
These are the same people who think what they are told to think. Trump's people.
5
I wonder how many families have lost farms because of the estate tax and how many families have lost farms because of medical bankruptcies?
373
My son lives in the middle of rolling, Illinois farmland as far as the eye can see. There are signs outside all those farms now, the ones growing one of only two crops to be seen -- corn for high fructose syrup or cattle fodder, and soybeans. This signage announces the name of the giant corporation that now actually operates those farms -- Cargill, Monsanto, etc.
7
"I wonder how many families have lost farms because of the estate tax . . ."
The estimates run from zero to as many as 50.
They are part of the nearly 5,000 households that each year inherit estates that on average are valued at about $18 million. These poor folks have their inheritance reduced to a paltry $14.5 million (on average) after paying the ruinous death tax.
It's about time someone stood up for these downtrodden souls!
3
That's actually a very good -- and revealing -- question.
Oh, dear - I came for a laugh and there was nothing to laugh at. Not your fault, Ms. Collins.
Suggestion to editor: pair the Gail Collins with an appropriate political cartoon: having that mug in my face ruins my morning coffee.
103
Yes, please don't use his picture at the beginning of every op-ed. The cartoon or nothing. We know what he looks like and do not need to be reminded.
1
I was having the same problem. No more photos of that face this early in the morning.
To Cheryl from Yorktown.
Really!-you want to discredit a woman because of her looks? I'm guessing you aren't something to stir men's hearts.
As for Don, Jr., maybe the kid was sitting at home on Halloween because her parents are working three jobs just to keep a roof over their heads.
223
My thought was that the kid who sat at home was:
1. Reading a good book;
2. Not interested in eating unhealthful stuff;
3. Very aware that there are no ghosts, goblins, witches or other nonsense;
4. Not in need of being taught about socialism, thank you.
5
Well, I'm sure he would be able to find the kind of kid you described (with parents working three jobs) easily enough. It probably describes several children of employees at many Trump enterprises.
In fact, Chloe probably knows some of those parents, I mean, not to have conversations with or anything like that, but to order to do things for her whenever she wants.
10
Or maybe because it's dangerous to walk around the neighborhood what will all the bullets flying from the guns purchased in Indiana. Never mind; it's dangerous to sit at home too--the bullets go right through the walls and windows.
4
Mr. Trump totally lacks dignity. Every other president steps up to the microphone to speak, expresses sympathy and sorrow in a sincere, dignified manner, and offers help to the wounded city. Trump tweets whatever pops into his head and sees every crisis as an opportunity to get attention and to forward his own agenda toward "Trump wins," his only brass ring. With zero ability to empathize, every event is, in his head, all about him.
283
Anne-Marie, you could have just stopped with "Mr. Trump totally lacks".
1
he is clearly a sociopath w control over nuclear powers.
1
Give Trump credit where credit is due. His followers love these kind of comments. When I'm up in East Texas I hear these kind of comments all the time.
Tax reform is not “reform” until it addresses the glaring inequity of lower rates for investors
Trumps tax plan increases this inequity by taxing corporations, S Corps and LLCs lower than workers
Tax reform must begin by taxing carried interest, capital gains and dividends at the same rates as ordinary income
168
That and going back to the personal tax rates put in place during the Eisenhower administration. The last good Republican.
10
Exactly!
We need to think and talk about taxes on the basis of reality, but our tax reality is so complex that only experts can think and talk about it. We should be talking about percentage of income actually paid in all taxes, decide where it is too progressive or regressive or if it favors people in one income bracket, occupation, or location over over people in other income brackets, occupations, or locations. We decide which changes we would like to see, in the name of justice or raising revenue fairly, and then we can talk about who should tweak what where to bring the changes about.
This is the logical way to talk taxes. It never happens; we do not even have the data readily accessible if it is accessible at all. Instead we talk about carried interest and the death tax and trickle down and makers and takers, and pretend that the Federal income tax is the only tax anybody pays.
Whoever frames the discussion has done it so that meaningful discussion and debate is almost impossible and the discussion will be dominated by various clever marketing schemes (most based on simplistic or false analogies) trying to tear each other apart.
Meanwhile certain groups, operating mainly in the background, clean up royally.
218
"our tax reality is so complex" This is a myth. Most can do their own taxes. if they keep accurate records.
4
sDavid,
Well said. I think your point about having the data available is very important.
A few years ago we were able to get rid of the two most egregious -- and hilarious -- pages of the tax code, the alpaca wool, and hemp rope subsidies. The first put money mainly in the pocket of a prominent and pushy television newsman. Sam had apparently assembled all the paper relevant to the alpaca trade, and somewhat to his astonishment found himself the almost lone recipient of some millions a year in government largesse. Suddenly it didn't seem so funny to him, nor to the tax-paying public, even though the cute llama-like alpaca serves as model for the famous Chinese Grass-Mud Horse, 草泥马, of lore and laughter.
The hemp rope subsidy started to get into real money. It was just short of a billion a year in near-sacred defence spending because, who knows? Aren't we all agreed that the navy needs sailing skills? It turned out that the whole scam had been put together to support the Boston Navy Yard, dedicated to sailing ships, in then-Congressman Teddy Kennedy's district. That, too, failed to amuse the public.
The principle of non-amusement is an important one, it seems, in tax reform. I rather don't think the public would have a lot to smile about if we ever saw Donald Trump's taxes and his tax "reform" proposals side by side.
11
David-"Most can do their own taxes. if they keep accurate records."
I agree. I have done our taxes for years after my father, an accountant, showed me how to fill out the 1040. Now I use one of the online tax programs. I even used this when I had a small home based business. For those who use 1040A the taxes are so simple they can be done over the phone!!! and it takes about 10 minutes. No one needs to know their "bracket" All they need to know is their allowable deductions and their net taxable income. If you're filing a paper form you just look up the tax rate for your adjusted income. If the rate is higher than what you paid you owe. If lower you get a refund of the difference. Pretty simple if you have an understanding of basic math and can actually read!
2
The "carried interest" tax preference is small compared to two other preferences.
The carried interest preference might cost 10-20 B /year.
Not taxing all dividends and capital gains as ordinary income costs about
160 B /year.
The top .1% receives about half the capital gain income.
Not taxing unrealized capital gains at death [step up in basis] costs
40 B /year.
93
It's too bad that voters don't understand that progressive taxation is the way our nations funds itself by recycling some of the wealth extracted from an economy that was built by all of us, for all of us. Same with Estate Tax which was designed to limit the intergenerational transfer of wealth which frequently leads to the formation of oligarchical stratification. It seems as if we are already there.
8
Taxing unrealized capital gains is impractical, because in many cases the cost basis of the asset in question is unknown and unknowable. This is particularly true in the case of assets like real estate and various valuable physical objects.
But keeping the estate tax intact basically solves this problem in the case of large estates, which comprise the great majority of all unrealized capital gains. So I think that taxing unrealized capital gains is really unnecessary.
Why should Trump stick his neck out against the carried interest loophole when the senior Democratic Senator from NY, Schumer, supported it? Besides, his voters will forgive him for failing to deliver because they seem to believe his heart is in the right place...
Which brings us back to Don Jr. He is an inconsiderate bully who was raised by an inconsiderate bully. I have no doubt he would scratch his head at the suggestion that a problem with the "hired help" and gossip by tabloids about his Dad represented a Dickensian childhood. I'm sure he knew lots of kids who spent more time with nannies than their parents, and lots of Dads who were cheating on their wives. Hardly weird for him at all.
You want to pity Don Jr.? Here he is, thrust into the public light, out his natural environment where people are either looking to do business with him, or looking to get business from him, and where any disagreeableness can be kept hush hush via non-disclosure statements. How was he to learn what is and isn't socially acceptable to say?
60
Schumer's district includes New York City and Wall Street/Financial Sector, who he has been elected to REPRESENT. President tRump was elected to represent EVERYONE in the United States, not just one small sector or district.
4
Entera,
If congresspeople are only going to vote for the interests of their narrow constituency, then we can get rid of them and decide everything by referendum.
Wall Street represents a tiny fraction of the 20 million people Schumer represents.
"Why should Trump stick his neck out against the carried interest loophole when the senior Democratic Senator from NY, Schumer, supported it?"
First, Trump ran on the idea of revoking it; he stuck his own neck out, and Schumer wants it only reformed to make it more fair. You should read about a topic before you spout off.
1
Reagan's tax cut lead to soaring deficits and a needed tax increase. GHW Bush's tax cut lead to increasing deficits and a need to increase taxes. Shrub's tax cuts lead to soaring deficits and contributed to financial instability and the 2007 crash. Kansas and Sam Brownback went all-in on the "tax cuts lead to economic growth" ideology and saw the state coffers depleted, and had to finally raise taxes. And here we are again. The GOP will give giant goody bags to their wealthy donors, offer up minuscule tax cuts to the middle class, and we'll watch the economy stagnate.
309
i don't know which middle class members are going to get tax cuts. My taxes will skyrocket once the local and state tax deduction disappears and I have to pay a tax on a tax. Of course my consumer spending will have to crater to compensate.
104
To add to bwana.
The GOP/Republicans never grow tired of seeing tax history and the attendant consequences repeatedly take place.
The simple concept of cause and effect also has escaped their simple-minded approach to anything having to do with numbers.
But then most of them are mathematically challenged.
I wonder if they are aware that the normal distribution of IQ indicates that half of the population has an IQ of less than 100.
Probably not, inasmuch for all intents and purposes most of them can be found on the lefthand side of that telling distribution.
(By the way would it be at all possible to replace actual pictures with cartoon images instead. Just asking - somewhat desperately.)
2
When Reagan cut taxes, mine doubled while my mother's halved. Nuff said.
I would like to give Don Jr. a pass, Ms. Collins, but this is a guy who is helping dumb down America even further, so no, I will not give him a pass.
His stupidity in reducing complex ideas to Skittles and Halloween candy must be stopped. By the way, Jr., what was your daughter doing asking for handouts, getting free candy from strangers? Going door to door and begging is not work. She's actually a moocher.
And then there's that estate tax, or as the Koch Bros and Trumpists call it, the death tax. I was talking to a friend last week who insisted he was a conservative. We went down the checklist -- turns out he is for a woman's right to choose, for the ACA, for Medicaid, helping the poor. Finally, I tricked him and said he must be for repealing the death tax. "Yes!" he nearly shouted.
I told him there are approximately 20 million people in NY State and asked how many families would pay the death tax. He guessed 1 million. I said, 270. He replied "270,000?"
No, 270.
He looked at me and said, "Guess I'm not a conservative."
President Trump is a fraud, a phony, a liar.
The problem is Republicans and their tired old crappy one-note idea for over 30 years now:
Cut taxes for the rich and grow jobs and grow the economy.
We just did that with W Bush. The results were disastrous. They just did it in Kansas, with the same disastrous results.
For God's sake, Democrats, why can't you make this case to voters and take this fight to Trump and his lying sycophants???
1247
Because the Democrats were too busy trying to get Ms. Incompetent and Corrupt into office instead of Bernie, who all the general election polls showed would have smashed Trump. That's what happens when the hierarchies of both parties are corrupt.
5
I nominate V to be Director of Communications for the DNC.
6
You're right. The Democrats have not made the case that we long to hear. Bernie Sanders said a lot of it, although I don't agree with him on everything. I'm tired of the old labels and categories. We need real, people-oriented reform. We also need to address health, climate, energy, environmental, educational, and infrastructure reconfiguration and repair. The old labels "liberal," "conservative," "red," "blue" carry too much baggage, and unrealistically dichotomize the range of options. Now we have "sides" shouting at each other. There is too much noise and not enough light.
4
Tax cuts, which will allow major corporations to continue to pay less in taxes than you and I, will result in robust economic growth via the "trickle down effect," which worked well back when the earth was flat and unicorns pranced freely in the forest. The other myth is the 35 percent corporate tax rate. Shelters and loopholes effectively bring that down to single digits and sometimes into negative territory.
We need reform, not more cuts.
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My single childless daughter, who makes about $40,000 a year as a drug-rehab counselor and is not a corporation, is taxed at 35%. Somehow, that just seems wrong.
7
Boeing: Effective Corporate Tax Rate. 8.5%
5
Same for my daughter, the RN, who works full time and volunteers for disadvantaged folks not served by our larger institutions.
Nice job, congress.
3
Regarding the response of His Unhinged Unfitness to Halloween's terrorist incident, what's even more surprising is that NYC is djt's home.
It indeed speaks volumes that the Pumpkin One's definition of leadership (even in the case of tragedy in his own hometown) is to ignore the Democratic mayor, governor, and attack the Democratic Senator, as well as any other Democrat in the Congress who's not endorsed what he would like, ever.
Belatedly, sometime Wednesday afternoon, the Leader of the Free World quit Tweeting long enough to call his hometown mayor and governor, after having made the TV sound-bites for his base.
And still - Puerto Rico.
525
And then there is the President of Argentina, the home of 5 young people celebrating a high school reunion in New York who were killed in the attack. Did anyone who is still working in the state department advise him how to reach out to Argentina? He sure wouldn't have a clue.
1
One can only hope they didn't take his calls.
1
The one silver lining about Trump's election is that he's not a New Yorker now.
He's been despised in the city since he was a teenager and everybody is glad he's gone and we hope he moves on to a suitable establishment -- Leavenworth would do.
3
I kind of feel sorry for D.T. Jr., considering his dad knocked him on his derriere in front of his college roommates for having the audacity to wear a Yankee jersey waiting for daddy to take him to a game.
How might history have been changed if Junior fought back and punched his old man out?
But using your daughter's Halloween candy as a prop to make a tasteless joke about socialism is par for the course when your only success is due to winning the sperm lottery.
The poisoned apple does not rot far from the diseased tree.
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Like father like son. If The Donald had told HIS old man that what he really wanted was his affection and respect, as opposed to an inherited fortune, the nation might have ended up with just another emotionally stable failed businessman instead of a dimwit-despot with a fragile ego.
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Don,, Jr. also seems to think that a kid "who stayed home" was a lazy moocher who didn't deserve the candy that hard-working moocher Chloe had got by going door-to-door. He didn't explain why the first kid had had to stay home. Perhaps he was unable to trick-or-treat, either because he didn't have a costume, or his parents were working, or he was disabled.
Would it not have been an act of kindness, and an invaluable lesson to Chloe, to share her candy with someone less fortunate? The kid without candy didn't ask and wasn't expecting her to give it to him. Don, Jr.: failed again.
11
The Donald was so annoying they sent him off to military school, the place where others got to try to knock some sense into the bad boys. Maybe if his severe ADHD had been diagnosed and treated...
3
Let's see if we can understand why tax cuts for the Rich or more generally, income and wealth inequality, is bad for the economy. Economists have a concept called the velocity of money. It is the frequency, how often, that money changes hands in domestic commerce.
Here's an example. Suppose the government gives Scrooge McDuck a Billion for advice on the comic book market, If Scrooge puts the bucks in his basement, and forgets about it, that doesn't help the economy at all. That Billion has a velocity of 0. Also, if Scrooge loses a financial bet to Daddy Warbucks, and the Billion moves from Scrooge's basement to Daddy's, that is a change, but the velocity does not change because it is not a useful change. It doesn't affect commerce.
Money going to the Rich has a lower velocity than money going to the non-rich. The Rich spend a lower percentage of their money. What's a guy or gal who already has so many houses he can't remember how many & an elevator for his horse gonna spend his money on? The answer is he is going to use it to speculate. There is a correlation between inequality & financial speculation. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1661746 Speculation is bad for the economy. That money has a very low velocity. AND it increases risk which we have seen in 2008 ain't a good thing.
Since 2007, the velocity of money has plunged. https://fredblog.stlouisfed.org/2016/04/a-plodding-dollar-the-recent-dec...
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Thank you Professor for explaining a concept I had never heard of previously. Wish I had taken an Econ class, and please continue your mini essays for us.
5
You are so right on the velocity of money. I would simply add to that recent economic research shows that when the mega rich get tax cuts they simply put it into their stock portfolios. They don't spend a nickle of it, they simply hoard it. They hoard money the way those people on that reality tv show hoard things. It's invested but there is no circulation of the money via commerce. The velocity of money is not improved in the way it would be by a real instead of a fake "middle class" tax cut. Make it easy, give every tax payer making less than a million dollars a year 10,000 off their taxes. No questions asked. The money that would flow immediately into retail businesses and throughout the economy would explode. The Republicans should be so ashamed -- of course they are not -- this tac plan is a complete fraud.
4
Len helpfully points out a concept that gets completely ignored by GOP'er economists when they push their voodoo, since their 'trickle-downism' is completely refuted by this well-known principle.
In fact - objectively looking at data - the GDP number which His Unhinged Unfitness moans about noticeably increases when volatility goes up, due primarily to higher taxes on the very very wealthy.
GOP'ers aren't stupid, just craven, so we have to realize they know this data, and it is thus a feature of their economic planning instead of a bug - more broadly, they are not afraid of the masses anymore, like they were in much of the 20th century as the owners of capital viewed what Communism was doing.
With Communism defeated, it's not as necessary that capital owners let anything slop out of the economic trough to hoi polloi.
5
I didn't know that Trump Jr had such a strong, positive impression of socialism ... sharing = socialism, sharing is good, so socialism is good!!! Wow, Don Jr. thinks socialism is ok, what could go wrong with changing the tax code?
75
If that's not irony, you're missing the point. He means that his daughter went out trick-or-treating, thus "earning" her candy, and now he's going to take half of it and give it to "some kid who sat at home." He means that socialism isn't equitable distribution; it's robbing those who earn their living to give money to the "loafers," and you know who they are.
I bet de Blasio is glad he didn't have to take a call from Trump.
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Yeah, from what I hear it can be quite dangerous to take those calls. No telling what the T might have in mind. (And you'd have to listen to his voice as well.)
Oh Gail.
You really are to much for words!
83
I agree,she is what's needed in this world,a bright person,,,,,
You too Woody!
We saw what you did there!
How much will it hurt the middle class?
Oh - about $4000 they thought they would save for a pension but instead will go into corporate profits … somewhere.
140
And the lying in support of this bill is legendary. Middle class tax cuts, my dotard. This is aimed at the 1% with the same precision as a southern gerrymandered voting district. There's this odd thing going on, where, instead of waiting for Trump to become more Presidential, the rest of the Republican Congress, Republican spokespeople and Republican media have embraced the freedom to lie openly and unashamedly. I've never experienced anything like this before in my entire life, and I find it very disconcerting. I always thought Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in Oz could have had a good time, if they were willing to go with the flow, but I'm here to tell you, honestly, it's know fun being around this many delusional people.
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"...with the same precision as a Southern gerrymandered voting district."
I am going to try to use this phrase as often as possible. Brilliant. And sad.
5
If this bait and switch series of tax ideas weren't so horrible, it would be funny. There's no way the middle class comes out of this in a better position. I just wonder when those same people will "get it" and have enough! Who will be their champion?
80
Maybe Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris.
1
Yes ... when will they “get it” ?
Probably never as they continued to vote against there own interests... and that’s why they are worst then Deplorable
1
Well, the baby sitter Kelly is out. You know, that great history buff...
1
The Republican party lives, breathes and survives on tax cuts. Social safety net, investments in our future, the capital costs for maintaining infrastructure, our children's education, or cultural heritage, all are subordinated to the mystique of tax cuts that will trickle down droplets of sustaining improvements in our standard of living. As George H. Bush stated nearly 40 years, ago, "If you believe in trickle down economics, you believe in Voodoo economics."
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James Landi, all true what You say. We must all remember at voting time: Republicans = Greed/Money and Power ONLY !
1
"Almost as out of date as the idea that a president should call the mayor of a city that’s suffered a terrorist attack on the same day it happened."
Trump never considers how his poor form will reverberate.
Following attacks on London, Trump saw fit to personally skewer Mayor Kahn. Trump's son joined in the uncouth behavior online. Tragedy should bring people together, but Trump exploits it to satisfy his own vendettas.
Trump has previously disparaged Bill deBlasio as the worst Mayor, ever - never mind that this man helms Trump's own home city - and now, after a crisis, it is that much harder to cooperate because of Trump's history of incivility.
The bottom has fallen out under Trump. No act of decency can be taken for granted.
84
Another article on Trump. Trump, Trump, Trump. How original, how helpful for Democrats as it allows them to take a break from trying to come up with a winning campaign strategy. Wow, that seems impossible. Pander to the base, click those phones, keep the subscriptions up, nothing else important is happening.
9
When really bad things happen, they make the news. That's just the way it is.
Trump is a a series of really bad things happening.
The mainstream press tries to break the pattern. When Trump reads a speech that sounds rational, they dutifully report it as if it represents reality. Then, boom, Trump pops back up with something outrageous and they're off again.
Trump being so outrageous that he could not be ignored helped him win the primary and the election (even if he didn't get the most votes). If the media ever figure out how to deal with that strategy, Trump will be doomed. Don't expect it to happen any time soon.
5
Gosh, covering the president. How radical for a news organization.
As opposed to us worrying about whether you and yer mates have enough money for the next five generations to retire at the age of 14 like DJTJr. It is good to see there's one real blond in the family.
Here's a great lesson in capitalism brought to you by the team that wants to eliminate the estate tax:
Donald Trump can die (God forbid), then Don Jr. can inherit the purported billions of his father, tax free. Then he can die (God forbid), and little Chloe can ditch that candy and keep the billions, all while sitting at home.
85
Great commentary, Dave. Especially liked your last four words. . .all while sitting at home. That was the nastiest part of Don, Jr.'s tweet. You know, THOSE children, the moocher kind, don't even have the gumption to go out and get free candy. Never mind that there could be children who couldn't trick or treat. There might be those with cerebral palsy or other debilitating conditions. Or that their parent(s) were too busy working two jobs to take them out. Or that their religion doesn't recognize Halloween. Of course, I'm not talking about just children but using them as a metaphor and to demonstrate the privileged Trumps have no understanding of the real world.
7
Gai, you bring up serious issues with this tax plan. I want to help. Can we set up a special fund for those children with only a $30 million dollar. Inheritance....I would like to cotribute a few bucks to help them out. I’m heart sick for them.
56
No, of course he wouldn’t actually CALL the mayor. But not to worry — by Thanksgiving he’ll be telling us he did. And the worst of it is, he’ll believe it.
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Worse than that, Bernie, is that millions of Americans will believe it as well. And there, as they say, lies the rub...
1
I just hope he doesn’t call the people whose family members died in the attack. They have already suffered enough.
1
I haven't laughed this hard about Trump since he fired Scaramucci. Thanks, Gail.
52
I’m starting to feel physically ill when I see the president’s picture. In the future, could we have a trigger warning? They say that people start to look like their pets, but I think the president is starting to look like his presidency: dyspeptic confused and bloated. Nobody needs to see that.
To be honest, tax policy is not the first thing that comes to mind when the president speaks. Any issue worth discussing becomes irrelevant when he opens his mouth. Nothing he says demonstrates his understanding of the issues, sensitivity for the people affected or concern for the proper conduct of White House business.
His press briefings are nothing more than opportunities for outrage, with a gob-smacked press corps trying to take in the latest absurd spin from Sarah Sanders, who often doesn’t appear to be in on the joke. As absurdist performances go, it’s pretty amazing, and very lifelike.
We can look at the details of this “tax plan,” but the details are irrelevant. It’s just a way to stick the middle class with the bill. Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, Republicans gotta stick the middle class with the bill.
But Republicans are having trouble getting over the basic competency hump. For the past eight years they merely had to blurt out nonsense, the whole purpose of which was to attack Barack Obama. Now they’ve got to write actual numbers on paper without making the poor people at the C.B.O. die laughing.
Good luck with that.
1088
I know just how you feel about seeing Trump. For about a year I've been using a browser extension that turns pictures of him into pictures of kittens. Works really well and makes me feel better.
6
gemli, an excellent comment, as always. However, you could shorten that last sentence to read simply 'without making the poor people die'.
Andiamo.
2
Another gem from gemli.
4
I can't wait until tomorrow to find out what kind of car I can buy with my tax savings!
Based on what I have heard so far, it might be a Ford Pinto with a tax lien and a recent rear end collision (recalling the exploding fuel tanks).
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Maybe Fred Flintstone's car will be on the market!
Gail, let's talk about the real intended beneficiaries. "Somewhere tonight there’s a child with a $30" billion "inheritance who needs our help" to avoid paying a small fraction of it in estate tax, probably about $1 billion (leaving only $29 billion) since the tax is not on current value but on purchase price -- and a large fraction of the estate has been squirreled around the tax code anyway.
96
Conservatives and Republicans have made a mockery out of our system of governance. They refuse to hold open committee hearings in order to air proposed legislation and tax bills. They exclude the Democratic Party from any and all discussions, deliberations and debates. And they attempt to ram their propositions through with a vote without any time for all members of their house to study and consider proposed legislation and tax measures with all of their possible ramifications.
It seems to me that with the Dear Leader's promptings, Conservatives and Republicans have decided to use North Korea as their model for governance. And for their Politburo, you may add the billionaire Koch Brothers, the Mercers, Adelson, Rupert Murdoch's Fox Propaganda, and all extremist rightwing interest groups.
No plane can fly with just one right wing. It's just not possible. Such a plane should not even be allowed to become airborne.
355
The no hearings on major bills have been the MO for Wisconsin Republican legislators since Walker became governor and a Republican majority in both state senate and House of Representatives. I’m sure this must be the standard plan by Wisconsin Club of Growth and other Koch brothers influenced conservative think tanks. They don’t want any testimony that would highlight the flaws in the bills. In some cases late night votes are taken to cloak the passage of onerous bills that disenfranchise some group of people from attending the voting on the floor of the legislation. “Out of sight, out of mind”
That this is now also being the procedure in both U.S. Senate and U.S. House, lays bare the collective strategies concocted by national conservative think tanks for both national and state legislators. To ram bills through without any long debate or vigorous review process has now become the Republican standard method of legislating.
1
That reminds me of a similar joke on the old Johnny Carson show. He said that the show had invited a very conservative politician to fly in for the show, but he declined saying he would only fly in if the plane had two right wings..."
The Republicans had announced that they would publish their complete tax plan today. I heard on the radio this afternoon that they would be releasing it tomorrow (Thursday). We shall see if they meant tomorrow, or mañana. I would be surprised if they released the actual bill tomorrow. I instead expect another sketchy outline with magic asterisks for unspecified cuts.
And as the Republicans learned with their health care bills, it's very important to schedule a vote BEFORE the CBO can score the bill.
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I am in favor of getting more money in the private sector so people can buy stuff thus providing jobs for more people.. Tax cuts do that, but in a very inefficient manner.
First of all, they have to be for those who need money and will spend it, and not to for those who do not need the money and will use most of it for financial speculation. Trump's plan does just the opposite.
Then think about this. Suppose we cut poor Joe's taxes $1,000. That gets $1,000 into the private sector because Joe will spend it, and it will go to help producing jobs for others. But suppose we pay Joe, $1,000 to cut the White House lawn. We still get the $1,000 into the economy, but we ALSO get the lawn cut.
That is why federal spending is a better way to get money into the private sector than tax cuts.
238
Thank you for saying that. Very important point. The US government is the country's largest employer. We get a wealth of services and lots of people get jobs. Tax cuts will lead to lots of people losing their job and we will not get many important services. Including clean air, water, endless lists of other things. Sadly I am sure many government employees in red states voted for Trump.
10
Maybe they could spend it on repairing infrastructure instead of yet another war in Lower Xenoniza.
2
@ andrea..... i live in a conservative part of california and according to the last time i read local statistics? 60% of the workforce in Inyo county works for the government (state, county, federal, LADWP) in some agency or another...... and they vote republican. our distrtict's republican county supervisor collects 2 federal government pensions and will get another one from the county when he retires from being a supervisor. you hear these boot strap republicans complain about big government even though the money that supports their comfortable lives comes from a government salary...... paid for by people that work in the private sector. even the taxes that they pay are collected first from workers in the private sector.
3
This country is a joke and a laughingstock.
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There is more to this country than the insanities addressed here, as galling and glaring as those are. There are billions of stories in hundreds of millions of people's lives, and heroes as well as villains, and saints as well as criminals among us. There are acts of generosity and love that would stun us if we had eyes to see, and beauty about us if we were looking for it. Yes, there is struggle now and for the future--but don't let cynicism or an ugly desire to attack take you over. See what's around you today, and make it better. Start right now.
2
I agree, from across the border.
The laugh heard around the world!
It might be nice if Donald Jr did teach his daughter to share her candy with a disabled child in the neighborhood who could not walk about Halloween night.
442
My school did that when I was a kid. The day after Halloween, we'd all bring in some of our candy and donate it to an orphanage. It was a good practice.
47
Never to (sic) early to teach the TRUE concept of socialism.
3
Socialism is just a crutch? Sometime people need a crutch until they can get back on their feet again?
2
Now, you see, this is a major reason why people are entertained by Democrats but don’t take them seriously enough anymore to elect them. Who really believes that Donald Jr. “had one of the worst childhoods this side of Oliver Twist”?
And because people don’t pay any attention to Democrats these days, it’s not hard to understand that they zone-out when Dems talk about taxes. I mean, for eighty years now and more, anyone making a nickel more than what he needs to purchase a day’s ration of gruel has been demonized by the left as rationalization for higher taxes. After so many years of this, who still listens?
And there probably won’t be Senate hearings on the tax bill, as Gail claims. Kinda like the absence of Senate hearings on the ACA way back when, which Democrats rammed through Senate-House reconciliation. Obviously, the lack of committee back-and-forth on a bill is only a BAD thing when Republicans do it. But, then, this isn’t George Will’s column, is it?
Trump may be holding the “carried interest” fix in reserve – if Republicans get the balance between proposed tax levels and repealed deductions close enough to the deficit permitted under budget guidance, the extra money captured by doing away with “carried interest” could put them over the finish-line.
Finally, why would Trump call de Blasio when he was probably pretty sure that Bill wouldn’t take the call?
1
Dear God, please make him stop.
Of course, Congress had plenty of hearings before the passage of the ACA, unlike what the GOP tried to do with their FAILED attempts at repeal and replace.
And didn't this Congress ram through the proposed tax bill via reconciliation in order to avoid a filibuster?
But truth and facts means nothing to our court jester.
What a maroon.
271
JFK cut taxes. Reagan cut taxes and also raised taxes.
Sometimes taxes need to be cut. Sometimes taxes need to be raised.
Sometimes we need to elect rational adults to make mature decisions for the benefit of us all, and not a few spoiled brats without a clue.
It will be a pleasure to witness your comeuppance next year.
139
IWhile Trump boasts about de-regulation as being key to job creation -- our "corporados" continue to raid the U.S. TreasuryFor each dollar America’s 50 biggest companies paid in federal taxes between 2008 and 2014, they received $27 back in federal loans, loan guarantees, and bailouts, according to Oxfam. Eighteen of the largest corporations paid "0" taxes, reports the Institute of Taxation & Economic Policy. These include G.E., Duke Energy, Sempra Energy, American Electric Power, PG&E, Xcel Energy, CMS Energy, Atmos Energy, FirstEnergy, Eversource Energy, NiSource, Wisconsin Energy, International Paper, Priceline.com, Ameren, and Pepco Holdings. http://www.itep.org/corporatestudy/
If the uber rich and corporations paid their fair share of taxes, it should cut the U.S. deficit in half over night.
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This puts me in mind of a joke I was emailed yesterday: a Republican Halloween is giving candy to the 1% of kids and saying that it will trickle down to all the rest.
587
Where that will trickle down from is best not mentioned...
2
This is a great time in the history of this country for people who want to do outlandish, bizarre and crazy things and get noticed for them.
Trump has assaulted women, lied continuously to the American people, connived with Russians, played fast and loose with his taxes, helped bring this country to the brink of nuclear war and turned the U.S into the laughing-stock nation of the world.
All because Christian evangelicals and well-to do Republicans aren’t getting enough of what they want.
I wish them the best of luck. Their children are going to need it.
371
Ours will, too.
5
While I too wish their their children the best, I am more concerned about the rest.
Gail, you are too hard on the President. He has so many important things to ponder and decide on. For example, Hillary Clinton's connection to the latest terror attack; his Twitter feed; whether he will make his tee time at Bedminster tomorrow; slapping down members of his own party; watching Fox & Friends; jutting his jaw in a manly way for photo ops. There's only so much one person can do.
722
He's also putting in a lot of work on crossing his arms tightly across his chest, a body language typical of toddler tantrums. I can't decide whether it's a narcissistic self-hug or an effort to hide behind his forearms.
2
Plus, who knew all that would turn out to be so complicated?
Billy on.
1
The only things that will survive the legislative negotiations are cuts for the rich and corporations. The rest of us will suffer cuts of a different kind and be told we'll survive. We'll also continue to be told our incomes will go up by $4,000. To slightly paraphrase Joe Hill: There will be pie in the sky by and by. [That's a lie!]
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Hill was parodying, with Cisco Houston's help, the Depression Era's evangelical promise of "Beulah Land" after death, the original "Gospel of False Advertising".
A lie, like today's "Gospel of Greed" and "$4,000" for every person. Or family. Or "group". Whatever.
1
and as merle haggard wrote "we'll all be drinkin' that free Bubble-Up and eatin' that rainbow stew...."
1
Cisco Houston of the Talking Blues fame! Saw him in the Village in the late 50's.