Monday, November 20, 2017

Republicans Using Populist Rhetoric to Sell Greed

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/11/09/republicans-using-populist-rhetoric-sell-greed
"The “jobs” claim of the “tax cuts and jobs” act is based primarily on pouring so much money into corporations that they will create jobs, but Phillips points out that when corporations were given a tax holiday in 2004, similar to what Republicans are now proposing, “a subsequent study showed that companies that took the biggest advantage of that holiday actually were the ones that cut the most jobs because … having more access to capital simply means that they make more and bigger investments offshore.” Once in a while, Republicans will inadvertently admit that their bill is written for their rich friends. In a piece published Tuesday, New York Rep. Chris Collins told a Hill reporter, “My donors are basically saying, ‘Get it done or don’t ever call me again.’ ” As Fink from Patriotic Millionaires told me, “The only thing the Republicans really agree about is greed, and they’re trying to cut everybody in on their greed.” Recent polls show that Americans notice this greed and are not buying the populist rhetoric that is obscuring giveaways to the rich. Not only do most Americans think tax reform is not a high priority, they don’t believe that corporations will turn their extra cash into jobs. A majority of Americans think corporations should pay higher taxes. The GOP has tried in vain time and again over the course of this year to use their legislative power to deceive ordinary people. For the public good, may they fail yet again."