| akuma587 said: First of all, I can't remember the last time that conservatives had something good to say about a foreign official. That in itself is newsworthy. I wouldn't have a problem with this if "fiscal conservatives" were man enough to raise taxes when times are good. If you can't spend your way out of recession, then you also can't cut your way into profitability. Any good corporation knows that if you are in debt, you increase your revenue. If "fiscal conservatives" had raised taxes while the economy was good so that we weren't running deficits during good economic years, then I would listen to what they have to say with a kinder ear. A true fiscal conservative is not scared to raise taxes. |
Here's the problem, Akuma: Raising taxes during good times can cause reduced profitability for businesses and people to lead a country into worse times. We're seeing American jobs being outsourced as a result of more competitive corporate tax rates in other developed, and developing nations. Therefore, by raising taxes, you start to reduce the effect of a 'fat' period.
If anything, the government should learn to actually store back funds for use if times get bad, instead of hampering growth by raising taxes. If they are absolutely needed, I guess I can understand that. But if they are not needed, it won't work. When was the last time a politician raised taxes to pay something off, rather than raise taxes to fund new spending?
And I think your analogy of 'if you can't spend your way out of recession, then you can't cut your way to profitability' is beyond laughable. Have you ever ran a business? Know someone who does? Ask them if cutting back raises profitability. They'll tell you that it does. By your logic, the Big 3 auto manufacturers should be leading the world since they've never cut back a day in their life.
The fact is, that businesses trim the fat and reduce spending to increase profitability. Taxation & spending reduction is the same way. If the government wants to create a surplus, it needs to do what businesses do: lay people off. Close down unprofitable wings. Find more efficent ways to do business. The government, however, has that wonderful advantage of legislating revenue increases, since it can merely force it's populace to give them more revenue. That doesn't mean that it's a smart way of doing business. If anything, it's a horrible model to run a business, or government.
Here's an example of the correlation of corporate taxation, and the effect it has on our economy, and the economies of others:
Now, if you'll notice, outsourcing is increasing, while corporate taxation drops overseas. Guess why? If a business can hire people and pay them, and get taxed less, they have an incentive to do it.
Of course, I question if you'll understand this if you've ever run a business, or understand business economics.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
