Tax Cuts for the Middlle Class; Tax Hikes on the Rich
by John Lawrence
The two issues Republicans have are tax cuts and border security. Don't cede these issues to Republicans. A majority of Americans want a secure border. This has nothing to do with LEGAL immigration or even with amnesty. Limiting amnesty to those applying for it legally does not require any changes in the law. What it does require is reinforcing the border so no one can get over it illegally. This would then require more resources devoted to reinforcing the border. In terms of tax cuts, Democrats have to stress tax cuts for the middle class paid for by tax hikes on the rich. Kamala should go right after these issues. She needs to be extremely tough on both of them. Let's face it: Democrats are going to vote for her no matter what. However, at this point in time, most voters are independents. She needs to co-opt Trumplican issues. And don't be too worried about a plan. Does Trump have a plan? No, he just asserts, "I will do this. I will do that." Kamala should take a page out of Trump's book. Just say, "I will do this. I will do that." She doesn't need to spell out HOW she's going to do it in detail. For sure, Trump doesn't.
Now that Joe Biden has dropped out of the race, he doesn't have to do two jobs - being President and campaigning - while Trump just has one - campaigning. That's why Mike Johnson wants Biden to resign: so that Kamala will be saddled with the responsibilities of President instead of devoting full time to campaigning. Democrats know what the Democratic agenda is in terms of providing for and addressing the needs of the middle class and the poor. But she has to address the sweet spot - where the majority of voters are and what the majority of voters are concerned about. Of course the abortion issue resonates well for Democrats and all Americans.
This whole thing about a short campaign season for Kamala is ridiculous. Most countries don't let political campaigns last more than a couple of months by law. In France political campaigns just last a couple of weeks. In Canada the longest political campaign was 74 days. In Australia, the longest political campaign lasted 11 weeks. In Japan campaigning is allowed for 12 days. In countries where campaigns are limited by law, elections aren't controlled by big money interests as they are in the US. The longer the campaign season, the more big money controls elections and politics. In the US, if we don't want the very rich to control elections, not only the campaign period, but also the amount of money spent on political campaigns needs to be controlled.
The US is becoming a neo-medieval society in which the majority have no hope of home ownership, but are destined to work paycheck to paycheck and be renters for life. This means no asset accumulation while their rents increase even with low inflation or target inflation of 2%. 2% target inflation means at least 2% rent increases over the course of a renter's life. In addition to not having any asset accumulation those living paycheck to paycheck are vulnerable to credit card and car payment debt so that they are supporting the banking system with interest payments for their entire life.
