I agree that public opinion cannot be totally ignored without repercussions at the ballot box. On the other hand, few people have strong opinions on a host of questions, rather, they have orientations, so to speak. That is one reason it is ridiculous to lament that politicians do not debate issues more, when that would largely be unmeaning. Rather, they should signal what values and perspective they will bring to their duties, and comment on the most pressing issues.
I cannot reproduce particulars off the cuff, but my understanding of the main flat tax or quasi flat tax proposals would not effect those currently not paying taxes, and only slightly raise taxes on the next group up. By eliminating some residual deductions, they are supposed to be revenue neutral. But, as I said, I would be happy to accept a degree of graduation to favor the working poor, if need be.
First, the rise in the top rate that Clinton put into effect was not onerous. Second, the effect of the taxes is only inflationary if they themselves are going up, otherwise, once adjusted to, things are stable (all things equal). Third, productivity gains have been unprecedented during the last decade, due to the digital revolution, permitting a low unemployment, low inflation, high compensation environment. Fourth, the higher incomes of the top group largely go into productive investment, not consumption. New money for investment has to come from somewhere. (Also, the savings rate is a misleading indicator, since so much money has gone into equities and bonds, which are in competition with bank deposits and CDs, and pay a higher premium). Most people actually own stock, though passively, through their pension plans, and therefore have savings which are left out of account. Add to that real estate, which tend to rise in price, and many people have more assets than they realize.
Well, we may be at an impasse on the standard of living/quality of life question. I will note that I saw no French movie advertized in Paris, but only American movies; that, in fact, there would be no French film industry without subsidy (and laws restricting content in theaters); that if it were not for content laws in Canada, American cultural product would almost entirely take over the airwaves and theatres, and that most of those in the Toronto area watch American television; that imitation of Western, and especially American, customs is a growing feature of Japanese culture, from baseball to rock and roll to the traditional Christian marriage ceremony (some Christian ministers in Japan make all their money that way, although most of their customers are Buddhist); that the United States remains the primary tourist destination worldwide; that more Europeans emigrate to America than the other way around; and that the most popular destination for exchange students is the United States. We have something they like, let me put it that way, and we are the one's making the cultural in- roads, predominantly.
By the way, I would guess that the opinions one gets on the question vary a lot with social strata. Those who are comforably affluent, went to University, vote Labour, and loved "The Thief, the Cook, His Wife, and Her Lover", would very likely not fret over standard of living......
On the story, it is rather horrifying, and I would have been livid too...... |
