Reply #33: No, Not Speculation [View All]

It is a fact that Clark's plan does not tackle the federal deficit as aggressively as Dean's plan. So you have to pick one or some combination of the following with Clark (and Kerry): higher deficit, less aid to states, and/or less federal spending. All of THOSE options disproportionately hurt poor and middle class Americans.

No speculation required. Just common sense and full (rather than partial) analysis.

Now, which plan is, on net, more progressive? Hard to say. Paul Krugman says Dean's plan is, and he's a professional economist, so there's one substantial view.

On edit: Let me add that I also agree with the analysis that suggests that any Democratic arguments to the electorate about taxes (alone) are absolute losers. Democrats MUST argue the points I've just made: what are the FULL impacts of federal budget choices? Republicans would love a discussion about taxes and nothing else -- especially about income taxes. Guess who *still* pays most income taxes.

If we don't shift as much tax burden to the income tax as we possibly can, away from other forms of taxation (or deferred taxation), we won't have a progressive tax system. Which wouldn't bother Republicans a bit.