“No new taxes” versus “mandated health care insurance” is just one snapshot that shows both Republicans and Democrats continue to base their inadequate solutions to our economic problems on lies and the illogic of unqualified generalizations.

The truth is that politicians determine tax policy, and the present tax policy that includes the Bush tax cuts is the last major policy change to redistribute wealth. By definition, all taxes are a redistribution of wealth!

The Democrats’ proposal to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. and the Republican public-union-busting legislation in Wisconsin — ironically with the support from 39 percent of members of private unions — are class warfare and redistribution of wealth.

If, at a time of record profits, corporations are not aggressively investing in creating more American jobs, only a fool would believe that the time will come when corporate management will become motivated by more corporate tax cuts and decreased government spending, and will make decreased unemployment a higher priority than ever-increasing corporate profits and bonuses.

Therefore, in the words of the prologue of the Constitution “to promote the general welfare,” I favor government intervention through tax policy. Let all the Bush tax cuts expire. Reform federal and FICA tax rates. Restructure entitlement programs. Invest tax money in research, development, and the rebuilding of America’s infrastructure.

Public jobs are real jobs, and public employees are people too, my friends.

Tom Driscoll
Poulsbo