Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same results.
So, by definition the GOP leadership must be insane.
Ronald Reagan raised taxes after congressional democrats promised $3 in spending cuts for every dollar in tax increase.
George H. W. Bush broke his “Read my lips, no new taxes,” pledge (which cost his presidency) after the Democrats promised $2 in spending cuts for every tax dollar in tax increase.
In both cases the Republicans were hoodwinked and the spending cuts never materialized.
Yet, during the recent Fiscal Cliff negotiations, Republicans agreed to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans with the Democrat promise to cut spending at a later date. The revenue from the new taxes is enough to run our out-of-control government for about two days. What’s wrong with this picture?
The harsh reality is that our government spends every penny of tax revenue that is wrung from the wallets of hard-working Americans. Those tax revenues are never used to ease the debt or cut the deficit.
If Republicans want to break the tax and spend cycle and truly address the fiscal mess, they must stand firm regarding spending reductions. We need to cut up the congressional credit card.
Boehner and company should filibuster any attempt to increase the debt ceiling and demand that all efforts to address the debt should come from future spending cuts, not tax revenues. No more borrowing … no more credit card purchases … no more congressional wage increases. Period.
It’s been widely reported that the Senate received the fiscal cliff bill in the middle of the night three minutes before having to vote on it. No time to read it, no time for debate.
If I was a U.S. Senator for either party, I’ve have voted “no” on principal. A representative who votes for a bill without knowing what’s in it is guilty of political malpractice.
As a side note, we can avoid these tax revenue debates in the future by eliminating the federal income tax and passing a national sales tax.
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