That is the way this country, this capitalist democracy, is supposed to work at its best.
But from the days of Ronald Reagan in the 1980's through the days of George W. Bush in the 2000's, except for a bit of a correction under Bill Clinton, American tax policy has been turned topsy-turvy -- and has remained so. Which is a fundamental reason we are where we are today - in the worst economic crisis since The Great Depression of the 1930's, and with a national deficit that has grown millions since you started reading this article.
And so, what path will the President Of The United States pursue in trying to reduce the federal deficit?
No, not accelerated disinvestment and withdrawal from Iraq & Afghanistan.
No, not the introduction of a major new effort to market and enact more equitable, progressive taxation policies.
No, turns out a linchpin of the president's deficit reduction plan -- far more for public relations purposes than for any major cost-savings -- is his request for a three-year freeze on the budget of all government agencies, like Health & Human Services and Environmental Protection, with the exception of the Department Of Defense and other security-related agencies.
Do you think this is a wise, equitable and effective way to achieve deficit reduction?
No matter what this Democratic president -- who was elected largely to shift the national government's priority from advancing socioeconomic inequity, to promoting social justice -- comes up with in the way of other proposed reforms and soaring populist rhetoric, if he does indeed pursue this kind of deficit reduction strategy, he will be creating a credibility deficit for himself that may be impossible to reduce, or rationalize.
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