Tax Cut Results

“The men American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who tell them the truth.” H.L. Mencken

On December 16, 2011 The Sun Times published my letter to the editor which posed the following question to those who had voted for Bush:  “How many of the 5,730 Cleburne County Bush voters are willing to study what happened to the U.S. economy AFTER the Bush tax cut and provide readers factual answers, giving their source, for the following: Jobs-provide the name of one individual/corporation/business that took their savings from the Bush tax cut in 2001 and created one job in Heber Springs giving the business name, address, number of jobs created, and date opened…Same question for Cleburne County State of Arkansas, and U.S.”

Over a year has gone by and The Sun Times has gone to press more than 100 times since my letter; however, not one response has been published showing one job created in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas or the U.S. with savings from the Bush tax

cuts.

In the 1920’s Republican presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover led Americans down the road of “lower taxes” on the promise of economic good times with a chicken in every pot and an automobile in every garage.  That road ended on a day historians call “Black Monday” October 28, 1929 when the stock market crashed and the U.S suffered its greatest economic disaster in history. 

In the 1980’s Republican President Reagan led Americans down the road of “lower taxes” promising to curb big government spending and balance the budget.  That road led to a plunge of 508 points in the stock market on Black Monday, October 18, 1981; to the greatest increase of the national debt in history (300%); and to the raising of the national debt limit 18 times: the greatest number of increases in history.

In 2001 Republican President George W. Bush led Americans down the road of the largest tax cut in history on the promise it would create jobs, stimulate the economy and create a budget surplus.  Bush ignored the warning of the Bush Economic Advisement Council, consisting of 450 economist, including 10 Nobel prize laureates, who warned: “these cuts will worsen the long term budget outlook….will reduce the capacity of the government  to finance Social Security and Medicare benefits as well as investments in schools, health, infrastructure, and basic research….and generate further inequalities in after tax income.”  That road ended on September 16, 2008 when the stock market plunged 504 points and Americans suffered what historians describe as America’s second worst economic disaster.

Were Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Reagan and Bush and the Republicans who followed them down the lower tax roads “daring liars” or telling the truth about what lowering taxes would do to the American economy?

On September 10, 1993 President Clinton signed a law raising the tax rate on the top 1% of wealthiest Americans to 39.6%.  Clinton’s tax increase was followed by the longest economic expansion in America’s history, which created 23.1 million jobs and produced 3 balanced budgets. Republican in Congress in September 1993, including McConnell and Boehner voted, 100% against the Clinton tax increase saying it would increase the deficit and “kill jobs.”   Who were the “daring liars” and who were “telling the truth” about the 1993 tax increase—Clinton and the Democrats or McConnell, Boehner and the Republicans?

 Eric Cantor, Republican leader in the House told you how he and other Republicans govern when he said:  “Look we screwed up when we were in the majority. We fell in love with power.  We spent way too much money—especially on earmarks.  There was too much corruption when we ran the place.”

McConnell and Boehner continue to be in “love with power,” and are recommending Americans again follow Republicans down the same economic road of  “lower taxes,”  Republicans have traveled over 80 years.  History shows the tragic end of that road: economic disaster.

The economic prosperity of Americans depends on “We The People” studying and becoming knowledgeable on all issues—including taxes; becoming involved by supporting issues that benefit “We The People” not a select few; becoming knowledgeable enough to identify and support the candidates who are telling you the truth on all issues—including taxes; or “we The People” can take the easy way of doing nothing and allow the “daring liars” to lead this country down the same old Republican road that will end in another economic disaster.  Which do you choose “truth” or “daring liars?

Americans watched their TV sets in horror and shock as President Kennedy was gunned down and Presidents Truman, Ford and Reagan narrowly survived the assassin’s guns and watched the recent slaughter of young schoolchildren.  People concerned and saddened by these mass gun killings have united and support the bills pending before Congress which they believe will make America safer and reduce the number of innocent people killed in these increasing tragedies.  The N.R.A. and its leader Wayne LaPierre oppose all bills regulating ownership or use of guns.
 Can you provide a single statement showing its author, date and place stated which advocates banning shotguns and rifles with clips that hold less than 5 bullets?
 Why did the N.R.A. support universal background checks for gun owners in 1999 and oppose such universal background checks in 2013?
 Why is government sponsored gun registration any more onerous that government sponsored automobile registration?
 Are AR 15’s and other military type weapons suited for any purpose other than killing large numbers of people in a few seconds in combat?
 Do the N.R.A. leaders correctly state the law of the land when they say the Second Amendment right to own a gun is an unlimited right?
 The United Supreme Court in District of Columbia vs. Heller 554 U.S 570 held: “Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited.  It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”
 I challenge anyone to find a single court case holding the Second Amendment right to own guns is an unlimited right.
 Did the NRA leader LaPierre correctly describe law enforcement officers such as our local Sheriff Moss, local Chief Walker and their deputies when he described them in 1993 as:  “Jack booted thugs wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms who harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens.”  Former President George H.W. Bush found LaPierre’s statement slanderous and so offensive to his sense of decency and honor that on May 13, 1993 he resigned his lifetime membership in the N.R.A.
 Did LaPierre correctly describe Sheriff Moss and Chief Walker and their deputies when he said in 1995:  “If you have a badge, you have the government’s go-ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law-abiding citizens.”
 Did  LaPierre on 12/21/12 present a plan which would make schools safer  when he called on   “Congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every school—and to do it now.”.
 Was LaPierre believable and acting in good faith when he proposed placing an armed policeman in every school when he has repeatedly described policemen as  “jack booted thugs” who would “harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens?”
 How many billion dollars would the gun industry make if guns were placed in thousands of school (N.Y. City has 1,500)?
 Would Congress or local taxpayers be willing to spend billions of dollars to buy guns for thousands of schools?
 Where would guns in schools be kept —on the teacher’s desk—locked in the principal’s office—or worn in a holster?
 The N.R.A has offered no plan to make you safe when at Wal Mart, attending a football game with 100,000 people or in attendance at other places such as the theater in Aurora Colorado.  For the N.R.A. to be consistent Wal Mart would be required to arm its employees, colleges, the AFL and the NFL would be required to arm enough “jack booted thugs” to protect 100,000 plus people while attending football games.
 Hopefully you will examine the facts and like former President Bush you will find the statements of the N.R.A.’s leaders offensive to your “sense of decency and honor” and like Bush you will have the good judgment to reject the leadership of the N.R.A and will have the courage to support legislation before Congress which would make America safer and reduce the number of innocent people killed by guns.

My thanks to James Jackson and The Sun Times for allowing me to write a regular column.
 Musings is the product of an 84 year old retired man who was born near Cave City, Arkansas; educated in Arkansas schools; grew up and worked on an Arkansas farm; worked in a factory, grocery, bank, practiced law for over 20 years; served one year as an Arkansas Assistant Attorney General, and served over 20 years as a Federal Administrative Law Judge hearing Social Security Disability Cases.
 Active in the Methodist Church over 60 years as a teacher, member of Trustee and Administrative Boards; member of Lions International, held all club offices, member of the Arkansas Bar, and the Masonic Order over 60 years in each; former board member of Lions World Services for the blind; served two years in the U.S Army; have been a Hospice volunteer over 10 years currently serving as the Vice-President of NARFE and am the proud father of two boys Bill-Neal.
 My promise to you the readers and The Sun Times: To provide information from weeks of research that is  factual and verifiable and pose thought provoking questions and believing name calling such as “wackos” Radicals” “Nazi’s” “traitors”  “Socialists”  “liberals” has no place in a civil discussion and I further promise never to engage in such name calling practice.