I've been asked by some people about my position on the tax cut deal struck between Obama and the Republicans earlier this week. I haven't said anything to the group yet because I am really truly ambivalent about what I think we should do next.
Off the bat, let's be clear: I think the tax cut deal is bad, very bad. I think the people on the left who are trying to make a case for it as a stimulus are trying their best to make lemons into lemonade, but they are essentially arguing for the GOP economic ethos: trickle-down economics... Which 30 years have shown *do not work*.
The question for me, now, as a liberal who supports the president and understands that we need to protect the presidency from a President Palin...or Brown...in 2012, is whether or not I put energy behind defending/helping pass thru a bill that I think stinks... Or do I put my energy in the risky maneuver of trying to leverage Democratic opposition to the deal into tweaking it for improvements--and not least of all, to get Obama/Democrats to find a different way to engage with the Republicans--who have shown themselves to be nothing but hijackeers (and are plain and proud about it!).
In the end, I DO think that the President's tax deal WILL pass. The question is how to be productive in this space/time of anger/opposition/dismay/rebellion.
Some Analysis:
From The Economist: How Stimulative are Tax Cuts for the Wealthiest 2%? (Not very--close to nil)
"Supply Side Economics, Tea Party Style"
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