Today, I was out campaigning for Bernie Sanders. But, I still think the Republicans as a group offer some good money management skills that the Democrats have yet to demonstrate ... and I might add the Republicans have not demonstrated them since before George Bush was in power.
First, the Republicans talk about reforming the income tax code and lowering corporate taxes to somewhere between about 12% and 25%. (I am curious why they have not put something on the table for Obama to pass or reject. If he passes it, the country wins, if he vetoes it, the Republicans win.)
Simplifying the tax code is best accomplished by starting over ... but in any case it is a very tough undertaking. There are so many special interest groups vested in the way the tax code is now, including the American homeowner, that it would take a bipartisan effort of Herculean proportions. Probably not going to happen. But, it is still good to hear the Republicans talking about it.
Lowering the corporate tax is the one single thing we could do to create jobs and keep corporations from leaving this country to manufacturer overseas. Period. I have even heard Obama say he would like to see the corporate tax at 25%. We live in a competitive world and believe it or not, we have to compete for corporations and jobs with the rest of the world. Get too greedy and the golden goose moves away. That is not to say we shouldn't simplify the code and close loop holes ... yes, they are one in the same. Complexity breeds loopholes. I wish an old Republican somewhere would take up this task ... democrats can't seem to be able to keep social issues and the tax code separate from each other.
Finally, the democrats should be careful not to go after the rich with reckless abandon. They need to show some respect to the rich. The rich can move away and many do. So, if we are going to tax them, we need to convince them that it is for their good as well as ours. An educated work force will make America richer, including the rich. Convince them with any tax that is proposed that it is going directly to improve our nation, say the availability of college education.
The rich might even be open to crazy ideas like the government matching funds that corporation or the rich (or us average guys) chose to give to education fields they believe in. For example, if Intel wanted to give to Berkeley University's computer department some money, let the government match it. I know, even the Republican's are not going to get this creative. But, the democrats should not pose the taxes in a spirit of the rich versus poor, but more like Kennedy when he asked what we could do to help our country. Anyway, the Republicans show too much reverence for the rich, the democrats perhaps too little.
In the lower Republican debate there was some talk of raising the minimum wage. I am not too worried about them getting carried away on this issue ... but good that they at least acknowledged it as an issue.
Finally, I like one Republican that even Republicans don't like, Rand Paul. I mostly appreciate his idea that military engagement should only come after Congress declares war. Period. The President just gets the job done. Rand Paul was also the most professional on the stage, he discussed issues and he was the candidate everyone turned to information about the law or history. Of course, loud mouths like Trump who has no practical plan on anything seems to be more in vogue for the Republicans. Carson seems like a good guy too -- not a leader, but a good guy. I didn't much care for the witch lady either.
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