GOP Tax Overhaul

[Jim in CT]

So despite liberal hysteria that all it was going to do, was make it easier for the wealthy to slaughter the poor and confiscate their meager possessions...what I see is some of the largest companies in the nation (Wells Fargo, Boeing, Comcast, AT&T) announce things like:

increasing minimum wage to $15
bonuses to non-executives
commitments to investing in growth, training, and job creation
increases in charitable giving

Oh, the horror!

I watched half-beast Rachael Maddow do a 15 minute segment on the growth of income inequality, as if conservatives strive for income inequality and liberals can contain it.

When the economy grows, I'm not sure income inequality can fail to increase. Because the wealthy have much more disposable income, they have a lot more money invested in things (like stocks and small businesses) that increase in value when the stock market increases. So if the stock market goes up 20% this year, that's great for me, but it's better for Warren Buffet, because he has zillions in the market and I don't. So it increases the difference between his net worth and my net worth.

And you know what? I have zero reason to give a damn about that. I say good for him. And it's also good for me. Because I know he's not going to bury that money he made, nor is he going to burn it. Eventually, he's going to pay some taxes with it, he's going to spend some, he's going to invest some, he's going to put some in the bank, he's going to give some to charity. ALL of that is good for the country.

It's not exactly "fair", I guess, that income inequality increases as the economy grows. But it's not inherently bad either. If Warren Buffet makes another million today, despite what liberals claim, that does not mean there's a million less for the rest of us to scrounge for. Aggregate wealth is not finite, it's not like a pizza. One person's wealth does not cause anyone else's poverty (very rare exceptions like crooks).

This may harm the country if it adds a lot to the debt, that is a question that can't be answered yet. But all the liberals who said this would only benefit the rich? Tell that to 200,000 AT&T employees who are getting a $1,000 Christmas bonus. 200,000 Americans can now pay cash for their Christmas presents. If that's not a good thing, I don't know what is. Good for them.