Comments on: GOP Giveaway http://www.philipklein.com/2006/04/gop-giveaway/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:16:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ben T. http://www.philipklein.com/2006/04/gop-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-695 Ben T. Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:47:07 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=948#comment-695 Tax rebates can be subsidies too. There's a minor difference between Bush's $300 rebates, which were a token giveaway as part of his more comprehensive changes, and Frist's proposal, which is a straight subsidy of people below the $125,000 cap by people above the cap under the guise of doing something about gas prices (as Phil points out, it has nothing at all to do with gas prices). Anytime the government "gives back money," it has to come from somewhere. If it's not part of some logically consistent tax scheme, it's called a subsidy. Rephrase that as "there are worse things than the government giving out subsidies," and see how that sounds. It's a sad illustration of our system that people can't tell the difference anymore. Tax rebates can be subsidies too. There’s a minor difference between Bush’s $300 rebates, which were a token giveaway as part of his more comprehensive changes, and Frist’s proposal, which is a straight subsidy of people below the $125,000 cap by people above the cap under the guise of doing something about gas prices (as Phil points out, it has nothing at all to do with gas prices).

Anytime the government “gives back money,” it has to come from somewhere. If it’s not part of some logically consistent tax scheme, it’s called a subsidy. Rephrase that as “there are worse things than the government giving out subsidies,” and see how that sounds. It’s a sad illustration of our system that people can’t tell the difference anymore.

]]> By: Mike http://www.philipklein.com/2006/04/gop-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-694 Mike Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:07:31 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=948#comment-694 How does giving everyone, across the board, $100 in this instance differ from a tax rebate like Bush's $300 giveaway in '01? Not that it isn't idiotic, pointless, cheap political scheme. If they really want to do this they could give everyone a $100 tax deduction...ah, but that wouldn't be in time for the elections. Oh well, there are worse things than the government giving back money. And, for the record, mine definitely goes towards a new ipod. How does giving everyone, across the board, $100 in this instance differ from a tax rebate like Bush’s $300 giveaway in ’01?

Not that it isn’t idiotic, pointless, cheap political scheme. If they really want to do this they could give everyone a $100 tax deduction…ah, but that wouldn’t be in time for the elections.

Oh well, there are worse things than the government giving back money. And, for the record, mine definitely goes towards a new ipod.

]]>