Keep going; I’m almost there!
You realize Godwin himself has blessed the comparison of the modern GOP with the Nazis.
antlers
3279
Well yes, but I’m not sure that’s quite the comparison that’s being made here
Menzo
3281
No thanks, Beto. We can cover vet’s care with the current $600 billion+ military budget.
Timex
3283
From the actual plan:
Money collected through the “war tax” – which he is proposing for future wars – would go into a new trust fund for veterans established at the outset of each war.
Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000.
“This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families,” O’Rourke’s plan says.
It sounds as though he’s proposing a (fairly nominal) tax on normal people, if we start up more wars. This would serve two purposes:
- It actually sets aside a chunk of money, ahead of time, to care for the veterans of those wars
- It imposes some direct cost on citizens who aren’t directly tied to the military, in the event we go to war… which presumably reduce the support for fighting unnecessary wars.
This doesn’t seem like an outrageous idea.
Menzo
3284
It is outrageous, unless you reduce the taxes I already pay for the military.
We should not normalize the idea that we’re not spending enough money on our military.
Timex
3285
If you don’t start more wars, then you’d never pay that tax. And if we do start a new war, then we probably should set aside money to care for the veterans. You can always reduce other military spending if you want.
Menzo
3286
Let’s lead with that foot then decide what’s next.
It’s basically bringing a conservative notion to something where conservatives have always been fiscally liberal, because like most people, conservatives are hypocrites. Conservatives are always ranting about entitlement programs, and how they keep growing and being expended without our ever figuring out how we’re going to pay the piper. How the costs for things like Medicaid, etc. are hidden so that these deadbeats get things for free off of everyone else’s hard work. Etc. Standard conservative talking points.
So this guy comes up with something awesome - hey, conservatives, if you love your military and military boondoggles so much, fucking pay for it. Pay for it in a direct and obvious way you can see. Stop taking general money that could go to healthcare, education, etc. for it and hiding what you are doing. Have the people feel the financial pain of your little adventures, and all the bodies it costs.
The only way I see that it could be better is if the tax was directed at people who benefit from the military industrial complex. I’d love to basically just see them take Dick Cheney’s net worth.
There’s a campaign plank that’s guaranteed to bring electoral success.
(full disclosure, I’m all for the full defunding of the military. But I’m also for leaving just enough to round up all Republican voters and locking them in a Gulag, so, you know, not exactly representative of the electorate at large)
Menzo
3289
As if the next Republican President wouldn’t just repeal the tax to the cheers of everyone, then continue to lob cruise missiles at whomever displeases them at the time.
Step #1: reduce overall military spending significantly.
Step #2: dedicate a specific % of military spending for veteran’s costs sufficient enough to treat them how they deserve.
Timex
3290
A President can’t actually repeal taxes.
Menzo
3291
Yes of course. I meant it as shorthand as the next Republican President with a willing Congress.
Timex
3292
And they’re going to repeal it while saying, “Hey, we want to fight this war, but we explicitly don’t want to pay into the fund that is specifically set aside to pay for the veterans of this war.”
And you think that’s gonna play real well?
Menzo
3293
They’ll repeal it far in advance of starting an actual war. It’d be a big tax cut for everyone. Hurray Republicans!
Timex
3294
It wouldn’t be a tax cut for anyone, since you wouldn’t be paying that tax if you aren’t fighting a war.
