Here’s a variation on it from Jim Geraghty

I saw this on Ace and I have to say, of all the LIB explanations, this one is the best. But once again, it’s going to require the GOP to be on a singular message that is shouted every time they are in front of a camera. When taxes go up on everyone, say:

“This, America, is how expensive your entitlement society is. This is how much it costs. This is why it’s bigger than the eat-the-rich crowd would have you believe. And this is how bad it’s going to continue to be for your children and grand children. This is why it’s about government spending and not revenue/taxes.”

something like that. Everyone needs to feel the pain of the costs of “entitlements”.

Weight of Glory on November 29, 2012 at 8:08 PM

Fundamentally, this will have to be done no matter what approach the GOP takes. The battle can only be won in the public arena by staking out a reasonable position and giving your side of it over and over and over again.

Sorry, kids.

This isn’t a true “let it burn” plan. “Let it burn” calls for giving Obama whatever he wants so that he can’t blame Republicans for anything that happens later.

So the choice is either cave and give Der Fuhrer Dear Leader his “enabling act” or give him the financial disaster he otherwise wants and plans to blame on the Jews GOP. The first option is not the “let it burn” option. It is surrender to a wannabe dictator.

Given the two choices the only sane choice is the second, as it is the only one of the two that enables continuing the fight against the wannabe dictator.

Call Comrade Chairman Obama’s bluff. And if it’s not a bluff, let him go to the people demanding dictatorial power. Let him try to convince them to go give it to him in 2014.

http://calculator.taxpolicycenter.org

It’s pandering to these people that loses the GOP elections.

ernesto on November 29, 2012 at 9:56 PM

What’s 2 trillion minus 80 billion?

That’s what you and your party call ‘fixing the problem.’

We don’t need lectures from people who ignore math.

So, here’s the thing — the tax rates on the lower 90% or so of tax filers don’t really affect the economy that much — and, in fact, increasing the taxes on the lowest earners can potentially increase their productivity (though, in our case, that would just be lowering how much we subsidize them). Only the top income marginal rate, capital gains rate, corporate profits rate, and dividends rate have a significant impact on the economy.
Raising the tax rate on the “rich” will only hurt those of us in the middle class, reducing our opportunities and security (probably beyond the effect of a similar tax increase on us directly). But all of that is secondary to how much government spending is crippling the economy.

Count to 10 on November 29, 2012 at 8:57 PM

We have to take a hard look at all the bennies we offer the unproductive: The Tragedy of America’s Welfare State

The problem is due to the fact that eligibility for charitable programs does not look at other benefits the unproductive recipient might already be getting.

If work doesn’t pay, we can’t expect people to work.

It’s pandering to these people that loses the GOP elections.

ernesto on November 29, 2012 at 9:56 PM

And what are you “winning”, ernesto?

You’ve taken the crown from Bush for the most fiscally reckless regime in American history.

You’ve created a doomed entitlement America hates

You’ve created the worst recovery since the Depression with declining real incomes

Al Qaeda’s back, the Middle East hasn’t looked this worse in years and Iran will go nuclear on your watch

Throw me a bone here

http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/

They don’t care about the debt.
They won’t care until it collapses and they have to eat out of the garbage cans of the rich.
Problem is, the rich will all have moved to ???? wherever their wealth is desired.
The animals will burn it all…in the “blue” areas.
They will be shot in the “red” areas.
Martial law will be declared…Big Sis will be issuing the 1.2 billion hollow points to restore order.
We won’t be like Greece….they don’t have guns.
Many will die before the next Civil War is over.
War is coming….be prepared.

dirtengineer on November 29, 2012 at 9:53 PM

It’s pandering to these people that loses the GOP elections.

The Moderates have had their day, and have led the Party into a cul-de-sac of defeat and ignominy.

victor82 on November 29, 2012 at 9:45 PM

How true—watched this same scenario play out in CA. Now I like how we good soldiers that sucked it up and voted for Dole, McCain and Romney are somehow to blame because we didn’t love them enough.

The Moderates have had their day, and have led the Party into a cul-de-sac of defeat and ignominy.

then you have more faith in the public than I do.

I have no faith in the American public, specifically the one’s that voted Obama back into office. I’d say the GOP gives Obama everything he wants and accelerate this economy over the cliff. The sooner we end the free stuff giveaway, and make it extremely painful on those believing they will get free stuff, the better. It will take courage to face what we are about to endure but it’s got to be done.

And China is a huge pyramid scheme waiting to collapse on its own.

Nope. This is how World Wars begin. Politicians like George Bush and Barack Obama spend their nations into penury, so when the dictatorships go on the march, no one can do anything about it.

Where will they go in our case? China? Communist China? Brazil? Germany? Canada? Japan? Australia?

ernesto on November 29, 2012 at 8:31 PM

We’re now either 18th or 10th based on economic freedom, depending on the list.

And, apparently, they don’t have eminent domain in China.

I said the GOP should offer tax hikes on the rich in exchange for immediate entitlement reform. But why would Obama agree to that when he knows the public is kidding itself about both parts of that equation?

Who gives a fig what Obama will agree to. GOP needs to offer specifics on revenue increases or changes to make it more “fair”. i.e. what Romney/Ryan talked about. Give specific loopholes to cut, broaden the base. There you go, now what are you going to cut Mr President?

Whatever happens with a let it burn option, we dont have to wait for a collapse, we can just point to the ever increasing debt. “we just raised all those taxes and the debt is still spiraling up. Told you so.