Opinion: Would

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Thứ Năm, 23 tháng 2, 2012

Would Obama's corporate tax cut speed the recovery?

The president wants to slash the tax rate on businesses — but raise corporate tax revenue by eliminating loopholes On Wednesday, President Obama proposed cutting the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent. But the administration insists that this wouldn't deplete federal coffers. Instead, the plan would actually generate more revenue for the federal government, because Obama wants to eliminate loopholes and subsidies that allow many corporations to pay a lot less than 35 percent, and in some cases, zero. Obama is also proposing a minimum tax on foreign earnings. Is this sensible, overdue reform, or a recovery-killing tax hike in disguise?

The proposal would doom the recovery: "This is a terrible, terrible plan," says James Pethokoukis at The American. The stagnant economic recovery is already "arguably the worst in modern American history," and instead of giving corporate America a hand, Obama now wants to saddle companies with so-called reform that would "actually raise the tax burden on American business by $250 billion over a decade." That would make us less competitive than ever, and doom our chances of bouncing back anytime soon.
"Why Obama's corporate tax plan is a total bust"

It's a step in the right direction: Obama's proposal "is a helpful start to the much-needed discussion about how best to reform the corporate tax code," Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, tells Reuters. But if anything, it doesn't go far enough. What the U.S. really needs is comprehensive reform of the corporate and individual tax codes at the same time. "That would be a real boost to the economy."
"Obama urges corporate tax cut, closing loopholes"

Obama's plan won't affect the economy much either way: U.S. corporate profits have already "rebounded to their pre-recession heights," says Pat Garofolo at ThinkProgress. And despite all of the whining from the Right, the tax rate that U.S. companies actually pay is the second lowest in the world. That helps explain why our corporate tax haul is at a 40-year low. But because Obama's plan doesn't aim for a truly significant revenue increases, it won't make much difference at all.
"5 key facts about the Obama administration's corporate tax overhaul"

Face it — this proposal is all about the election: "There's little chance... that this tax reform proposal will make it through Congress," says Norah O'Donnell at CBS News, which means Obama's plan will have no impact whatsoever on the economy. But it will play a role in the presidential election. Leading GOP candidate Mitt Romney unveils his own economic plan this week, and Obama is itching to start an election-year debate in which he's the one who looks like a tax cutter and reformer.
"White House wants election year fight over taxes"

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Thứ Hai, 6 tháng 2, 2012

Would Israel attack Iran without U.S. approval?

Ehud Barak and Co. are ratcheting up their rhetoric as Iran's nuclear program continues unchecked — and many U.S. officials don't think our allies are bluffing

Israeli leaders are delivering their "bluntest warnings" yet of possible airstrikes to disable Iran's nuclear program, something the U.S. and other Western leaders fear would uncork dangerous turmoil in the Middle East. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says time is running out to rein in Iran before it acquires nuclear weapons (although Tehran insists it only wants to produce nuclear energy). Leaders in the U.S. and Europe are hoping to push Iran to the negotiating table with a potentially devastating embargo on Iranian oil, though Israel appears unappeased. Despite President Obama's assurances that the U.S. is working in "lockstep" with its closest ally in the Middle East, would Israel take matters into its own hands and attack Iran without America's okay?

Israel might have no choice: The U.S. and its allies have "been pursuing diplomacy with the Iranians — for years now," says J. Robert Smith at The American Thinker. "What has that approach availed, other than buying time for the Iranians to proceed toward nuclear weapons capability?" More diplomacy and sanctions won't deter Iran's ruling mullahs. Washington might not get it, but Israel knows that "doing nothing — or delaying too long — may result in annihilation."
"Obama or the Israelis: Whom do you believe?"

Don't worry. Israel is probably bluffing: There are reasons to believe Israel's threats "are a bluff designed to spur tougher economic sanctions," says Edmund Sanders in the Los Angeles Times. Experts say "Israel's military lacks the size, breadth, and weaponry needed for the kind of sustained, multi-pronged bombing campaign" it would take to set Iran's nuclear quest back more than a year or two. And Israel's "tough rhetoric" may already be working, by pushing Europe and the U.S. to focus on Iran and impose oil sanctions.
"Israel's intentions toward Iran remain unclear"

Israel means what it says: U.S. officials "doubt that the Israelis are bluffing," says David Ignatius in The Washington Post. "Israeli leaders are said to accept, and even welcome, the prospect of going it alone" in order to demonstrate resolve as the Arab Spring undermines their security. Remember, Israel struck nuclear sites in Syria (2007) and Iraq (1981). If Iran doesn't back down, or if U.S. covert action doesn't do the job, Washington, for one, believes Israel will hit Iran's nuclear sites if that's the only way "to stop Iran from crossing the threshold."
"Is Israel preparing to attack Iran?"

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Would Jesus raise taxes on the rich?

Yes, He would, suggested Obama at Thursday's National Prayer Breakfast. Is the president playing politics with scripture?

President Obama used his speech at Thursday's annual National Prayer Breakfast to explain how his faith influences his policies. "When I talk about shared responsibility," he said, it's because I really believe asking people like myself who have "been extraordinarily blessed" to give up some tax breaks is good economic policy. "But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus' teaching that, 'To whom much is given, much shall be required.'" Is Obama saying, as Politico puts it, that "Jesus would tax the rich"? And, well, would He?

Jesus wasn't a socialist: Maybe Obama would understand scripture if he "visited church more often," instead of "only during campaign seasons," says Breeanne Howe in RedState. "Jesus very much emphasized the importance of giving to the poor," but out of joy over what we've been given, not out of an obligation to pay taxes. In fact, the Bible "teaches that everything we have, including money, belongs to God." Ultimately, a few "Bible quotes... fail to give credibility to Obama's socialist leanings."
"Give me your money in the name of Jesus"

Obama wasn't speaking for Jesus: "I personally have little doubt that if Jesus of Nazareth had been in charge of determining how much various people were rendering unto Caesar," he'd redistribute the wealth, says Ed Kilgore in Washington Monthly. But that wasn't Obama's point. Far from claiming "Jesus as co-author of his policies," he went out of his way to say the opposite: "Our goal," the president declared, "should not be to declare our policies as Biblical." I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the Christian Right is "projecting their own usurpation of religion onto the president."
"Obama's prayer"

It's good to hear a Democrat reference religion so well: I think Obama's speech "deserves study as an instance of turning religious themes and imagery to the service of his larger policy message," says James Fallows in The Atlantic. Republicans are so good at this "we take it for granted." The reason Obama's prayer is getting such notice is that "it is interesting to see it done, and deftly, by a Democrat."
"World is getting better, GBA dept."

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