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Nov. 23, 2004 The Democratic Party has currently adopted a position that reads as follows: the Republican Party is the party of fiscal irresponsibility. They have elected a “conservative” with a very economically liberal bent, and have bankrupted us over and again. This is true; George W. Bush is no fiscal conservative, and some of his initiatives are questionable. However, the Democrats must now move forward and propose their own plan. Currently, the Democratic Party has a plan of raising taxes on the wealthy while cutting taxes on the middle class. On its own, this is not a bad economic agenda, and makes some practical sense. The only problem is that it is simply too alienating to ever work in the real world, at least as bare as it stands right now. A sound policy would be to look to businesses that are excelling and offer them incentives to grow and remain in the United States. It is an important step the Democrats must make to admit businesses are capable of great good, and those law abiding companies in our country should rightfully be rewarded by the government for their service in employing Americans. There is a fine line between helping business grow and employ, and being beholden to it. That should be the Democrats’ line. Cutting taxes for businesses that increase nationwide employment, ethically expand and remain within the United States would increase the willingness of that company to hire more American workers. However, companies must be made known that they will forfeit any cuts and face very still penalties if they are found to be in breach of legal or ethical business standards. The cut would not be a giveaway – companies would have to work hard for it. Raising the minimum wage to a universal $7 would also greatly assist the middle class. Nearly 40% of the American workforce is now employed in entry-level, non-farm jobs. This makes these workers the largest single chunk of the American employment field, but it also means they have competition and a higher burden, as they are making on average less than workers in other fields. Coupling an increase in the minimum wage with a responsible tax cut for middle class workers would ease the burden these workers meet every day. We must be willing to forcibly closer loopholes that allow companies to avoid taxes, and punish severely those who outsource jobs that Americans need. Acting to close these loopholes will bring billions in lost tax dollars back, and when joined with regular auditing of corporations who have had a history of finding these loopholes or using other methods, the power of government can effectively be used to keep corporations in check without overstepping its bounds. Economic responsibility places burdens and benefits with every American, and those burdens and benefits must be backed up with the power of the government to ensure that everyone is playing by the rules. There will always be critics of every economic plan, but what is important now is that we are trying and experimenting with ways to pull this country back up. ------------ About the author: Max Burns is a 17-year-old Democrat with moderate, centrist ideals. He blames John Kerry's 2004 loss on John Kerry, and is authoring a pamphlet on how to refine the Democratic Party for Victory in 2008 and beyond. For more information, check out The New Democrat. Read the fantasy-fiction novel "Alcardia". Email: DeMBurns@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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