A “People’s Tax Cut”

Not only is this a populist idea that could bring the Democrats back to life — it’s already a soundbite. For a party that’s long on ideas and short on ways to communicate those same ideas to John Q. Public, this could be a Godsend.

The People’s Tax Cut would mean making the Bush tax cuts permanent for everybody EXCEPT the richest three percent of the population.

This article — based on a column by Robert Reich — says:

“Letting the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans expire should be a political no-brainer for Democrats. But Republicans, once again, have proved more adept at framing tax policy. Democrats should beat them at their own game by proposing a ‘People's Tax Cut’ and then let Republicans explain why they’re against it.”

Here’s a link to the Robert Reich column.

In addition to keeping the Bush tax cuts for the bottom 97%, Reich also proposes abolishing payroll taxes on the first $20,000 of a person’s income, AND applying the payroll tax to incomes over $250,000.

I think it’s great. The plan itself is excellent, and it gives the Democrats a few powerful slogans that reach right out, grab the listener by the collar and scream “Listen!”

What say you?