Lehigh absolutely *destroys* strawman, does victory dance

[Ian David]

by: Charley on the MTA
Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 20:52:56 PM EST

I don't wanna bore you with this/oh but Scot Lehigh Scot Lehigh Scot Leeeehigh...

POLITICIANS, PAUL Tsongas used to warn, too often treat the business sector as though it's an ATM machine, tapping it constantly for cash without worrying about replenishing the account.

That's a pretty fair description of what's been happening here in the last few years.

... There's a tendency among some to see the private sector as a rich (and selfish) realm that can be taxed with little consequence. Certainly the governor has presented his tax changes as mere loophole closings that should have no ill effects. But basic economics tells you that an increase in the business tax burden has to be felt in one or more of the following ways: The price of products and services will rise, or there will be less money for wage increases, or profits will fall.

Uggggghhhh. Scot, let's think this through: OK, you're right, there are unintended consequences to raising corporate taxes/closing loopholes, whatever you want to call it. Sure. There are also consequences to leaving property taxes the way they are. There are consequences to not investing in all-day kindergarten (for instance), or trains, or public universities. There are consequences to dipping into the rainy day fund. Everything's got consequences, OK?

So as Lehigh later deigns to point out, MA is still 40th in corporate taxation. So even after the litany of really bad stuff that Romney did and Patrick's proposing ... we're still dealing from a position of strength. And would Lehigh like to defend the actual litany of loopholes that Patrick proposes to close? Let's be specific, huh?

More:
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6525