(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Tax Code, "Big Government Fear Mongering" and Progressive Politics [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-04-03 There are reasons why, for as long as I can remember, the Republicans have focused on demonizing “big government”. While at the same time they were spending billions on taking over Congress and that same “big government” so that they could hand it over to the wealthy upper class interests they represent. Anything which works towards sharing the wealth is technically speaking, socialist. The tax code serves as probably the most important instrument in American government capable of redistributing wealth on a regular basis. Not enough to eliminate poverty or break the backs of the wealthier classes, but the code contains a mechanism that could prove either progressive or dangerous depending on who has actual control. As much as the Republicans have been able to sell the canard of “big government” is evil, few people, even among the MAGA crowd, would object if the wealthier classes had to pay more in taxes. In fact, behind the tax codes are potentially the blueprints for funding progressive social and economic policies aimed at making America a better country to live. Or not . . . as we shall see. Capitalism and Socialism: Flip Sides on the Same Coin? Before we look at potential reforms in the tax code that can build a more progressive economic scheme, let’s define what we mean by capitalism. Put as briefly and as simply as possible, capitalism is based on two related conditions: 1 — the exploitation of labor and the capital required to establish a privately owned and run business. 2 — Profitability of the end product of that labor. In practice socialist societies can wind up relying on the same two conditions. Especially since investment capital in both cases comes from either the capitalist owners or the “socialist” state. Capital that is itself a source based on wealth created by labor. Can the State Ever Truly Represent the Masses? Let’s look as what we really mean by exploitation. It is perhaps most accurately described as who is the receiver of the overwhelming benefits of that labor. Even in socialist aspiring countries, the actual workers who make a product do not benefit directly from their labor and are paid a salary and in many cases, do not have an independent union structure. And capital in both instances is supplied by either the business’s owners or the so-called socialist state. Are they almost the same in actual practice? Benefits of labor goes to the state and are redistributed in some fashion. If distribution of benefits is left to the ruling party that represents the state, workers often have no ability to determine the general application of their labor, so you can still have an unfair and unequal distribution of the wealth produced, i.e. exploitation. This has indeed been the case in a number of countries attempting to take a socialist path, especially since there are often no longer unions or similar organizations that have any teeth to determine distribution of wealth or where future investments will be made. We must remember that the industrial model of development was based on a capitalist-controlled design, which makes it quite difficult in practice to be socialized. How Do We Reform the Tax Code? Who controls their use controls the country. I believe that to reform the tax code in a fundamental way requires a methodology and social movement for changing which classes have the most influence writing the tax code. This can be changed via a more pro-worker Congress that can determine honestly whether or not the government has enough capital revenue to finance the type of funds required to finance the changes that private capitalist entities will never be willing to fund or provide, the main reason for the interest in tax code reform. Redbaiting/socialism baiting will no doubt be the thrust of the political opposition, even from the Democratic leadership, but one need not get dragged into a dead-end defense of socialism. The issue to be focused on is who really controls the direction of our country and by extension our own government. It is class war at its purest and attempts to include ALL Americans in the process. As long as the Republicans are free to manipulate MAGA type, white supremacy movements, fundamental progress will not be an obtainable option. Biden has advanced, correctly I believe, a platform and challenge to the Republicans which asserts that they are do nothing extremists. It’s a charge we should take up and expand its meaning. And he rarely speaks in terms of left and right. Democratic leadership, however, has been much too supportive of what amounts to a Wall Street perspective on our economy and the Nation’s direction. One that conflicts with a reformist approach with real teeth. One that can really make the changes we desperately need. Advantages of a More Apolitical Approach What happens if we stop calling people by how we perceive their politics? OK, it’s not really apolitical. But perhaps we should, as much as possible, avoid the stereotyped left/right/liberal/conservative tag names which undermine so much of our political work. It welcomes support from people that would otherwise run away from us. These terms are just one more obstacle that further divides people from ever realizing they might have something in common with those they’d been taught to disrespect and look down upon. The capitalist ideological weapon against us has always been based on fear mongering, featured by redbaiting and headlining of socialism and communism’s own checkered past and frequent descent into authoritarian and dictatorial regimes but ignoring when the same factors bring down a capitalist state. Maybe it’s time to stand up to this nonsense and not let these ideologues have a bad name to call us. Or avoid as best we can doing the same thing? I’m not talking about hiding our views and opinions but rejecting our own the stereotyped views attached to those we disagree with. The last thing that the Republicans want is for the populace to start believing they have something in common with those they’ve long looked down upon. Big Government is Over? Clinton once said, “The era of big government is over.” Finally, I also want to express a criticism of the Democratic leadership, and what it says and does not say about government spending. The public debate was long ago surrendered by the Democrats, when Centrist President Clinton and the Party capitulated to the Republicans on this matter, basically agreeing with them. In his 2nd state of the Union address in 96 Clinton said: “We know big government does not have all the answers. We know there's not a program for every problem. We have worked to give the American people a smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington. And we have to give the American people one that lives within its means. The era of big government is over. “ A line I’m sure he didn’t really believe himself and immediately tried by step back from. I’d rate that last sentence right up there in “big lie” Trump territory. He also promised that he would end welfare as we know it. That he did do, feeding the racially stereotyped welfare images long promoted. In point of fact, neither Party was ever interested in a leaner government. They just wanted the trillions in yearly government tax income to go as much as possible towards things like an interventionist military budget, more police, mass incarceration, the criminal justice system and development and infrastructure that benefits the upper classes. Nor would the Democrats ever admit or argue that the main purpose of government, of any government, should be to support and aid the social welfare of its people, especially but not exclusively the less prosperous among us. Especially in a capitalist society, which by its nature tends to concentrate wealth and power into few and few hands. 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