To Tax or Not to Tax

I agree with my colleague's statements in her post Obama Debates on Tax Reduction . The tax cuts are a complicated issue, as one small change to any program or policy dealing with the economy can either have unforseen or dramatic consequences, or do nothing at all. The economy is one of the parts of our government that is ina state of constant flux, not only because of the free market system it employs, but because taxes are the income of our national government, and after each presidential election, the new guy along with Congress have the chance to make any changes. They can update the tax policies to reflect an economic downturn (such as a recession) or a particularily good economic state. However, the government can also alter the taxes to increase their own income and therefore the money they have available to spend, or just to reflect the wishes of the elected's party. I definitely agree with Noree, nobody really loves taxes, but they are essential to the running of our country and they ensure we get the protection, education, and other freedoms we enjoy in this country. However, I agree with Obama's and the Republican's opinion that the current administration should extend the Bush Era Tax Cuts. My reasoning is thus: Taxes are fine, but raising them is not the best or the only solution to our country's poor economic status. I say the government should not force citizens at all levels of income (the cuts do not only benefit the wealthy, but apply to the middle class as well) to pay more in taxes to provide the government with more spending money. Instead, I think a better solution would be for the national government to look at itself, and find ways to reduce its current spending to provide money to help pay off the dept and for other government programs. Alas, though, Noree was correct in that this is a difficult decision with no crystal clear answer. Their choice will determine or at least affect which way our economy turns for the next few years, and both sides of the debate will have to work together to come up with a solution that is best for the country.