Bush: "The federal tax code needs to be changed"

Letting Bush have his way with a "National Sales Tax" on top of existing local sales taxes will be the final stake driven through the heart of "the middle class." Economists say that in order for the proposal that is being passed around right now to work, the "sales tax" would need to be between 40 and 50 percent. In the last few weeks, every major stump speech by Bush has had a reference to "changing the tax code."

Thursday, September 09, 2004
"President Bush Touts Firm Resolve, Clear Vision, and Strong Values as Pennsylvanians Make Their Choice for Next Four Years"

http://www.georgewbush.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=3487

I believe in the energy and innovative spirit of the American worker and farmer and small business owner. And that's why we unleashed that energy with the largest tax relief in a generation. (Applause.) When you're out rounding up the vote, remind your friends and neighbors that we've been through a lot. This economy of ours has been through a lot. See, five months before I got into office, the stock market had begun to decline. We had a recession. We had corporate scandals, which affected our economy. And of course, we had the attacks on our country. But we've overcome all these obstacles because we've got good workers, good small business owners. (Applause.) We've overcome them, too, because of well-timed tax cuts.

And this economy of ours is strong and it is getting stronger. Our economy has been growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. (Applause.) We're adding jobs here in America -- about 1.7 million new jobs over the last 12 months. (Applause.) We've added 107,000 manufacturing jobs since January. The unemployment rate is now 5.4 percent. (Applause.) That is lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. (Applause.) The unemployment rate in your great state is 5.3 percent. The economic stimulus plan we passed is working. (Applause.)

The world in which we live and work is changing. In the generations of our dads and grandads, a man generally had one job and one career, worked for one company, and the company provided health care and a pension plan. It's a different world today. I understand it's a different world today. Many women now work inside the home and outside the home. The workplace is changing. Many people change careers. Yet many of the most fundamental systems of our government -- the tax code, health coverage, pension plans and worker training -- were created for the world of yesterday, not tomorrow. In the next four years, we will transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared and, thus, truly free to make your own choices, so you can realize the great promise of America. (Applause.) Thinking about taxes -- thinking about taxes, the federal tax code needs to be changed. It's a complicated mess. It is -- (Applause.) It is full of special interest loopholes. Americans spend hours after hours filling out their tax form. They estimate about six billion hours worth of paperwork and headache on an annual basis is spent by American workers and small business owners and big businesses. You see, the American people need a simpler, fairer, pro-growth tax code. In a new term, I will lead a bipartisan effort to simplify and make more fair the federal tax code. (Applause.)

The job base is changing, and we've got to help workers gain the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. That's why I'm such a strong proponent of helping workers gain new skills at the community colleges across this country. (Applause.) Most new jobs are now filled by people with at least two years of college. Yet one in four of our students gets there. So in our high schools, we'll fund early intervention programs to help students at risk. We'll place an emphasis on math and science. Over time we'll require a rigorous exam before graduation. By raising performance at our high schools, and by expanding Pell grants for low- and middle-income families, we will help more Americans start their career with a college diploma. (Applause.)

Part of the administration "we did nothing for four years but have you heard Kerry flip-flops" campaign strategy.

trade deficits are not going lower, US dollar is going to toliet paper IF the Euro replaces the dollar as the "reserve currency of choice" to pay for oil.


there will need to be a massive tax raise and benefit cuts...read the book "Running On Empty" ..it's brutal.

but it is contrary to all the dogma flowing out of both the right wing and the neoclassical economics fools in the Democratic Party (the DLC). It will take a crisis to implement the common sense rules that have always worked:

1) a progressive income tax with confiscatory rates on the top 1% of income grabbers, and all income taxed, including corporate net profit.

2) protective tariffs used to spur the recreation of domestic industries; tariffs at confiscatory levels on companies who offshore production and expect the US to be the primary market for consumption

3) a strong social safety net to recirculate income skimmed off the very top to the bottom to create demand for goods and services, which will spur greater employment to fill this demand.

Other vital reforms include shattering monopolies in finance/banking and the media; nailing the door between government and lobbying firms shut by enforcing a 5 year hiatus between moving from one to the other; putting the Pentagon on a strict diet and reforming our military into a defensive force instead of an imperial one; enforcing statutes against bribery and applying them to campaign contributions.

Talk about a massive fiscal policy failure. Thanks GOP. Thanks a lot.

n/t

No shit. This from a man who said that the wealthy can always find a way around paying what they owe so why bother. And now he's touting an emphasis on science...what a hoot!

that guy who has been president for the past four years sure has not done very much so we better vote for * because he will fix things right up!

USA!
USA!
USA!

Oh,wait a minute....