Why does supply side economics get any credence in today's debate?

[Rainsford]

I know this thread has wandered a bit off-topic (which NEVER happens around here ), but I think the original question is still pretty interesting.

I think trickle down (or supply side) economics intuitively makes sense to a lot of people, which is why those who support it can get some traction. After all, most people work for someone who makes more money than they do, and the ultimate bosses at the company are even better off. When Republicans say "rich people create jobs", people look at who they work for and think "yeah, they totally do, since that's who I work for".

The problem is that it's the simple answer. And like most simple answers, it's pretty much wrong. If you work as a pool cleaner for some rich family, then yeah, they created your job. Pretty much every other job, not so much. Sure, a rich person might EMPLOY you, but the only reason they do is because they get money from customers, who mainly aren't going to be rich. Of course even with customers, building a successful business requires investment, so the wealthy do play a part...but nobody is going to invest without the prospect of customers.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I thought we were talking about Romney and Obama?

Your arguments bear no weight here. You voted for Bush twice. You cannot sit back and lecture anyone on fiscal responsibility.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Some other things worth noting is Reagan had 10.8% Unemplyment that was brought down to 7.2% by the end of his first term and 5.3% by the end of his second all while drasticly cutting tax rates.

Right, but he also spent his ass off. So was it the tax cuts or the government spending? History proves it is government spending, along with innovation (computers were blowing up when Reagan was in office).

 

[dank69]

I thought we were talking about Romney and Obama?

Yes, we were talking about how Romney wants to do the exact same things Bush did. I can't make it any clearer than that.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Yes, we were talking about how Romney wants to do the exact same things Bush did. I can't make it any clearer than that.

Notice Romney is even using the awww shucks personality-type that Bush used to trick the nation into thinking he was an honest, decent guy. Also, notice how once 9/11 happened he became a highly polished, hardlined politician in order to get the war he wanted.

Just keep that all in mind. Everyone.

 

[LegendKiller]

Notice Romney is even using the awww shucks personality-type that Bush used to trick the nation into thinking he was an honest, decent guy. Also, notice how once 9/11 happened he became a highly polished, hardlined politician in order to get the war he wanted.

Just keep that all in mind. Everyone.

Romney does that all of the time, he's good at making it look like he's not doing anything wrong. Just look at how everybody has glossed over Son of Boss when asking about his personal taxes.

A guy willing to pull that kind of shens when he was on the BoD audit committee will have no qualms doing it for his own personal taxes.

All the while he will get richer while he beggars the middle class in this country.

 

[Jhhnn]

Romney does that all of the time, he's good at making it look like he's not doing anything wrong. Just look at how everybody has glossed over Son of Boss when asking about his personal taxes.

A guy willing to pull that kind of shens when he was on the BoD audit committee will have no qualms doing it for his own personal taxes.

All the while he will get richer while he beggars the middle class in this country.

Of course. For the vast majority who'll give him their vote, it's mindless & emotionally satisfying identity politics- bread and circuses, faith & fear used as they always have been.