It will never be implemented, but taxes on wealthiest Americans, if raised by a mere one percent, would probably raise enough money to pay for the reconstruction of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast regions decimated by Hurricane Katrina, and possiby the coming destruction by Rita in the Texas and Louisiana areas as well-in one to three years time. Again, you will never see this, not under Bush.
I remember when Bush made his big grand speech with the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson in the background, I knew better by then to take him at his word, and what he said at face value,though it sounded surprisingly good at the time. Even then, I think I knew. He's going to give yet more tax breaks to one or more corporations who will do the job, in addition to paying them handsomely for the work. What I'm waiting for is the other shoe to drop, in the form of an urging to cut taxes across the board, for all companies and corporations, on the grounds that to favor the few who contribute to New Orleans and Gulf Coast reconstruction would be unfair. Maybe even a violation of the equal protection clause of the constitution. All this help to the poor he promised will likely as well come in the form, to a large extent, of increased funding to Faith Based Initiatives.
I think people are slowly starting to get just what this guy is all about. And I don't say this out of a distaste at the notion of giving tax breaks to the companies that actually do the work of reconstruction. Actually, I am fine with that. But I think that in order to get those tax breaks they should be obliged to do the work on a not-for-profit basis. If they do this, do the work for merely cost coverage, with no eye to profit whatsoever, I would be fine with having all their tax liability eliminated for the next five years.
And in the meantime, for all other wealthiest Americans, and companies and corportions, yes, their taxes should be raised by one percent until the job is completed.
