Democrats, take note

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You know what I would say if I were in Congress and I heard talk about how we shouldn't tax 'job creators' because 'their investments drive the economy,' etc. etc.?

(I'm not bothering to find or post specific examples; if you aren't aware of the line of reasoning of which I speak, you clearly need to watch http://www.thedailyshow.com/ more often.)

There appears to be a false dichotomy in the minds of many people between investment and the government.  They say that we cannot tax the wealthy at even the same rate as their blue-collar employees because doing so will 'discourage' investment.  Since when was paying taxes not an investment?  When a citizen or corporation pays taxes, they are absolutely making an investment.  They are investing in roads, bridges and airports to help them bring their products to market quickly, cheaply and safely.  They are investing in an education program that will produce a more capable, flexible and competitive workforce to create said products.  They are investing in a military capable of safeguarding American assets, public, private or corporate, in any market around the world.  They are investing in law enforcement, retirement benefits, and social programs that will keep their workforce and their customer base healthy and happy.  They are investing in scientific research in everything from biotechnology to aerospace engineering that will produce breakthroughs to drive our economy through the next century and beyond.  They are investing in the responsible and sustainable development of our natural resources.  Their investment will create jobs in education, construction, research and development, manufacturing, and beyond, all of which will drive economic growth and direct commerce back at them and their companies.  If someone came up to me and offered me shares in that investment, I'd say it was a darned fine deal.

Of course, the people who are opposed to this might have another meaning of the word 'investment' in mind, so let me tell you what investing in America will not do.  It will not buy out smaller companies, strip them of their assets and leave them for dead.  It will not bundle junk mortgages into booby-trapped credit swaps and sell them to retirement funds or pension plans.  It will not drive massive bonuses into the pockets of executives whose businesses are going under.  If that's the kind of investment people want to make, that's their decision, but I wouldn't expect the American people to slash their taxes to cover it.  Because America has tried that.  America has tried giving corporations and Wall Street free reign, and it led us into the worst depression since the great one.  So if you want to invest, fine.  But invest in America first.

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