Taxes

Any good business or government must look for efficiencies and savings, and be consistently rational in its expenditure. In order for our country to continue to function, it is critical to control spending and reduce the deficit.

 

However, we can and must do this without the thoughtless and cruel destruction of our institutions and social safety net. 

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These are my thoughts about how to go about this: ​

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-If tariffs are used, they must be applied strategically and not as a mafia-style shakedown of our friends, allies and strategic trading partners. Tariffs are not always all bad. They can be a useful tool to strengthen home industries and prevent rapacious foreign adversaries from taking unfair advantage of our trading partnerships. But a wrecking ball and a chainsaw are NOT the tools we need! Please see TARIFFS. ​

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-Don't get me wrong! If you have worked hard and been successful- whether it be in growing your family farm, starting a tech company or doing well in your profession or industry, you deserve to keep your wealth to pass on to your family. And there are many wealthy donors and families right here in Nebraska who have given back generously to the community, honestly paid their fair share of taxes and been good corporate citizens.

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-The Republicans claim that the Democrats are going to tax us all death. They constantly beat this drum and the false narrative has worked with lots of people. But this is not the truth. Here is what I would propose: ​​

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-Constant oversight and vigilance on how our hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being used.

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-Eliminating waste and making cuts are needed, but taking a chainsaw to our economy, our society and our essential services is not the way. Targeting the people in our country who are least able to defend themselves is a cruel and cynical abuse of power.

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-If everyone paid their fair share, we would be able to reduce the deficit and still fund Medicare, Medicaid and essential social programs. We should not forget that the people who have accumulated wealth have done so BECAUSE of the liberty of our American system and our social safety net and our Constitution and our laws. And some of them now want to destroy everything that made them successful, so they can have yet more. 

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-​Closing existing loopholes in the tax code that give preferential treatment and extreme tax breaks to the ultra-rich and big corporations. Nobody should be able to accumulate so much money that they can buy elections. Or have three super-yachts. Or blow up rockets for fun. Or rent a city for their wedding. 

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• ​​We should keep the 2017 tax cuts for ordinary Americans, small and medium-sized businesses and farmers.  ​

   

• The Administration is defunding the IRS. None of us likes them and they are far from perfect, but the aim and goal of defunding is not to help the 99% of regular taxpayers; it is to decrease or eliminate oversight on what the super-rich and mega corporations are doing to avoid paying their fair share.

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Our approach must be thoughtful, informed, rational and targeted. Not a chainsaw. ​​Or a wrecking-ball.

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The Republicans know this but voted  for the reconciliation bill anyway. Why? they don't have the courage to stand up and be counted! They KNOW what is right and VOTE for what is wrong. They do not represent the majority of their constituents.

 

WE DESERVE BETTER!