Should Democrats compromise on tax cuts?
Republicans insist that everyone — including the rich — should keep their Bush era tax cuts. After his party’s midterm drubbing, is it time for Obama back down?
In what could be a sign of looming gridlock, House Republican leaders are warning that they have no plans to compromise with Democrats on extending the Bush tax cuts for all. President Obama says he's "open" to discussion, but has made it clear he wants to extend the breaks for the middle class while killing those for the wealthiest 2 percent. Should the president compromise now that the GOP has taken the House — or nix tax cuts for the rich while he has the chance?
Democrats lost — they should give in: The election was a referendum on Obama’s policies, says Rob Port at Say Anything Blog, and the Democrats got thumped. Now they should drop their "class warfare" rhetoric and renew the tax cuts for all. "It’s the rich who invest and own businesses and employ the most people. Taking from them hurts us all." Rather than tax more, the government should spend less.
“Obama: We Can’t Afford To Let Americans Keep More Of Their Money"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Obama should stand his ground: The president is right and shouldn't cave, says Joel Mathis at Cup o' Joel. Extending the tax cuts for the middle class is good for the economy, since those taxpayers will "spend the money." The rich — couples making more than $250,000-a-year — "are more likely to save the extra dough." That’s good for them, but bad for the economy. If Republicans resist, it will look like they're holding the middle class "hostage" for the sake of the wealthy.

"Obama should hold steady on Bush tax cuts"
Compromise is a two-way street: Obama should offer an "olive branch," says Robert Reich in The Christian Science Monitor, but not agree to the GOP's demands. The president should offer to "extend the Bush tax cuts to the bottom 99 percent," but not to the wealthiest 1 percent, who have benefited from 40 percent of the Bush tax cuts. This will "draw a clear line in the sand."
"Extend the Bush tax cut to the bottom 99 percent, but not the top 1 percent"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published