Joe Biden has always been a gaffe machine, said David Harsanyi in The Denver Post, but he has just “unleashed the most absurd remark of his career.” To justify squeezing wealthier Americans with higher taxes, the Democratic vice presidential nominee said paying taxes is “patriotic.” Talk about “crass election-time populism.”
“Actually,” said Jonathan Cohn in The New Republic online, “the idea that paying more taxes during war is an act of patriotism has quite a long and distinguished history in this country.” Franklin Roosevelt proposed effectively capping income at about $300,000 in today’s dollars to finance World War II.
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
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.