This is my first diary at Daily Kos, so be gentle, please. I bought myself a lifetime membership just before New Year's because I think the progressive cause is important beyond any words I can use to describe it; nothing less than the future of this country is at stake.
I think one of the most important things that Democrats can do in this campaign year is to call out Republican lies. And that's what they are: lies.
One of the biggest ones is regarding increasing taxes on very wealthy people in this country, the ones they claim are "job creators". We know this is false, but no one has called them out on this or made a suggestion on how to trump it.
I think I have one. Apologies if this has been suggested before.
It appears that raising income taxes on those making over $250,000 a year is never going to work -- but even the suggestion that there be a surcharge on incomes of over $1 million a year resulted in the "don't tax the job creators" bleating from the GOP.
So how about this: propose a surcharge (I think it was 3.5% originally suggested, which would work) on all income over $1 million a year.
But if anyone who makes that much creates 10 jobs in the year -- i.e. creates a new position where none previously existed, or founds a new company that has at least 10 employees -- that person would be exempt from the surcharge for that calendar year.
Perfect, right? Job creators don't get taxed. But the professional athletes, entertainers, traders and others who just pocket the money and don't create a single job, have to pay a bit more. (My guess is that the number of "exempt" individuals under this plan would be pretty close to zero.)
You're welcome for this proposal. If only someone in public office would stand up and do it.