One of the things that pisses me off about our side is that we keep getting boxed in by language not of our making. We have a great chance to turn the tide on this as well as on a key issue.
One thing I think pretty much everyone here can agree on is the need for fair taxation. Those of us on the left mostly agree that those who can pay more, should pay more. We also tend to agree that high taxes on large sums of inherited wealth would not be a bad thing. This is not because "we love taxes", but because it will trend our country towards a larger middle class. We recognize that there will always be poor and rich, but we want to increase the size of the middle class, not shrink it as the Republicans seem to want to.
More after the jump.
So the word was sent out that mobilization is needed to stop the repeal of the estate tax, meaning that the richest 1% will not pay taxes when they give all their money to their heirs, who inherit a life of further luxury, beyond what they have already been given. (Case in point: our current president, who hasn't really had to work for anything in his life, which may be why he needs to spend a fourth of his presidency on vacation and cry that being president is "hard work")
The Republicans have repeatedly called this the "death tax", and have made a good case to the American people about the unfairness of it all.
We need to turn this around with a snappy name of our own. Therefore, I propose we call this
(drumroll please)
THE PARIS HILTON TAX.
Who doesn't see Paris Hilton as anything but a spoiled brat who has done nothing (not even a bad porno film with terrible cinematography) to merit public attention? If she were the progeny of almost anyone else, would we care at all? If she had a bank account in the four figures, wouldn't we just view her as poor trash? Maybe we're fascinated by her, but still, what she represents is antithetical to what America really represents - ignorance, greed, self-absorption.
Note: I have nothing personally against Paris Hilton, never met her. But if she wants to put this image of herself in the general public, it's fair game.
Hence, the Paris Hilton tax.
Imagine the debate:
Republican candidate: My opponent is for the death tax. It will hurt the middle class and family farms.
Democratic candidate: Nonsense. The Paris Hilton tax means that a good chunk of the money that would ordinarily be transferred to the children of the richest 1% of our population instead goes to our government for social uses, and to pay for the War on Terror. Would you rather see Paris Hilton get another 500 million dollars to blow on partying, or see your kids get better schools, your highways improved, body armor for our troops?
So, Kossacks, whaddya think?