Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Tax Cut Day

Assuming that the world doesn't end beforehand, the Republican Tax Cut Bill will almost certainly pass Congress today. It will likely be signed by the President later this week and then begin doing harm to our country on January 1.

All tax cuts represent a semblance of private theft from the public good. This one is particularly egregious, since the beneficiaries are among society's least deserving (corporations) and its utterly undeserving (the rich). 

The coincidence of the tax cut with Christmas is a salutary reminder of the compelling power of acquisitiveness and greed in our society. Yesterday (December 19) marked the anniversary of the publication in 1843 of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a book that probably has done more good for Christmas and for the human condition than almost any other.  It merits re-reading every Christmas, but perhaps especially this year when our dysfunctional politics is reminding us that Scrooge and Marley are still very successfully in business.

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