N o ve m b e r 16. 2011
^ortlanb (Obstruer
Page 19
Trickle Down Tax Cuts: A Broken Record
Congress
should invest
in our future
by
L ew P rince
I'm one of those
“job creators” mem­
bers o f C ongress
profess to admire so
m uch. T hirty-tw o
years ago, my partner and I
started a small business with
$300 worth of old records and a
booth at the local farmers mar­
ket. W e’re now the biggest in­
dependent music store in St.
Louis and employ 22 people.
Our annual revenue is around $2
million. W e’re a classic Ameri­
can success story.
Our incomes are typical for
small business owners, which
means w e’re not in the top tax
brackets. W e’ve always been at
or below the 25 percent tax
bracket. So w e’re trying to fig­
ure out how a new Congres­
sional tax proposal is supposed
to help small businesses like ours
create jobs.
to 25 percent benefits America’s George W. Bush had the worst
grandkids lies in better educa­
The proposal would cut top small business owners. Most
job creation record since 1939. tion, 21 st Century infrastructure,
individual and corporate tax rates small business owners wouldn’t
What trickled down were eco­ universal broadband and renew­
from 35 percent to 25 percent. It see a penny of tax cuts under
nomic meltdown, foreclosures, able energy. How do the advo­
would reward U.S. multinational this proposal.
unemployment, budget cuts and cates of more tax cuts for the
corporations that have gamed
Anyone who thinks lowering business closures.
affluent expect to compete with
the system with a 5,25 percent my tax rate would affect hiring
W hen C ongress proposes emerging economic superpow­
tax rate on U.S. profits they knows diddlysquat about run­
stimulating the economy with ers if we don’t invest in our
have disguised as “foreign” earn­ ning a business. I hire more
more tax cuts for those who are nation’s future? Where do they
ings. All this will be great for workers if 1 think I’ll do more
far ahead of the rest of us, they expect money for that invest­
gigantic multinational corpora­ business. The costs of finding,
do nothing to help my customers ment to come from, if not from
tions, Wall Street and the fat hiring and paying new employ­
or my b u sin ess. W hen the those who have profited most
cats who attend those $1,000-a- ees are b u sin e ss ex p en ses.
wealthy get more tax cuts, it from the investment our parents
plate and up political fundraisers. They’re deducted up-front from
transfers the burden of paying and grandparents made to build
It will be great for the corporate taxable income. Any business
for government services to busi­ the nation they handed us?
lobbyists gaming our political paying taxes on these expenses
nesses like mine, and to my cus­
Trickle-down economics has
system every day.
needs to fire their accountant.
tomers, already living paycheck been a miserable failure. It de­
It w on’t help small business,
The biggest challenge facing to paycheck.
livered economic ruin for many,
and it w on’t help America.
my business isn’t the taxes we
If members of Congress want and riches for a few. It hasn’t
This proposal would give mas­ pay. It’s the decline in customer
to help small business, they should brought shared prosperity, but
sive new tax cuts to A m erica’s demand and the continued hol­
choose policies that actually cre­ driven us farther apart. It in­
largest corporations and wealthi­ lowing out of our middle class,
ate jobs. St. Louis, like many cit­ creased the economic and politi­
est families and comes as we o u r in fra s tru c tu re and o u r
ies, laid off teachers, first respond­ cal power of Wall Street and Big
learn from a Congressional Bud­ economy. It breaks my heart
ers and construction workers - Business over Main Street and
get Office report that after-tax when my customers sell record
the people who spend money lo­ small business.
inflation-adjusted incomes for the collections built over a lifetime,
cally, and who we need for a
Trickle-down economics is a
richest one percent of Ameri­ to pay their rent, heating bills or
healthy economy. The last thing broken record. It’s time to let it go.
cans skyrocketed 275 percent medical expenses.
we need is more cutbacks to pay
Lew Prince is managing
between 1979 and 2007.
W e’ve tried trickle-down tax for more tax cuts at the top.
partner o f Vintage Vinyl, an
Tax-cut advocates want us to cuts to create jobs. H ow ’d that
Job creation today and a independent music store in St.
believe that cutting the top rate work out? Tax-Cutter-in-Chief, brighter future for our kids and
Louis.
Saga Not Over Yet in Jackson’s Death
What should
doctor’s
sentence be?
by
B
J udge G reg M athis
Dr. Conrad Murray was
found guilty of involuntary man­
slaughter in the death of super
star entertainer Michael Jack-
son. With the verdict, the jury
brought some level o f closure to
an event that stunned the world.
But the saga is not over yet.
M urray's sentencing hearing
begins Nov. 29. He could re­
ceive anything from probation to
up to four years in prison for his
actions.
M any factors will go into
Murray's sentencing.
The prosecution will
point out his refusal to
r - ’T f l take responsibility for his
role in Jackson's death,
and the emotional impact
the crime has had on
Michael's family in an attempt to
se c u re a lo n g e r se n te n c e .
Murray's defense team will point
to the absence of a criminal his­
tory and may argue that the doc­
tor was pressured by Jackson to
provide the deadly treatments.
Though it may be unthinkable,
it is possible that Murray may
not see any prison time.
California District Attorney
Steve Cooley said that it would
be difficult to appropriately sen­ onstrating that it recognizes the ter or comment on the official
tence because of overcrowding long term effect Murray's be­ Ju d g eG reg M ath is F acebook
in California's prisons. Even if havior will have on Jackson's page.
Murray does get jail time, a new parents, siblings and, most im­
Judge Mathis is a longtime
California sentencing law that portantly, his children.
advocate fo r equal justice. His
seeks to reduce overcrowding in
What should Murray's sen­ life story o f a street youth who
prisons will ultimately affect the tence be? Share your responses rose from ja il to judge has
time he serves.
with @judgegregmathis on Twit­ provided hope to millions.
If sentenced to prison, Murray
would most likely serve his time
503-288-0033
in county jail. That same over­
Atm: Subscriptions, The
crowding could also result in
I ™°° for 6 months ’ SI 10.00 for 1 year Portland Observer, PO Box
M urray being sen ten ced to
$200.00 for 2 yeare (please inc lude check nith form) 3137, Portland OR 97208.
house arrest.
N ame : ___________
As a doctor, Murray knew
that what he was doing was I T elephone :
unethical and was not in the best I
A ddress : _
interest of the patient. By hand­
______
ing down the stiffest sentence I
possible, the judge would be dem­ I or em ail subscriptions@portlandobserver.com
¡S ub seri be
j
I
i
The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and w ill be re.umed if accompanied by a self addressed envelope
A ll created desrgn display ads become the sole property o f .he newspaper and canno. he used in other publicat.ons or penonal usage without the written consent of the general
manager, unless the client has purchased the composition o f such ad. © 2008 TH E P O R TL A N D OBSERVER. A L L R IG H TS R ESERVED R E P R O D U C TIO N IN W H O LE OR
47 47 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
F ^ d
SI° N ’S PR° H IB rrE D Th< P° rtland « ’“ "'er.-O m gon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication-,» a member o f the National Newspaper Assocration-
-Founded m 1885. and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. New York. NY. and The Wes, Coast Black Publisher, Aaaociabon
Charles H. Washington
EDiTOR.Michael L e ig h to n
D is t r ib u t io n M a n a g e r : M a r k W a s h in g to n
C r e a t iv e D ir e c t o r : P a u l N e u fe ld t
E d it o r - in - C h ie f , P u b l is h e r :
CALL 503-288-0033
Q£KS@P0nlandvbserver,C0m
FAX 503-288-0015
subscription@Dortlandobserver.com
ads@PQrtl(indpbs(rYer,com
P ostmaster : Send address changes to Portland Observer, P 0 Box 3 1 3 7 , Portland, 0 R 9 7 2 0 8