Why don't the Democrats make raising taxes a prominent issue in their campaign strategy?

Question

Republicans make cutting taxes part of theirs.

Answer 1

They don't need to. It is a well known fact that Democrats raise taxes and cut the military You know its going to happen.

Answer 2

Two reasons:

1. It doesn't sell
2. It hasn't been true for 50 years. If you look at the history of taxes since Eisenhower, Republicans are just as likely to raise taxes (more likely when it is taxes involving the middle classes) than are Democrats. In addition, a number of the democrats running for President have strong histories of cutting taxes and (here's the important point to me!) balancing budgets. This isn't any of the lead candidates, but many of the Democratic governors are real success stories in fiscal responsibility. So, Republicans can guarantee "No New Taxes" but the result is that when in office they raise taxes just as often as do Democrats when they are in office.

Answer 3

Raising taxes is not popular. To run about telling people they are going to raise taxes has been tried before....and did not go over well at all.

I am a Republican, and I agree that the wealthy should be taxed more than they are. I do not trust the Democrats to simply do that however. If they take office one can bet heavily that all our taxes are going to go up (not just the wealthy).

Answer 4

Republicans cut taxes, run up huge deficit/debt. Democrats raise taxes to pay for that. Republicans lower taxes because the taxes are too high. It is a cycle of idiots.

Answer 5

They use clever wording like John Kerry did: Roll back the tax cuts for the rich.

But what I found interesting was Sen. Gravel said we should get rid of income taxes and implement a retail sales tax. I like it.

Answer 6

It won't get you elected just like saying: I'm going to invade sovereign countries that are no immediate threat or we are going to run up the deficit to an amount your grandchildren will never pay off to give a kickback to the oil industry, the defense industry, big business, banking, etc.

Answer 7

Democrats don't have enough respect for the intelligence American voter. If they did, they could campaign on a platform of balancing the budget by increasing taxes - trusting that the voters would support that prudent course of action.


Of course, to be fair, nobody has any respect for the intelligence of the American People - no one who's been successful, anyway.

Answer 8

Because everyone knows that they will but who wants to pay higher taxes. How do you get elected by promising to take more money from the voters?

Answer 9

Taxes? All your money goes to invading poor countries. Deemos and Reepos all equally want to do that. Neither one is going to lower taxes.

Your government is milking you so that it can murder browns around the world. ANd all you can think about is how you can deny healthcare to you neighbor? petty petty petty.

Answer 10

and yet the still manage to spend more than anyone ever has.... my mom taught me that credit spending is bad.