Comments on: Raising taxes now should be on the table

By: Lou Glazer

Lou Glazer — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:58:04 +0000

In reply to Rob Bacigalupi. Agreed. We need more public funding of the essentials and we need to redesign state and local government. It isn't either or, it is both that are required to get to an economy that works for everyone.

By: Rob Bacigalupi

Rob Bacigalupi — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:07:53 +0000

Agree that the idea of raising taxes should be on the table. But can tweaking taxes and expenditures alone solve Michigan’s sluggish and inequitable growth? More Michiganders would embrace higher taxes if it were part of a more comprehensive re-tooling of local government that is more efficient and effective. The state’s fragmented local government is not only wasteful but largely unable to affect the kind of outcomes that other states enjoy. Such changes will be hard but are necessary. Perhaps the two current crises, the pandemic and black lives matter, present the best opportunity to talk about creating a more universally successful Michigan future.

By: Lou Glazer

Lou Glazer — Wed, 27 May 2020 09:56:04 +0000

In reply to Joseph Candela. Exactly! We need to rethink the economy and the role that government plays in creating the economy we want. What was becoming clear before the pandemic, but is much clearer since the lockdown, is that structurally the economy was leaving way too many households behind. So that we should want something more than just recreating the economy as it was pre-pandemic. What we should want is an economy that benefits all and to get that we need some combination of employer mandates and expanded public safety net. The safety net at the state level will require higher taxes. And as you point out, you can do that without reducing economic growth.

By: Joseph Candela

Joseph Candela — Tue, 26 May 2020 12:46:00 +0000

After reading your article, it seems to me that more cuts will come to the safety net programs we have in place for the poor and the average income person. Tax increases in most states and in the nation cannot be mentioned or even considered, while we continue to see the 1% wealth increase, along with corporate mergers and stock buybacks on stimulus money given to them. Until we have a serious conversation about wealth distribution in the country and yes tax increases you will continue to see cuts to safety-net programs! As stated on this site many times, states that have raised taxes have not seen a loss in companies leaving their states. We need to rid ourselves of the idea of trickle-down economics and consider trickle-up so all benefit in the states and country.