Comments on: AIG Executives Remind Gregg of Founding Fathers

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:42:15 +0000

Phil
True enough. There was a recent article on energy related companies moving their HQs to Europe because of tax breaks. That said that is more of an option for large companies. The medium and small size companies simply will sit on low yield assets and won’t take a chance on expanding because the risk isn’t worth the reward. All of which will hurt our economy. All resulting from the anti-business and class warfare attitudes and policies from the left.

By: Phil Smith

Phil Smith — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:02:33 +0000

Businesses are not going to invest and take risk if they can’t expect a reasonable return thereby causing stagnation.

Or just go someplace else. Macedonia doesn't tax retained earnings, just as one example. Dubai, I'm told, is a hell of a place to do business. And 5 gets you 20 that as we make it harder to do business here, the EU as a whole will make it easier to do business there. Hide and watch.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:41:30 +0000

“That's pretty much impossible.”

Sorry for being a stickler but that is not true. Once you destroyed or chase away what today is considered rich, the government will still need money. Therefore they will redefine rich and that can continue until the rich is in the poverty class. Remember a man with half a sandwich is rich to a man with no food at all.

I thought the "Going Galt" was a silly notion at first but there may be some relevance to it regardless if they mean to or not. Businesses are not going to invest and take risk if they can’t expect a reasonable return thereby causing stagnation. Even big businesses will only take so much.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123785266231219605.html

By: Phil Smith

Phil Smith — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:31:36 +0000

The retention bonuses are a nasty bit of work that, as far as I can tell, were written into the executive pay packages in full contemplation of the fact that AIG was going to fail and likely be bailed out.

Alex, I can see the argument that AIG knew it was likely to fail, but exactly how would they have known that they were likely to be bailed out? Hasn't your contention been that these bonuses were re-structured well before September of '08?

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:09:45 +0000

after the rich are taxed into poverty

That's pretty much impossible. See, in order to get from rich to poor, they'd have to pass through middle class, in which case their tax rate would be lowered, lettering them keep more of their wealth. Eventually they will find a new equilibrium somewhere between their previous wealth, and the wealth of those one tax bracket lower than their previous wealth. But hey, don't let that stop you from believing in the whole "Going Galt" fad, everyone needs a hobby.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:05:33 +0000

we will undermine the credibility of our tax system, create an atmosphere where any group that offends the sensibilities of the majority may be at risk for punitive tax treatment

Next thing you know, we'll be taxing cigarettes more because people find smoking offensive, then there will be a revolution!

Or not.

By: Zelsdorf Ragshaft III

Zelsdorf Ragshaft III — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:27:33 +0000

Hey Steve, if you do not think of supply side, who is it your work for? You must be a government worker. You know, those that produce nothing but just feed at the public trough. The alternative to supply side economics is socialism. That being the government controls commerce.
Alex, the similarity between the taxation that caused the revolution and the one that will cause the next revolution is it being unequally applied to all citizens. Only the highly educated and Obamanians think they will somehow be exempted after the rich are taxed into poverty or leave. Who will that leave to pay for the entitlements of those who do not produce? That will be you Alex. Wonder how you will like being taxed at 75% or so? Some of us are ready to burn down the Mission to end this nonsense.

By: steve s

steve s — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:18:13 +0000

Gregg has been wrong about a number of things lately.

It is remarkable that Senator Gregg apparently has no understanding of how the economy works. --Dean Baker (economist)

I wouldn't say it's remarkable. The guy's a republican, after all. He probably still believes in Supply Side. Glad he didn't get into the Obama administration.