tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post4456939400001508332..comments2023-09-09T09:26:22.175-04:00Comments on Andrew Samwick's Blog: A Forecast and a BudgetAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-54333805161765443932005-12-06T10:45:00.000-05:002005-12-06T10:45:00.000-05:00On taxes: making the tax rate on dividends and cap...On taxes: making the tax rate on dividends and capital gains permanent at 15%, and lowering tax rate on interest income to 15%, might be okay if the top tax rate on ordinary income were raised slightly (to 37 or 38% from 35%). Even at 38%, this would be lower than during Clinton. Bush would have a legacy as a tax reducing president. Another one to consider would be a slight consumption tax on gasoline, with proceeds on from the tax used to fund the EPA.<br><br>The U.S. is currently saving no money. This has to have negative ramifications at some point in the future. Govt policy does not encourage saving, and even punishes people who save (ie,high taxes and "missed" opportunities for tax-free gains on leveraged real-estate transactions).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-44981115847779437892005-12-06T17:52:00.000-05:002005-12-06T17:52:00.000-05:00Well said. Maybe the Democratic platform sound re...Well said. Maybe the Democratic platform sound read "tax me now or tax me later". Obviously, Bush is opting for the tax 'em later approach.PGLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-30380982517360769022005-12-07T12:50:00.000-05:002005-12-07T12:50:00.000-05:00In my view, the 15% dividend tax rate has been a h...In my view, the 15% dividend tax rate has been a huge success, causing corporations to hike dividends. I hope itis continued. I agree that the federal government, as it is currently constituted, needs more revenue. Given our national foreign policy involvments and the state of the world I think that we should add to federal revenue by imposing a $2.50/gal. gasoline tax.Fat Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05131003998982897093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-1650012685542769422005-12-07T18:50:00.000-05:002005-12-07T18:50:00.000-05:00A lot of corporations have increased cash dividend...A lot of corporations have increased cash dividends to shareholders. My opinion is this was good, and was somewhat induced by the tax rate cut on dividends. <br><br>Managers at corporations generally need discipline, structure, and bonding commitments. One might argue this was especially the case toward the late 1990s and early 2000s. Dividends provide this.<br><br>True, the market has not gone to all-time, new highs given the tax rate reduction. But it also did not sink as far as it might have given no income tax rate reduction on dividends. So people who say that the dividend tax cut did not help equity prices can not say this is true with 100% certainty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-22116890493286890732005-12-07T18:53:00.000-05:002005-12-07T18:53:00.000-05:00Dividends to PayE.D. KennedyI am pretty sure this ...Dividends to Pay<br>E.D. Kennedy<br><br>I am pretty sure this is the book I read at a used book store.<br><br>It would be interesting to know who is getting the increased dividends, and what they are doing with the dividends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-84132713216113265792005-12-09T13:20:00.000-05:002005-12-09T13:20:00.000-05:00As long as we are talking budget, outsourcing and ...As long as we are talking budget, outsourcing and globalization...<br><br>We should budget a lot for foreign language and intercultural studies at undergraduate colleges, with an emphasis on studying language and cultures in countries that are hotbeds for terrorists. This will help the intelligence and homeland defense personnel pipeline. We need more U.S. citizens who know how to read and speak middle-east languages. This might help us find Bin Laden. Ideally people with language skills coupled with other skills (eg, CPA and general problem-solving and thinking skills). This would be a nice background to track down terrorists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com