Why do people automatically salivate over a tax cut, simply because of the words "tax cut?" Diarist "Connection" explores the question in his/her diary What's the difference between a tax loophole and a tax cut? It's a short, thought provoking diary and worth the read.
The diary asked what can be done about this and asked for ideas for what we could substitute for "tax cut." Here's mine, which I felt was significant enough to continue examination of Connection's question in a diary of its own.
When Republicans talk about "closing loopholes," what they actually mean is eliminating deductions and exemptions that middle class taxpayers routinely take advantage of and benefit from, and either leaving alone or enhancing tax benefits for the 1%.
Their scheme for tax cuts and "reform" is to make the tax code even more regressive than it already is, but people buy this pig in a poke, Pavlov-like, whenever they see the words "tax cut."
What we should be calling Republican "tax cuts" is the Republican "tax cut bait and switch."
The phrase "tax cut" baits the general public into accepting it as something that is inherently good, and the switch occurs when the thing is actually drafted and passed, and it's the wealthy who benefit, once again, while the middle class is left holding the bag.
People know what "bait and switch" means. They experience it every day. The mere use of the term "tax cut bait and switch" begs the question, "what does that mean?" which in turn begs the explanation that I just gave.
