Class Warfare in American politics

The Bush administration's proposed economic stimulus plan includes the eliminatation of taxes on corporate dividend which, The New York Times reports, "would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 5 percent of taxpayers" (1/8/2002). According to Whitehouse Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, "The President believes that all taxpayers are over-taxed, and we are all in this together. The President does not believe in dividing the American people and playing class warfare" (1/7/2003). In other words, the Bush regime wants to obscure the class nature of their economic "stimulus" plan -- which is an obvious hand-out to the rich.

"Class Warfare" has been a dirty word in the mainstream American political discourse. The right-wing pundits have often been able to silence opposition to cuts to taxes and government services by simply labeling it as "class warfare" with the assumption being that America is above and beyond class politics. But as the divide between rich and poor grows, there is a growing reaction against Bush's proposed tax cuts and a realization that the Bush plan is class warfare on the poor. Democrats -- particularly "New" Democrats -- have traditionally shyed away from class politics. Now is the time for Democrats and progressives to bring class back into the political mainstream and defend egalitarian principals such as progressive taxes against these recent right-wing attacks.

Related articles:

• Economic Plans, commentary by Kevin Phillips (NPR Morning Edition, January 13, 2003)


• A Tax-Cut That Would Sink the Economy (AlterNet, January 13, 2003)


• Many May Not Feel Dividend Plan's Impact for Years (New York Times, January 12, 2003)


• Bush Says Tax Proposal Will Be Fair for All Incomes (New York Times, January 10, 2003)


• Jobless recovery deepens as 2002 closes out (Economic Policy Institute, January 10, 2003)


• U.S. Economy Shows Unexpected Weakness as Jobs Decline (New York Times, January 10, 2003)


• The Bush Tax Sham (The Nation, January 9, 2003)


• Bush Decries 'Class Warfare' Against Tax Plan (Reuters, January 9, 2003)


• Bush’s tax cut plan: The economics of the American plutocracy (World Socialist Web Site, January 8, 2003)


• Government & Economic Stimulus Plan (NPR Morning Edition, January 8, 2003)


• Plan Gives Most Benefits to Wealthy and Families (New York Times, January 8, 2003)


• Mario Cuomo Accuses Bush of Class Warfare (Guardian, January 7, 2003)


• Background Briefing on the Growth and Jobs Plan (Whitehouse Press Secretary Briefings, January 7, 2003)