Stop the Political Rancor
A week or so ago, I ran across a quote in the “Of Interest” section of the New York Times. It seemed to be just another dismal assessment of the 2022 general election in the United States:
“The major word in this campaign is rejection. This election is a demonstration of how voters in a polarized country unify themselves around what they hate instead of what they love.”
But then I realized the quote was from a Brazilian political consultant, Thiago de Aragao, and he was referring to the election in his country between incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro and former president Lula da Silva.
Sadly, there is little difference in the unhealthy and destructive political climate of Brazil and that which exists in the United States today. This is remarkable given that Brazil is a third-world country with high poverty, low per capita income and poor access to education, while America is supposedly the “exceptional country” where everyone is prosperous with unlimited opportunity.
Perhaps our self-image is bit distorted.
Yes, life in the United States is far better than it is in places like Guatemala or Burundi, but the resources available in the American economy are also much richer. A more logical comparison would be with other developed countries such as the twenty-six wealthiest members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The OECD defines “poverty” as less half of the country’s median household income ($70,784 for the US in 2021; about $8,000 lower for both Carolinas). When measured against our peers, the United States has an overall poverty rate of 17.8 percent, last among the twenty-six. The child poverty rate is worse, 20.9 percent, also last. This reflects the persistent income inequality that plagues America, and the political dysfunction that has locked the gears of our government.
As the US 2022 mid-term election intensifies, we find little to be encouraged about. Campaign advertisements on television and social media more often than not over simplify the problems and challenges that need to be addressed. Because of the corporatization of media in general, issues in this election have been nationalized and state and local issues are being lost in the blizzard of ads funded by wealthy individuals and special interests. The future of education, primarily a state and local function, is being endangered by nationally inspired fears that are both unfounded and overwrought.
Politicians have always been somewhat imprecise when defining differences with their opposition, but what’s going on this year is more flagrant and downright destructive.
It is not reasonable to blame current inflation solely on Joe Biden. He is not pocketing any consumer’s lost income in his wallet as claimed by one North Carolina GOP congressional candidate. And what would Republicans do differently to halt inflation---pass another tax cut for the rich. The new British prime minister just tried that and nearly bankrupted the United Kingdom. The Fed is the only game in town, because the US Senate is gridlocked.
Perhaps the most blatantly false claim is the one GOP candidates are making about the 87,000 new IRS employees authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act.
“Do you make $75,000 or less? Democrats new army of 87,000 IRS agents will be coming for you---with 710,000 new audits for Americans who earn less than $75,000.” US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-R)
Truth---The IRA includes an estimated $78 billion for the IRS to be appropriated over 10 years. This will allow the agency to hire about 87,000 employees (not all agents) by 2031. Some of these employees will replace more than half of the agency’s current 78,000 employees who are eligible for retirement and expect to do so within the next five years.
Also, the 78,000 current IRS employees are down from approximately 100,000 the agency had prior to 2010 when Republicans took control of Congress and imposed drastic funding cuts on the agency. As result, IRS tax audits of the country’s largest corporations dropped from nearly 100 percent to 50 percent, and the audit rate for wealthy individuals (a million dollars or more in income) declined from 8.4 percent to 2.4 percent, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
Unfortunately, some Democrat candidates are also guilty of making absurd claims that defy reason and/or fact.
South Carolina’s governor cannot unilaterally legalize recreational marijuana use or sports betting, nor impose age limits and term limits for politicians. Neither can the governor eliminate the state income tax on his, or her, own hook.
But that’s the core of the campaign platform of SC Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham. His plan for replacing the 40 percent of the state’s revenue provided by the state income tax is vague and lacks supporting data.
American voters deserve better. Election campaigns should involve reasonable discussions about serious issues. Constant political rancor as exists in the US today is making that goal impossible. Demonization of the opposition through hyperbole and outright lies has to stop. Democracy requires that our society have the ability to peacefully determine essential public policies.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/release/tables?eid=259515&rid=249
https://confrontingpoverty.org/poverty-facts-and-myths/americas-poor-are-worse-off-than-elsewhere/
https://taxfoundation.org/state-local-tax-collections/#income