Public Supports Raising Taxes On The Rich

The Republicans want to give the richest Americans even more tax cuts -- in spite of the fact that the rich are currently doing better than they have in decades, and control more of the nation's wealth and income than they have since 1928. It simply makes no sense to give the rich more tax cuts when they are the only people in America who haven't been hurt by the recession.

But the Republicans are alone in this silly proposition. Poll after poll has shown that huge majorities of the rest of America would agree to an increase in taxes for the rich. The two charts above show the results of two new polls on this question -- and they back up what all the other polls have shown.

The top chart shows the results of a CNN Poll done between October 14th and 16th. It shows that 63% of Americans would agree to a tax raise for everyone making over $250,000, and it shows that an even larger percentage, at least 76%, would like to see a surtax on everyone making over $1 million. Those are some pretty solid majorities.

A National Journal Poll done between October 13th and 16th shows basically the same thing. That poll shows 68% of the population would agree with a 5% surtax on those making over a million dollars a year. And when they break it down demographically, we can see that all races and political divisions would be in favor of the tax with at least a 60% showing (except for Republicans, and 37% of them would agree with the tax hike).

On this issue the people are agreeing with the progressive Democrats, while the Republicans (and blue dog Dems) are peeing into the wind and risking the ire of voters. The president needs to continue pushing this issue, along with the rest of his jobs plan (which the public also supports), and not let it die until the next election.

Every time the Republicans kill it, the president needs to make it know as loudly as possible what they did -- and then change it slightly and re-introduce it. He needs to keep the pressure on until the public understands that the Republicans care only for the rich. It's time to play political hardball, and the jobs and taxing the rich issues are perfect for doing that.