Trump Blows Smoke To The Public About Tax Reform

(Cartoon image is by Ed Wexler at cagle.com.)

Trump took his public relations campaign to Missouri on Wednesday with a big speech on tax reform. There were no specifics in his "plan" for reform -- just four very broad promises (none of which will help most Americans. He promised to:

1. Simplify Tax Forms

This is something that sounds good, and most Americans would like to see. The fly in the ointment comes with how can it be done. Is he going to eliminate a bunch of deductions (which many count on to lower their taxes to a reasonable level)? Is he going to lower the number of tax brackets (which would put some in a higher tax bracket)?

2. Lower Taxes On Businesses And Corporations

There's no doubt that he (and his GOP cohorts in Congress) would love to do this. This is really the whole point of what he wants. But he is lying about what it will accomplish.

He says that lowering the taxes on corporations will create jobs. It won't. Taxes and job creation are not connected. Jobs are only created by an increase in the demand for goods and services -- not lowering taxes on business.

He also said lowering business taxes will stop the outsourcing of U.S. jobs. It won't. The jobs aren't outsourced because of high taxes, but because corporations can abuse foreign workers with ridiculously low wages -- and because of tax breaks the Republicans have created to help businesses outsource jobs.

3. Lower taxes on the middle class

This does need to be done. But the tax plan released by Trump a few months ago gave huge tax breaks to the rich and corporations, and next to nothing to the middle class. Why are we to think the Republicans will change that? I wouldn't advise holding your breath for that to happen.

4. Lower taxes for the money businesses are hiding in other countries

This is just another giveaway to corporate America. They don't want to pay their fair share in taxes, so they hide their profits overseas. It would be a better idea to tax that money even when not brought back to this country. Working and middle class Americans can't hide money overseas to avoid paying taxes -- and businesses shouldn't be able to do so either.

The truth is that nothing Trump said on Wednesday matters anyway. It was just a speech to try and make himself look better -- a public relations stunt. The White House has already announced they will NOT be releasing a detailed tax plan for Congress to consider.

Instead, Trump is going to let the Republicans in Congress design the tax reform plan, and you can bet they'll do what they always do -- give huge tax breaks to the rich and the corporations (neither of which needs a tax cut), and give only a pittance (if anything at all) to the rest of America (the people who really need a tax cut).

Don't believe anything Trump said on Wednesday. He was just blowing smoke (lying).