In my previous post on this blog, I requested that readers sign a petition on the White House website page “We the People” demanding that Trump release his tax returns immediately.

I made a similar request on my Facebook page.  Apparently a fiend of a ‘friend”, I’ll call him “James” who is known to have a very conservative, far right Christian mindset, posted a challenge in reply.  It didn’t really address my post, but I answered it anyway.  This is the ensuing conversation:

James:  Again liberals are so out of touch . OK sir if you don’t want the benefits of the tax breaks that are coming give it to a good charity. All this tax stuff about Trump is foolish and most of those who voted for Clinton did not care about her foundation as well.

Me:  (Somewhat confused with the change of subject) I happen to have a background in economics, but you don’t have degree in economics or a background in history to know that several recent Republican administrations have a long record of voting in tax cuts without rolling back federal spending. How good a shape would your personal finances be if you cut back on your income, but failed to cut your spending. I’ll answer that questions for you – you would soon be bankrupt.

However Trump is going to go that one better. He wants to cut back the nation’s income (tax cuts) while INCREASING spending on stuff like the wall with Mexico – $10 Billion (his estimate – not mine), increases in defense spending (Trillions of dollars), infrastructure spending (Trillions of dollars), etc.  In terms you might be able to understand – this is equivalent to you deciding to cut back from a full time job to working part time while doubling the amount you spend every month.

Don’t you know when you are being lied to? It won’t happen dude! It won’t happen because Republicans in Congress are not going to go along with that BS. They have promised their constituents to cut federal spending, not increase it.

This time around around Congressional Republicans are intent on trying to cut taxes without increasing the federal debt. If Trump were to only decrease taxes, or only increase spending, you don’t have to be an economics expert to know that he would increase the national debt. If he were to do both at the same time, it’s a double wammy. Trump is lying to you dude! He can’t do both because responsible Republicans in Congress won’t go along. 

James:  You did not answer the question are you going to take the tax break that you are going to get from the IRS when things change. A man with your education should be to say yes or no.

Me:  (Getting a bit ticked)  James, I would be stupid not to take any tax breaks that are offered to me, especially because I am in a high tax bracket. However, unlike many conservatives, including some who consider themselves to be big Christians, I am also concerned about others less fortunate than myself and my country as a whole. I don’t want the opportunity to pay lower taxes if it means the less fortunate, especially the working poor who are doing everything they can to support themselves and their families, are deprived of the basics of life, a roof over their heads, food on the table, and decent health care.

This I believe is the position that Jesus would take. As a patriot I also don’t want to pay lower taxes if it means that my country will not prosper.  Selfishly I want my country to prosper because my prosperity is linked to that of the country as a whole.

In addition, all too often Republican politicians have cut taxes which is popular, but didn’t have the guts to commensurately cut government spending by reducing benefits and/or eliminating tax loop holes because those moves wouldn’t be popular popular and they wanted to keep their elected positions. Every time they played stupid budget games deficits increased creating major drags on the country’s economy.

That is exactly what Donald Trump is proposing – he has expensive plans to build a wall, increase defense and infrastructure spending, etc. while at the same time he says he is going to cut taxes, especially for corporations and very rich people like himself. At the same time Republicans in Congress are dead set on eliminating health care benefits for the working poor so they can give tax breaks to the rich.

So sure, I’ll take their damned tax cuts if the are offered, but if I were making the decision they wouldn’t be offered in the first place – the costs to our people and our country are too high.

It has been a couple of days and James hasn’t responded again yet.

I am flat amazed at the ignorance which supposedly smart people display when they discuss national policy from a conservative point of view. Their logic is simple and often flawed.  Their knowledge of major issues is tragically sparse and they are unwilling to do any research on those issue to improve their knowledge.  They readily believe anything said by conservative politicians and talk show hosts if it agrees with their existing views.

There is no need to wonder why Donald Trump’s candidacy attracted millions of American voters.  Many are  more ignorant than deplorable.

Cajun  1/28/17