Cato Ad Infinito

[John K. Taber]

Doug Henwood wrote:
> 
> Carl Remick wrote:
> 
> >Bull's-eye!  Excellent comparison.  Considering the world's gross
> >economic inequities of every sort, I've never understood this right-wing
> >fetish about double taxation of dividends.  Or rather, I DO understand
> >right-wingers are hopelessly greedy, but I don't get why they think
> >arguments that serve their own interests so baldly are going to have
> >popular appeal.
> 
> Because it works. You hear people who have nothing to gain from the
> right-wing agenda spouting it as if it were true. It's very difficult to
> have a debate with some right-wing tax nut who just lies outright, saying
> things like "No, a sales tax isn't regressive"; "No, a flat tax isn't a
> gift to the rich." You can call him (and every one of them I've confronted
> has been a him) a liar, but audiences don't like that. So they get a phrase
> like "double taxation of dividends" into circulation and it takes on a life
> of its own. Citationality, everywhere you look.
> 
> Doug

I agree it works. I've seen it just as you say. But I suspect the
reason it works is because of the power of those behind this 
bullshit, and not because of any inherent value of the bullshit.

That it works is an indirect sign of power.