“There haven’t been tax cuts for the rich,” Mattiello said. “When folks refer to that I’m not sure what they are referring to. If you can point to the tax cuts to the rich I’ll be happy to consider that.”
At 8:00 minute mark:
News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England
In a follow-up interview with me, I guess that maybe Mattiello thinks the income tax rate cut to Rhode Island’s highest earners has been offset by the fewer exemptions they can claim. These were changed when the rate was lowered. I also point out that raising the estate tax exemption is a tax cut for the rich.News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England
I also point out that there are better ways to have a positive impact on jobs and economy than slashing taxes on retirement income – such as legalizing marijuana and increasing the earned income tax credit.
]]>“In a given circumstance, perhaps they should” form a union, Katz said and said the way they have been treated is “garbage from [employers].”
Katz deserves a lot of credit for this admission. Richard MacAdams, one of the board members for the vehemently anti-union political advocacy group he works for, is also on the chief legal counsel for the Procaccianti Group. I respect Katz for speaking his truth on this issue for the same reasons I respect the fired Hilton Providence workers for speaking theirs.
But, as per every episode, we also had some disagreement. Katz would prefer the invisible hand of the free market create better working conditions for the Hilton employees.
“What I don’t like the union union debate the way it sets it up unions have power to counteract business power,” he said. “If a company isn’t valuing its workers then that’s a problem with the company and we have to create an economic environment in which they suffer for that.”
In theory, everyone agrees I suppose. But from a practical point of view, unfettered capitalism simply doesn’t have an effective way to compel a multinational holdings company to pay poor people a living wage without workers organizing and making a stink about it.
]]>“I’m saying that’s a potential error on his part, that he’s misunderstanding how the economy functions as a practical matter. Which you’re allowed to say the Pope misunderstands a science.”
Note: Katz agrees with Pope Francis that free market economics dehumanizes people and turns them into commodities. “That’s true. That has to be tempered by social structure.” Me: “That’s what us progressives believe.”
]]>Of course we should! That such a question can even be debated speaks volumes about what our values are: making money. Though, as my TV arch nemesis Justin Katz points out, it would be a great follow up if that gun stock turns out to be a real dog!
News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England
]]>