With the Stanley Cup Hockey playoffs now entering the second round, I think it is appropriate to reflect on the perfectly predictable result of eliminating “Job-Killing Regulation” from the sport of hockey  There are two components of regulation – the Rules and the Enforcement.  Let’s face it.  The players’ sole interest is winning games and only two factors guide their behavior – the rules they are supposed to abide by and the likelihood of being caught and punished for violating them.

Hockey with no rules – or even lax rules – is a much different game from the ones I have been watching this week on television.  I know, because I officiated amateur hockey for over twenty years.  When the rules conformed to the classic ideal of “Let ‘em Play”, a lot of dirty stuff was overlooked in favor of maintaining the flow of the game.  The theory, of course, was that the refs shouldn’t get in the way of the players.  Let them play and they will work it out.

Again, I can tell you from experience that this did not result in a better game of hockey.  Hooking, tripping, holding, slashing, and interference all served as equalizers that enabled less talented players to succeed over peers who were much better.  If your personal interest was violence, perhaps this was a more interesting environment – but it was by no means better hockey.

There was a time when we did not have rules about helmets, faceguards, and checking from behind.  These were all enacted for the safety of the players – even though there were plenty who believed they were unnecessary.  As a result, injuries – and especially severe injuries – have been reduced.

As to enforcement, the NHL has now actually added an official – one more “Job-Killing” referee to keep an eye on the players and enforce the rules that govern the game.  Why?  Because the game was too fast and too active for a single referee to manage.

Why then, does anyone believe that Wall Street or Banks or Credit Card Companies or any other business interest will “do the right thing” without rules and without enforcement?  Like hockey players, their job is to win.  And if something is not against the rules they are free to do it.  And if something is against the rules but they have little chance of getting caught there are plenty of players who will do it too.

Imagine hockey with a part-time referee.  Maybe only one in ten games has an actual referee and the other games are played on the “honor system.”  Can you imagine that the bad players would not take advantage of the lack of oversight to forward their cause?

Businesses wanting to make money is a good thing.  That’s their function.  But we can’t expect them to observe principles rather than laws and rules; and we can’t expect them to observe rules without enforcement – because their less capable competitors will take advantage of lax regulation to compete unfairly.  Business is actually better with regulation and enforcement because it lets the truly outstanding players succeed based on superior products and services, leaving the scam artists in the penalty box where they belong.

Really?  In an economy where 9+% don’t have jobs, it’s really hard to get on board with cutting taxes actually helping the average American.

OK – so it’s not the average American we’re concerned about; it’s the very un-average American that has more than $250K of taxable income and will benefit from the continuation of tax cuts.  So, for this American, how do tax cuts help the economy?

Well, primarily, these Americans will still have tens of thousands of dollars that they don’t have to pay in taxes and can thus decide to put elsewhere … so where will these funds go?  Keeping in mind that these folks are pretty savvy financially, it would be reasonable to assume they would put their money into the thing that provides the biggest return for a reasonable risk.

So what is that?  Well – lets see, Business Week said on Jan. 20, 2010 (Bloomberg) — Japanese stocks may be the best bet among the world’s biggest markets in 2010 as the economy improves, according to Blackstone Group LP’s Byron Wien.

Hmm … hard to see how that’s going to help.  In fact – speaking as an Engineer – unless the economy is being strangled by a lack of investment capital, it is very hard to see how cutting taxes for high rollers is going to help create jobs.  And, as everyone should know, the Fed has already pumped upwards of a trillion dollars into investment capital without much impact on corporate spending.

A tax credit for small business hiring – sure.  Subsidies to pay for small business employee benefits – absolutely.  But reducing taxes for millionaires – I can’t really see it.

As anyone knows, the tax and spend Democrats gave out money with no concern for how they were going to pay for it, thereby running up the …

Whats that?  You’ve got a graphic?  Great – let’s see it!

zFacts National Debt Graphic

Yep, just as we expected, Reagan and the two Bushs colored in RED, and … what’s that?  The red is for DEFICIT?  But we were told that tax cuts HELP the economy … please, there must be some mistake!

Hmm … this came from zFacts.com – clearly some liberal lobbyist that … what’s that?  A PhD economist?

Yeah, but probably from California!

In addition to forcing lazy, good-for-nothings to get off their butts, eliminating unemployment benefits actually helps the economy.  The case was made during a recent interview with a small store owner.

“What would you do if you had five applicants for every job?  Raise your salaries?  Pay better benefits?  Of course not.  And lower labor costs mean higher profits … and higher profits make your stock go up … BINGO, the economy is better and the country is better off.”

“During the depression, you could get a PhD to mop up your floors,” he continued.  “Who says that was bad?  We could use a little better class of people pumping gas and making change, and all in all, the consumer will be better off too.”

“So,” I asked, “with the economy in this kind of shape and with this level of unemployment, what would it take to get you to pay a decent wage?”

“An act of Congress!” he replied.

Aug 7, 1794 – Well known agitator Glen Beck lashed out at George Washington today for proclaiming tax protestors in Western Pennsylvania a “rebellion” and ordering a Federal militia to restore order.  Comparing the President’s actions to those of the Nazis, Beck noted that the objectors to the Whiskey Tax were merely exercising their right of assembly and right to bear arms as granted by the Bill of Rights three years ago.

“President Washington needs to get back to the principles of our Founding Fathers“, said Beck.  “Real Americans are angry.  They’re not gonna take it any more, and George needs to listen.  I’m not comparing Washington to Hitler, but please read ‘Mein Kampf‘ and learn from Germany’s mistakes.”

When it was pointed out that a number of men had been killed in fighting at Bower Hill, Beck responded, “That’s what they’re saying, but have you seen the bodies?”

“I fear for my country”, concluded Beck, amid sobs.  “How has our government gone so wrong?  How did this fascist ever get elected to a second term?”

Beck encouraged anyone who didn’t support every aspect of Washington’s administration to join his protest under the banner of his new “Whiskey Party“.  Events are planned in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston next Friday and Saturday.

After reading George Lakoff’s Nth book about how well the Republicans have framed political discussion to surround Democrats with negativity before they even get a chance to express an opinion, it occurred to me that we need to flip their derisive phrases into something positive that expresses what we’re really trying to accomplish … and in fact, what we have accomplished when we’ve had the votes and the will to do it.

Hence this Blog: Tax and Build

Yep – that’s us, the Tax and Build Democrats.  Sure we believe in taxes – and roads and bridges, canals, parks, ball fields, swimming pools, and schools.  We built armies and navies, ships and planes, and millions of jobs.  Taxes pay our police, firemen, EMTs, doctors, nurses, and teachers.  Taxes pay for the GPS satellites – and the LORAN that went before it.

Taxes let governments do things that not even the richest among us could do on our own.

In short – government is Us!  You and Me!  And We are not the Enemy!