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Suddenly, taxing the rich is on the political agenda. Candidates are talking frankly about taxes as a way to limit inequality in a way we haven't seen for decades. But why is this happening now? The WaPo says there's a "profound shift in public mood" 1/ washingtonpost.com/politics/democ…
But Gallup has data on public opinion re taxes on high incomes -- too low, too high, or just right. Is there a profound shift here? 2/ 
The public has *always* favored higher taxes on the rich -- which also makes nonsense of claims that Dems are moving too far left on this issue. But obviously something has changed. It looks as if the veto power of the 1% over taxes has eroded. But why? 3/
Very curious to hear political scientists weigh in. Is it the broadening base of Dem fundraising? Has Trump discredited the racial dog-whistling that used to provide cover for plutocrat-friendly policies? 4/
In a way the question is why soaking the rich wasn't on the agenda before -- at least explicitly. Worth bearing in mind that Obama actually did raise taxes on the rich quite a lot 5/
