Thread by @BlueSteelDC

It’s nearly 2020 - so let me clarify this for my followers.

Socialism still scares voters in the United States and drumroll wait for it ..,Europe

https://twitter.com/madhaus/status/1178221379935600645

Remember when the Prime Minister of Denmark gave a talk to Harvard University and said let me correct this socialist smear that Bernie Sanders keeps calling Denmark google.com/amp/s/www.vox.…

Socialist in Europe has been very much be not doing well. If it wasn’t Holland’s super tax being an absolute flop or a series of lost elections.

They are in a rebranding effort to re emerge a little different

google.com/amp/s/www.bloo…

Just for a quick note - socialism here is still a non starter for most voters. Young ppl seems to like the idea but what they like isn’t socialism.

In survey they say they like socialism but won’t pay more taxes for Goverment programs

I have worked in the Goverment before at local and federal levels. People forget, to do what Goverment does - it needs revenue.

When the country is going through tough financial times so is the Goverment.

Let me give an example.

A few years ago after the crash- state and local government were laying off public employees.

Because economic activity was so depressed that less taxes were generated causing huge budget shortfalls google.com/amp/s/mobile.r…

People don’t seem to understand for Goverment coffers to have the funds they need private sector activity has to be robust enough to have the wealth to pay for the safety nets needed.

Pausing to be called neoliberal shill

There is an idea then we can get the money from really rich people. Let me give you an example why that doesn’t work.

Bernie program cost 57 trillion on a conservative estimate. The richest man is worth 110 billion. We need a lot of more of him. But here is the catch

Wether it’s rich people or corporations - they are good at avoiding paying taxes.

In France Prime Minister Holland raised France’s taxes to 70%. He collected not one extra dime. Because ppl with really good resources realized Belgium was next door

Now I can see the 🌹 twitter heads exploding - well you must not want any taxes raise.

That’s not what I am saying. You can even see some blue states seem to mastered a sweet spot of services, provided for a slighter higher tax base than Red states and are successful

And here is where I burst bubbles around the Rose twitter - corporate tax rates in Scandinavia aren’t that high. Individuals tax rates are.

That wouldn’t fly here

m.startribune.com/capitalism-wit…

Foremost as I pointed out even among folks that want socialism- they have no interest in paying for it themselves. @SallyAlbright @TheRichWilkins @SallyAlbright can show you the cross tabs

Secondly too much taxes depresses spending activity in the middle class that lowers taxes

So when Rose Twitter- is going around like duh - look at Europe. I want to reply have you!!

We want is a very good safety net for our poor, veterans, aged and all on the margins. But socialism hasn’t actually been good for that.

The homeless in Paris is unlimited tent cities. Cuba is known for harsh treatment of the underclass minorities.

So we need to figure this out but pulling out ideas that failed in other countries will result in an eye roll.

It just doesn’t work because you need economic activity to tax and in socialist system money leaves

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