Tax Cuts and Fiscal Responsibility: Bridging the Divide for a Stronger America

In a recent debate with Congresswoman DeGette, I was asked if I’d support Donald Trump’s tax plan. At the time, I was unsure. Now, after reviewing both Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s tax proposals, I better understand their implications.

Politicians Use Tax Cuts as a Wedge

Tax cuts are often presented as solutions, but the reality is more complex. According to the IRS, the top 1% of earners pay nearly 46% of all federal income taxes. Meanwhile, the top 10% pay over 77%, and the top 50% pay more than 97%. Yet, politicians use phrases like “paying a fair share” to create division and score political points.

In truth, tax cuts often distract from a much bigger issue: our unsustainable national debt.

Debt and Tax Cuts: A Dangerous Cycle

Debt functions like a credit card: maxing out one card, then opening another to continue spending. Each card adds interest, making it harder to pay off the principal. The U.S. national debt has followed this pattern for years.

In 1976, the entire debt was around $630 billion—the same amount we paid in interest alone in 2023.

In 2024, interest payments are projected to reach $1.2 trillion.

Clinton’s Surpluses vs. Bush’s Deficits

Not all tax plans are equal. In the 1990s, President Clinton’s policies resulted in budget surpluses, thanks to spending restraint, tax increases on high earners, and economic growth. By contrast, the Bush-era tax cuts, combined with post-9/11 defense spending and Medicare expansion, quickly turned surpluses into deficits.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Bush’s tax cuts reduced revenues by about $1.35 trillion over a decade.

Who Suffers from Poor Fiscal Policies?

When debt rises, it’s not the rich who suffer—they don’t rely on government services like schools, infrastructure, and public safety as much as middle- and lower-income Americans do.

Cuts to these services hurt working families the most.

To ensure fairness, we must become more prudent about how we spend tax dollars and why we raise taxes.

What Needs to Change

The divide between rich and poor has become a destructive force in America, fueled by political rhetoric that pits neighbor against neighbor. Sustainable fiscal policy requires more than targeting one group—it requires discipline and responsibility from all of us.

Like managing a household budget, the national budget must be balanced with care.

Every dollar must be treated with respect, not just as a figure in a ledger but as a representation of someone’s hard work. Taxing the rich alone won’t solve our problems.

We need a balanced approach that combines smart spending, necessary revenue, and growth-focused policies.

The truth is, the wealthiest Americans already contribute a substantial share of the tax burden. This isn’t about defending or attacking the rich; it’s about ensuring that tax dollars—whether paid by the rich, middle class or working poor—are spent responsibly.

If politicians disrespect any taxpayer, they fail to serve us all, regardless of income level.

The rich often do not use the public services funded by their taxes: schools, social programs, and infrastructure. These services primarily support middle- and low-income families and this reality should be respected, not weaponized to score political points.

People paying taxes contributing to services that primarily support others are making a valuable investment in our society which should be respected. The real issue lies with those who dismiss these contributions and misuse public funds.

I believe that mutual respect and reciprocity strengthen communities. Our national fiscal policy should be grounded in these values. We must manage the budget responsibly, ensuring that taxpayer money—earned through hard work—is not squandered.

Mismanagement of public funds is a betrayal not only of those who pay taxes but also of those who depend on these services.

Politicians must stop using “tax cuts” to divide us and instead fulfill their duty to protect the resources of our nation.

It’s time to hold them accountable, as irresponsible spending will ultimately harm working-class Americans the most. We must shift from divisive rhetoric to a shared commitment to responsible governance, for it’s you and I—ordinary Americans—who stand to pay the highest price for continued mismanagement.

Now, after reviewing both Trump’s and Harris’s tax proposals, my position is clear:

I won’t support either.