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The consequences for our nation’s future stemming from the Republican tax bill proposals—which have cleared both the House and Senate and now await reconciliation before a final vote—cannot be overstated.
Passed with minimal discussion, this most complex tax legislation in more than 30 years was voted on in the Senate after midnight, complete with hand-written notes and cross-outs in the margins. No Senator truly understood what he or she voted upon.
What remains evident is that middle-class Americans will face tax increases—particularly steep ones in Massachusetts—while the Affordable Care Act faces near-total destruction. Meanwhile, the ultra-wealthy receive enormous advantages across multiple provisions.
Among the most egregious benefits to the ultra-rich is permission to deduct private jet maintenance costs. Most Americans can only dream of deducting their car expenses, the transportation method the rest of us rely on.
Furthermore, this tax giveaway from Republicans claiming fiscal conservatism and deficit-hawk credentials will expand the deficit by no less than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, likely substantially more.
Ultimately, this legislation propels America toward a real-life Hunger Games scenario, where ordinary Americans will struggle to survive with virtually no chance for economic advancement.
America’s century of global leadership has been reversed—and our nation will never recover what has been lost.