Fox News contributor Star Parker warned today that if congressional Republicans agree to a debt-reduction deal with Democrats that includes tax increases, they “should fear” “the American people” because “they spoke in 2010 that they are taxed enough already.”
Parker was addressing remarks by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said last week that he would support a deficit-reduction plan that would include $1 in tax increases for every $10 in spending cuts. Parker went on to say:
PARKER: The American people, those that support these Republicans, are saying, we've had enough. So, the politicians can continue with the same rhetoric and changing the terminology to enhancement, or whatever else they want to call tax increases. They don't understand the message: We're taxed enough already. And if you notice in the grassroots of America, incumbents are released by people taking seriously what time it is in this country. We are taxed enough already.
Though she purported to give the view of what the American people think about tax increases, her repeated invocation of “taxed enough already” were really a reference to the tea party; “tea” is the acronym for “taxed enough already.” This came as no surprise considering Parker has tea party ties.
In reality, Americans support tax increases as part of debt reduction. A CBS News/New York Times poll from April found that a majority of people believe upper-income Americans pay less than their fair share of taxes.
When people are specifically prompted about ways to lower the budget deficit, two-thirds respond that the solution is to increase taxes on those earning more than $1 million per year. From a February CBS News/New York Times poll:
More specifically, six in 10 Americans agree that taxes on the wealthiest households should be increased to a minimum 30 percent income tax rate, otherwise known as the Buffett Rule, a Gallup poll revealed in April.
In truth, the austerity policies Parker was advocating are harmful to a recovering economy and could potentially deepen the recession.