Cliff diving is bad business

When asked by a reporter why, when over 70 percent of the Americans support a modest raising of income taxes on the top 2 percent of income earners, the Republicans refuse to raise taxes on the most prosperous among us, House Speaker John Boehner replied, “Because that would hurt small businesses.” Seriously?

What’s really going to hurt small business (and the whole rest of the country) would be the Republican’s stubborn defense against modest tax increases and their willingness to plunge the country over the fiscal cliff in that defense. Is a small tax increase on the richest …

When asked by a reporter why, when over 70 percent of the Americans support a modest raising of income taxes on the top 2 percent of income earners, the Republicans refuse to raise taxes on the most prosperous among us, House Speaker John Boehner replied, “Because that would hurt small businesses.” Seriously?

What’s really going to hurt small business (and the whole rest of the country) would be the Republican’s stubborn defense against modest tax increases and their willingness to plunge the country over the fiscal cliff in that defense. Is a small tax increase on the richest 2 percent really worth it? How is taking the country “over the cliff” helping small businesses or anyone else?

Gary Jewell

Spokane