Ever since I can remember, the most common term associated with the United States congress is gridlock. Republicans and Democrats can’t seem to get it together on anything. And, while the gridlock has been crippling in the past, it’s even worse now that the United States has to agree on a deficit reduction package. The bi-partisan panel led by Senator Patty Murray from Washington State couldn’t agree on a deal. And, like a married couple, both parties are fighting over who was responsible for the breakdown of the original deal. 

 

The Democrats are in favor of more taxes for the wealthiest Americans, but neither party seems to have a specific plan for re-structuring the tax codes for the United States' largest corporations. 

Both sides contend that the other party left the deal; the Democrats still have issues with the Bush tax cuts. The Republicans, however, are framing their argument against the Democrats in another way: the Republicans are arguing that the Democrats are in a way, increasing taxes by planning to eliminate the Bush tax cuts.

 

The Republicans are planning the entire 2012 election around the issue of taxes. One Republican is a little cocky early on in the campaign and is saying that the Republicans will “crush” the Democrats in the campaign based on the Democrats’ position on taxes. 

 

The Democrats see the tax issue a little differently. The reality of the Bush tax cuts was perhaps best described by United States Senator Patty Murray, who is the head of the bi-partisan committee. She said that, “The wealthiest of Americans, those who earn over a million dollars every year, have to share, too.”

 

One interesting fact about the Republican position on taxes is that they are intentionally stalling workable solutions and are creating more gridlock in order to play dirty politics. The upcoming election is more important to the needs of the Republican party than the needs of the American people.

 

What’s even worse is that neither party seems to be looking at how corporations are taxed as a possible solution to the fiscal nightmare in the United States. Last year, it was widely reported that GE did not pay any taxes; tax loopholes for corporations are thought of as a way to encourage job growth, but GE did not create any jobs last year. 

 

Both Republicans and Democrats need to look at different solutions to the budget problems. More taxes for the wealthy and for corporations could be a possible solution to the current fiscal crisis.