[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16213]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 16213]]

          DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DIFFER ON TAX PHILOSOPHIES

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)



  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, a lot of people say there is not much 
difference between Democrats and Republicans. But when it comes to 
taxes, it is clear that there are two quite different philosophies at 
work which guide the thinking of each side.
  Democrats believe that the tax system is primarily a way to 
redistribute wealth; that is to say, take what belongs to one person 
and give it to someone else.

                              {time}  1015

  Republicans, on the other hand, believe that the tax system is merely 
what is necessary to raise revenues for the constitutionally required 
functions of the Federal Government, which is principally to provide 
the common defense.
  Democrats believe that a system that redistributes wealth is more 
fair than a system whereby people are entitled to the fruits of their 
labors to the maximum extent possible.
  Democrats speak constantly of the fact that the wealthy, never 
defined, do not need a tax cut. Of course, by that logic a rich person 
does not need to be paid for any work that he performs. But they fail 
to recognize that the money earned by the wealthy or the middle class 
or whomever belongs to them. After all, they earned it.

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