Kansans perform postmortem on Brownback tax 'experiment'

Kansans from Olathe, Baldwin City, Overbrook, Council Grove, Lincolnville, Hillsboro, Salina and Topeka sound off on governor Sam Brownback's tax experiment that was recently overturned by the Kansas legislature.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Brownback insisted that this tax cut would not result in any cuts to public services. I know all politicians lie but this guy takes it to a higher level!

[@edwardmaxwell3951]

Good on you for finally waking up Kansas. Now repeat after me: Trickle Down Economics does not work.

[@DavidHeffron78]

To the last person being interviewed: If it helps, the middle class also got screwed. Only the rich profited. You know... Republicanism.

[@chrisbarber3531]

What do you expect from someone who thinks that neck tattoos are an intelligent thing to do?

[@matthewhemmings2464]

Give 1 trillion tax cut to businesses, businesses will use this money to pay dividends and buy back shares, the wealthy gain 1 trillion that they keep in their portfolios, and the economy looses 1 trillion... That's the problem with ''trickle down'' and this is what the problem will always be. Provide good roads, well educated workers, and a population that is healthy and happy, that's how you attract and keep businesses.

[@erinsmith7219]

What happened in Kansas, was that Republican governor Sam Brownback put together a variation on the "trickle down economics package" that both Presidents Ronald Reagan and GW Bush pushed during their administration, and which failed to produce the economic growth results they claimed it should have created! Governor Brownbacks policies failed in the end too, as "Trickle down Economics" do not produce the results that Republicans keep claiming that it should produce, even when faced with evidence to the contrary! What is unfortunate is that it also happened to the States of Wisconson and Louisiana, where their Republican governors enacted "deficit spending-trickle down economic plans" that also failed to produce any positive benefits and left those states deeper in the fiscal budget hole, than they started out with!

[@LS-wh9rn]

Erin Smith makes sense since Republicans are simply incapable of governing

[@chrisbarber3531]

Reaganomics led to the largest drop in the market in history and GW Bush's policies led to the crash of 2008. Republican voters know they will live their lives as poor, stupid people which is why they vote for politicians who promote plans to make others poor as well.

[@oswarz]

Hillsboro business woman: How much of 5 years of business tax cuts "TRICKLED DOWN"?

[@rubym357]

It seems that the little extra money that came in supported HER small business which looks to be crafts as I see quilts hanging around. I don't know how many people she employs, and perhaps in her case she makes a small profit, but her husband as she stated is a farmer, and they have to borrow quite a bit of money from banks to keep up operations. If you have no one able to afford your products because of this gaping hole, and raiding state coffers to make up for it, it is an ultimate failure with the few people on the bottom taking the piece of candy and getting high off it while calling everyone else lazy. This is what's going to happen now on a NATIONAL level, with the few dumbasses willing to take a small profit and say everyone else is lazy and asking for "free stuff", and when the next economic collapse happens states like mine will be raided to pay for all the holes that were punched through from this insanity. And you know the drill: golden parachutes, bailouts, show trials in Congress, finger pointing, philosophical ramblings, and back to business as always.

[@aeroldoth4201]

You didn't ask the most important question of all: "Do you still think trickle down is a good policy?" If these people haven't learned that constantly praised R policy of trickle down economics is a lie after years of failure, will they ever?

[@cherylernst2343]

Aeroldoth4 Trickle down economics started in the 1920's. We know what happened then. Rich got richer and then the economy crashed. We are staring this very real possibility dead in the eye right now. Republican economic policy is straight out of that era. They do not have sound governance and operate motivated by greed. When do people wake up?

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

You know what they say when people don't learn from their history.

[@joeyalbertson3079]

keep voting republican more bad things are coming look what you got trump and a republican congress

[@devilmonkey427]

one year after your comment.... and today we find out Trump has been avoiding his taxes for decades. No shock there.

[@alexbailie225]

@@devilmonkey427 hey, 2 years after finding your comment I’m not shocked whatsoever. Reaganomics was a big failure but what’s even worse is Trump in 2020 still hasn’t shown his taxes.

[@Wardemonxi]

I get the sinking feeling that many of these people will not change how they vote even after witnessing these policies fail.

[@twistsnkicks]

Wardemonxi You were absolutely right. These corn fed neanderthals re-elected Brownback. With Trump's new tax policy in full effect, they're gonna get hit twice as hard.

[@patriciafreed5065]

Ohm Neh I would say this as something to think about. How much have you really looked into Kansas politics has a whole? Or do you just parrot what you hear? If you did you would know there are players higher up than ol Brownbackistan. I live here and didn’t vote for him...

[@richarddunk5140]

Thought that Kansas was supposed to become the best thing since sliced bread. Now the federal government is trying something similar

[@CarFreeSegnitz]

Richard Dunk The federal gov't has been trying this experiment since Reagan, so for nearly 40 years. Result: run-away wealth inequality, bought politics, crumbling infrastructure, voter anger thick enough to elect Trump.

[@tinoyb9294]

Pull my finger Kansas!

[@zacharyhebert6423]

they wanted it, should've forced them to keep it so we could really see what would eventually happen

[@donald6815]

It is hard to believe that anybody could be so stupid as to fall for that same, old, 'trickle down' theory one more time. But there they are. And not just in Kansas, but in Louisiana, Arkansas, and other states as well.

[@PacificCircle1]

Yet, the GOP refused to learn this lesson.

[@kdmdlo]

This is just one more example of supply side economics completely failing. I can't fathom how anyone can get on board that train today, given the voluminous data that shows it simply doesn't work.

[@lohphat]

One only has to look towards Scandinavia with their high tax rates to see how functioning governments and societies work. Healthcare which won't bankrupt you, free education (and university if you pass the entrance exams), fast rail services, maintained roads, clean cities and towns. Few homeless. Yes you pay more but you get something back for it instead of paying extortion rates for basic living needs. Taxes pay for civilization. No taxes? Then enjoy your 3rd world life. Point to a country with low taxes and high standard of living. You can't. But I can point at many hell holes with little or no taxes -- and also no functional government or infrastructure. Republicans are the new mob -- they're running a con game. Blame the immigrants. Blame everyone else except their greed.

[@rollothecat2010]

Despite the problems caused by the tax cutting in Kansas, I read that the republicans in other red states are trying to pass Kansas type tax cuts in their states too. Eventually, they are going to cause a tax cut "dust bowl" effect: their states are going to be in bad conditions due to no tax funds to pay for good schools, good roads, or any other public goods. Opportunities will continue to evaporate. People are going to move to other states not afflicted by financial "dust bowls." Hopefully, they will not move to my state. 😞

[@TraderTimmy]

This is a Republican demonstrating that giant tax cuts in and of themselves are not in the interest of most people. Rich people pay way less taxes. Small businesses don’t reap enough back to really help their businesses.

[@jl.8137]

Maybe all the poor and middle class people should leave Kansas and let the rich enjoy their tax free state. This means the rich are going to have to wipe their own ass with all that money left over in Kansas.

[@jayinla310]

may states and the federal govt tried that on a smaller scale and that was a disaster. Just people realized sooner and reversed the philosophy.

[@misterjag]

Trickle Down has never worked. Why was this news to Kansans?

[@haruruben]

This will soon be nation wide. Who will want to invest in a location that has crumbling roads, uneducated population and unhealthy people? Businesses need customers, supply-side economics is hilarious...

[@badnews7593]

If you cut taxes your guaranteed less money for society. If you raise taxes your guaranteed more money for society.

[@jean-pierredevent970]

Why not conditional tax cuts?? Like: you pay less taxes on your profits when you invest a certain percentage into expansion, hiring more people. But I guess tax reductions on investments in internal expansion already exist in most countries.

[@stevekennedy5380]

Didn't they reelect their govennor?

[@patriciafreed5065]

Steve Kennedy no I believe the Koch Brothers made sure he would win. Look them up and see for yourself...

[@billykobilca6321]

And the state borrowed $$$ on top of it all... Kansas your silly

[@therealkbrackson]

i lived in johnson co so i can see it both ways, how much of the population back then needed tax cuts but now watching living in california, it's amazing that kansas has even survived this situation at all. i don't believe in trickle down, on the coasts or in the midwest

[@Pntngbrn]

Voodoo economics

[@bbodinefan11]

So Kansans do you think California is better?

[@xxjr8axx]

If a group of people makes a mistake its bad but its not the end of the world (usually) but some of these states have been making the same mistake over and over again for generations now. If you voted for trump despite the racist, sexist and stupid things i still think that was a BIG mistake but some of these areas are desperate for money. If they owned up to it and said "our bad guys, were sorry and it wont happen again" it would still hurt but at least they acknowledge they fucked up, but a large amount of the republicans take pride in being stupid, racist and sexist. Some people say trump voters are a minority (which is true) and that republicans are better than trump; but trump has a 92% approval rating among republicans, this is a systemic issue now, if after 2 years you still like him your hopeless.

[@cland49lsu1]

Lol. You guys still waiting for it to trinkle down?? Let me ask you a business question. You own a company that makes and sells 20 million widgets. You get a tax break, as a business and personally (upper class). Demand remains ar 20 million widgets. Are you going to needlessly hire more workers with the money saved on taxes? Would that be an effective business decision? Are you going to make more then 20 million widgets without an increase in demand? Is that a good business decision?

[@allgoo1964]

Has anybody found comments start with "libtard!!" in this thread yet?

[@MyChilepepper]

Hahaha, trickle down swamp hole all the way to the Cayman Islands and Swiss bank.

[@chrisbarber3531]

Kansas is an incredibly boring State. You would need to offer six-figure incentives to get the intellectual class to move there and open sustainable businesses.

[@jmendez1451]

If your business can survive without the tax cut then you probably shouldn't be in business

[@gmoops8986]

Time and again, "trickle down" hasn't worked. Let's try "trickle up".

[@eisenhowerrepublican4237]

1:08 This one sentence destroys every argument the conservatives use that lowering taxes will create jobs.

[@Th3M4larky]

Lowering taxes does create jobs you simpleton.... Do you have economics education? You have the public sector and the private sector, both come into play. Trump already did tax cuts and is already providing economic growth. Tax cuts = more money for businesses, more money for people working their jobs, easier to pay their utilities, bills, and more to save / spend, more money being circulated freely. In the public sector, you'll have a revenue cut due to the taxes being cut, but by letting the economy play out you'll get money back in return due to the economic growth.

[@eisenhowerrepublican4237]

@@Th3M4larky Like the lady was saying in the video, "there comes alot more into play into creating jobs than just TAXES." Heres how the conservative tax plan goes, they tell everyone the childish belief that the wealthy and small businesses would somehow use their new found extra money for anything other than further enriching themselves. As those sorts of policies historically have done, this results in a short term economic boom fueled by mergers, liquidations, and an orgy of speculation and manic optimism, which is then followed by a crippling long term crash when reality finally sets in. And also, listen to what the guy says at 1:33 to 1:50

[@yaimavol]

Isn't it interesting that states with no income tax at all are doing better than KS.

[@markwilliams2620]

yaimavol Name your examples. I live in Florida and pay no income tax due to tourists and snowbirds. Our local population triples December through June. Don't think many states get that option.

[@fredg.sanford634]

I did a lot of work in the states of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska at one point in my career. You'll need more than low taxes to get people to move to Kansas. BORING. The same for Nebraska. Missouri was different, at least in Kansas City. Good restaurants, clubs, theaters and I think that every beautiful woman from those 3 states migrated to KC.

[@begonesoon5864]

It's not just about people moving in though, it's also about rich people already here investing more and clearly they didn't.

[@paulconner4614]

@@begonesoon5864 What people forget, is that I am not going to hire more workers unless I have more sales. Customer's drive growth. You want growth, put money in the hands of people that will spend it. Their spending it will expand the revenue which will then drive hiring of additional employees.

[@Meleeman011]

his tax plan worked great for me, I only wish he'd give me more tax breaks, and maybe threw more into medicare, and capitalize on what Kansas is good at, agriculture and manufacturing, if you have a good thing going you might as well make it better. trust me our neighbors west of us may be working in tech, but a lot of them have it much worse than Kansas.

[@nataliekhanyola5669]

Not true.

[@msears8576]

The problem wasn't that Brownback cut taxes....but that he didn't cut out enough programs. Can't do one without the other and expect it to work.

[@Meleeman011]

waaaaaahhh nobody came to kansas and we didn't prepare for the fact that maybe we shoudl have proportionally lowered spending. it does work, you just did it wrong.

[@nataliekhanyola5669]

By lowering spending you mean gutting public education, Medicaid and Medicare, infrastructure and many other essential goods. That's exactly what happened when this failed libertarian experiment was implemented.

[@williamchamberlain2263]

Grafton, New Hampshire - the libertarian town that got eaten by bears - disagrees.

[@marcelnight1978]

Well now the entire country will suffer because of Trump