CNN has won the “privilege” of conducting its first interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and her partner Tim Walz on Thursday night, beating the promised “end of the month” deadline.
Harris’s team has reportedly been “shopping” the network to determine what they believe will be the best for them. CNN now has an obligation to prove him wrong by asking tough questions about his policies and what he’s proposing now, given that he — and she — recently changed positions.
One question should be about the proposed tax increase. The New York Times reported last week that Harris’ tax hike would amount to $5 trillion over the next decade. The newspaper acknowledged the tax hike “may not be enough to cover his expenses and other Democrats’ ambitions next year.”
Note that there are no proposals to cut spending. For Democrats, spending more and taxes aren’t high enough.
Former President Donald Trump has labeled Harris a socialist and suggested some of his economic proposals resemble those of a communist regime.
CNN and other reporters, if they get the chance and he does more interviews and even a press conference or two before the election, might question his father’s influence on his economic views.
Donald J. Harris is a professor of economics at Stanford University. He wrote a book (dedicated to Kamala and her sister) which is not available on Amazon.com. The website says “Currently unavailable. We don’t know when or if this item will be available again. Conspiracy theorists take note.
Fortunately, the book – “Capital Accumulation and Income Distribution” (1978) – is available on the Stanford website in PDF form. While it is a scholarly work written in a way that can only be understood by someone with an economics degree, there is enough for the average reader to ask Kamala Harris if she agrees with her father’s obvious empathy, if not embraces him. , the economic wisdom of Karl Marx. In the analysis of capitalism vs Marxism, it is true that capitalism does not seem to be the preferred economic philosophy. Does his daughter agree and if she prefers capitalism, can she explain why?
Other interview questions may include:
- You want to raise the top tax rate to over 39%. In some states – notably California, New York and Illinois – some residents already pay more than half their income to federal, state and local governments. Is that fair?
- In reporting on your economic plan, The New York Times said the proposed tax hikes would not cover all of the proposed spending plans. What does it mean for higher taxes and restrictions? Would you go up to 90%, given the level between 1944 and 1963?
- Democrats never like to cut spending, even for outdated or ineffective government programs. Are there programs and agencies that will be eliminated?
- Social Security and Medicare are projected to run out of money by 2036. There are many proposals to reform the program that would protect current retirees and those approaching retirement age. Are you willing to let an expensive entitlement program go bankrupt, or would you prefer a public-private scheme that allows young people to choose private investment?
- Your father wrote a book comparing capitalism with Marxism. Karl Marx said: “Capitalism is a social system based on the exploitation of the majority by the minority for personal gain.” Do you agree with that statement and if not, why do you and other Democrats constantly criticize “rich people” and “big corporations,” none of whom work hard to achieve success?
- Karl Marx also said his philosophy was “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” How do your taxes and spending plans differ from theirs?
Let’s see if CNN interviewer Dana Bash will try to redeem the media’s credibility after the love fest for Harris by asking tough questions. Curious voters want to know.
Readers can email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” ​​(HumanixBooks).
