Republicans are on the defensive as the veil of ignorance that has shrouded the average American’s awareness of the effects of the Republican tax giveaway to billionaires is torn away by the reality of the diminished tax refunds people are receiving after filing their first returns subject to the new rules that the GOP tax travesty has mandated.
With even confirmed MAGA-maniacs taking to Twitter to bemoan the betrayal of the populist promises made by President Trump while he was on the campaign trail, the outrage from people who now owe the IRS money after getting a refund in prior years — despite having the same income and expenses as previously — has opened the eyes of taxpayers who didn’t initially understand how the Republican tax scam funnelled money from their pockets directly into those of the people who need it least, billionaire oligarchs.
Presidential offspring Donald Trump Jr — a major beneficiary of the upward redistribution of wealth that has been going on in this country for decades — tried to mansplain the inequitable new tax regulations to a potential rival of his father in the 2020 elections, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), in a response to her tweet accurately characterizing the supposed “tax cuts” as a middle-class tax hike.
The average tax refund is down about $170 compared to last year. Let’s call the President’s tax cut what it is: a middle-class tax hike to line the pockets of already wealthy corporations and the 1%.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 11, 2019
Of course refunds are down. People are paying less in taxes and the code is simplified. A refund means you overpaid and got money back. When you pay less the refund will be less.
Do you really not understand that?
Now do the effect of proposed Dem tax hikes has on income!!! https://t.co/Xu7Yz9ir3b
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 12, 2019
Perhaps Senator Harris could understand what Don Jr. was trying to say if he hadn’t mangled the syntax of his sentences so horrifically.
However, his disingenuous reply betrays Junior’s wealth and privilege — since anyone with half a clue could read the provisions of the Republican-drafted tax legislation and see how clearly it favors the extremely wealthy donors and corporations that predominantly support the GOP over anyone making a middle-class salary or less.
The eldest son of the president also ignores the fact that the unnecessary tax cut for the rich has depleted the treasury of otherwise expected income and created an unprecedented federal deficit that Republicans will now use as an excuse to cut social services for the majority of Americans that the ultra-wealthy would rather see fend for themselves than help in any way.
Twitter followers who saw Don Jr.’s tweet hit back at his ignorant remarks with extreme derision and personal examples of how their own tax bills have been affected by the new law.
When someone tries to explain how tax returns work while they've never done their taxes.. If we wanted advice on how to funnel money into a charity for personal use we'll give ya call
— Alex (@Zombayz) February 12, 2019
Although I have least exemptions deducted in payroll taxes, u have managed to take away deductions upon which the middle class depends. You capped property taxes, repealed personal exemptions, so immediately a couple is taxed on extra $8k. My refund pays my increased deductible.
— Darlene Alfieri (@darlenealfieri) February 12, 2019
Of course they don't understand that, they were dumb enough to vote for your dad to begin with
— David Pakman (@dpakman) February 12, 2019
Yes. For those of us in metro areas with higher property taxes that itemize, the cap at $10,000 for property tax/State and local income taxes meant $1000 less in credits for us=less in refund. Tell retailers who expect a bump in sales in April what to do now.
— Michelle De Long (@michelledelong) February 12, 2019
The tax relief act is heavily skewed in favor of those who make more than $400K/year. To paraphrase Chris Rock, If you make $30MM and the government takes 39%, you're not starving. If you make $30K and they take 10%, somebody's got to die. #TaxScam #TaxReturns
— Edward Phillips (@tsoiliho) February 12, 2019
So what you're saying is that the tax plan is basically net zero for the average American, but the horrifically rich just took home an extra billion dollars in tax cuts. All for the price of $1T/year in unbalanced deficit…
— …Paul (@dotdotdotPaul) February 12, 2019
Sorry, Junior, but people aren’t buying your lies any more than they are believing your dad’s purposefully misleading propaganda.
Everyone knows that self-interest and buffoonish con artistry are Trump family traits. No one —and especially not Senator Harris — needs your mansplaining of a subject you neither understand nor have an unbiased opinion regarding.
So stay at home and count your gilded toilets while you still remain unincarcerated. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
