Is Rick Santorum playing his own game of crony capitalism when he proposes a huge (zero) corporate tax break to manufacturing industries that he wouldn’t give others? Besides being out of step with the basic conservative/libertarian business principle of a level playing field, it seems an almost Luddite thing to do in and of itself. Modern countries like the USA thrive on innovation and technological advancement, not looking back to recapture a supposedly halcyon industrial age receding in the rear view mirror.
When asked by Obama whether Apple manufacturing jobs were ever going to return to this country, Steve Jobs told him bluntly they never would. Of course Jobs was right – unless our manufacturing workers want to reduce their pay level to that of Thailand or Malaysia. That’s not going to happen except in a horrific depression. Jobs also allegedly warned Obama he would be a one-term president unless he became more business friendly. Santorum should take heed of that and drop the idea of propping up one sector of the economy and not another. That’s the Democrat’s game – picking winners and losers – and only enhances the meme that the former senator is actually a big government guy. Dropping corporate taxes is a great idea – but only if it’s the same for everyone.
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