Poll: Tax cuts will help economy more than spending

Wouldn't both help?

Headline should read: "55 percent of poll responders are short-sighted and lack an understanding of basic economics." What fun!

I sincerely hope this poll is disregarded by those who are making policy decisions.

Why doesn't this article point out that numerous studies have demonstrated that there is more economic return on infrastructure projects and community investment than tax cuts? There is no guarantee that the money people save in taxes will be spent - it will be used to pay down debt, and that will not help the economy.

Tax cuts ARE spending. Unless there is a surplus, the government has to borrow money to pay for tax cuts. A better question would be what do you want to use increased spending on, tax cuts or infrastructure- or neither, or both.

Giving everyone $500 is not an effective use of the stimulus. The money should be invested into capital asset construction that 1) gets people back to work (see unemployment concerns above) and 2) pays dividends in the future -- cleaner and more efficient energy and transportation, better schools and healthcare delivery. Just because 55% of Americans are morons doesn't mean we should listen to them.

Well, it sure is a good thing we don't base our Economic policy on opinion polls!

"52 percent said unemployment is the most serious concern" yet, "42 percent believe that the spending projects would be done mostly for political reasons rather than to help the economy."

The brilliant minds of Americans... clearly the spending is designed to put Americans to work... what do they think the spending projects are for?

Tax cuts? The nation's infrastructure is imploding, and people are out of work. Tell me exactly how tax cuts solve either of those problems, especially since one of the reasons infrastructure is imploding is that neither the federal or state governments have enough to pay for rehabilitation. Sounds to me like the same old same old from guys who want to spend money on themselves and not the greater good. Isn't it about time we grew up and rediscoverd that investment in the stuff we all share, like transportation, water, energy, and school infrastructure is more important than buying yet another bauble for ourselves.

Hey, glad to see there is still some sense left in the American people.

Would both help? No - spending is a stopgap measure to treat the pain, and not real stimulus. The resulting debt is not worth the temporary relief.

Whatever happened to 'pay-go'?

Any increase in consumption will help - whether public or private sector. Under normal circumstances, corruption, bureaucracy, and general failure of governance would make public sector spend far less effective - with far too much going to far too few. But with the savings rate increasing, right now, tax cuts would just go straight to the banks!!!

Recognizing that tax cuts would help more than spending is just common sense. I am only surprised that MORE Americans did not see that, and that our liberal politicians continually fail to see that.

Of course if the poll resulted in higher taxes and more spending, the liberals would be praising the smarts of the American electorate.

But because it is not to their liking, they will spew venom per usual.

Watch.

It looks like everyone on this blog is a typical tax and spend democrat. How exactly are the infrastructure projects proposed by the stimulus plan going to increase overall employment when a large percentage of the unemployed are white collar?
Hey threeiron...where did you get your econ degree? What do you know about the greater good? Tax cuts for the middle class would go along way to controlling the amount of money our drunken government wants to spend on "public works" and put money back in the pockets of people who earn it. And rootdown42, can you please point us in the direction of these "Studies"?

Spend money to make money. Spend it on renewable energy and infrastructure. I agree with tax cuts, the more money the governmaent has the more they spend. Does federal and state employees get 100% medicial or are they required to pay at least 20% if not they should.

Who cares?

Are we next going to ask the American public their opinion on early treatment of MS with glatiramer acetate? Or maybe they have an opinion on tissue-specific methylation signatures in the genome?

Let's ask, because then we can settle these questions definitively, by asking people who don't know anything whatsoever about the subject matter.

Democrats look at polls that if they agree with a far-left liberal agenda, the polls is fair. If the poll does not, then it was funded by Haliburton.

Actually, most belive that the only way to get funds into the economy quickly is to put a hold on Fed and Social Security taxes starting Feb 1 through April 30. This would do more to turn around the economy than anything Obama is suggesting.

There is only one problem, the tax hold will fairly benefit all Americans. Obama's plan only benefits the people who voted for him (pay-to-play).

Too bad tax cuts aren't going to help those without jobs.

I'm all for it as long as it doesn't go to a fixed unionized payroll where 12 guys watch one guy on the jackhammer and get time and a half while they suck down their cup of Dunkie's. I do agree that a straight tax credit/cut of like 500 bucks a head to the masses will either go to pay down debt (good thing in the long run, but not so much to stimulate the economy), or to Walmart and on to China. Tax credits to small businesses would be a good idea. Or perhaps an end to the 12% short term capital gains tax in Massachusetts.

How can you idiots not realize that a tax cut would help the most? A basic understanding of economics would help, i guess. Increases spending is leading to a deficit that will take decades to correct.

U - you hit the nail on the head. Essentially, the solons in the Bush and Obama administrations have little idea what the problem is and are trying anything to get consumption going again in the hope this will re-inflate the burst bubble.

It is a strategy ignorant of the true cause of the problem. Consumers are over-leveraged. The party is over. We must transition to an economy based once again on savings, investment, and production. Printing or borrowing money in an attempt to get consumers spending again may have some short-term benefit, but ignores the true problem long-term and creates other problems.

I suspect Obama only cares about the short-term

The roads, dams, and bridges in this country are falling apart. Minneapolis is only a single recent example. Look at the Longfellow. Or the BU Bridge. Or the Elliot Bridge. And it's the same all over the country: entire lanes closed because they're too dangerous to use. These things need to be fixed. Pour money into doing what we need to do anyway and kill two birds with one stone.

My problem is simple Government should limit itself to trying to fix the economy. Simply put Government can not solve the problem with our economy. Any spending on infrastructure will create some jobs but don't forget that many materials and goods that will be used will be bought from foreign countries as Metals and other materials are cheaper overseas. Also putting so much $$$ into infrastructure is great but you can sure expect that $820 billion will become 2 trillion in just a few years due to overruns on all these infrastructure projects. Basically think of it as a big dig project in everystate. Any how we as Americans pay so much in Gas taxes but our government continues to abuse the funds rather than use it to fix infrastructure. Simply said Government will not and can not solve our economic problems.

The research of Obama's own economic team of Christina Romer and David Romer shows that the best way to fight a recession or depression is with monetary policy, which is already being done via a zero fed funds rate, and not fiscal policy comprising either tax cuts or infrastructure spending. So the empirical evidence shows both are wrong and a waste of money!

Really - how did so many accept the false premise of Bush-economics? Really - Reaganomics........ It would be pure ignorance to assume tax cuts are stimulative...... Since we need to start acting like adults Vs like George W. Bush, when we ask for our greedy little tax cuts, the compensating spending cuts MUST also be defined. Now that we have an adult with a brain in the white house - it's time to realize money doesn't grow on trees. Tax cuts would be a huge mistake at this time in our economy. If the planners determine the lower class and middle class need tax cuts right now - then those cuts must be offset by resuming more fair tax rates to the rich - who have been getting away with bloody merder under W.

Tax cuts are due the middle class but will not solve the problem. Tax rebates or lower taxes from reduced rates that are spent on consumer items will only benefit China and the US corporations that use China as their factory as well as some European exporters, not our domestic industries or what is left of them. Instead, our tax policies have to be changed that start to shift manufacturing back to the US through incentives, accelerated depreciation on machinery and a high enough tax increase on those making over $3.2 million so that they will need to invest in new manufacturing to get out of paying the new taxes. Then watch our employment grow.

I'm really amazed. Usually when I read comments on a story here they are the most inane, unintelligent, moronic comments imaginable from the most mean spirited, angry, pathetic people. Everyone commenting so far gets it about tax cuts. I like the company here.

Hmmm. Government spending will do more to stimulate the economy than tax cuts. So, the government must be better a creating economic growth than the individual participants in the free market. Microsoft, Google and all the other amazing companies out there must be accidents. While the Dept of Transportation, the military, the public school system, have proven time and time again to be among the elite institutions in our economy. And we know all the best and brightest seek jobs in govt. The main problem with tax cuts is that some 30%+ of the country doesn't pay taxes, and therefore wouldn't get any money back.

You people are, to put in nicely, STUPID!
Using tax payer money to build roads and bridges is purely and simply taking money away from individuals who will spend on items that will get the economy moving forward and away from companies that hire people for permanent work and REDISTRIBUTING that money, ie wealth, into temporary jobs.
Spending CUTS, and FURTHER LOWERING tax rates is THE ONLY PROVEN WAY to stimulate the economy.
In case you liberal media led morons don't know it, the New Deal and Great Society (government SPENDING programs) kept us in the Great Depression (New Deal Programs) and have crippled current and future generations (Great Society).
Why do people not understand BASIC economics.....oh yeah, because the Liberals and Academics want you to suffer and want everyone to BE THE SAME....it's called COMMUNISM...and in case you didn't get the memo, COMMUNISM has NEVER WORKED......NEVER EVER!

I paraphrase a Harvard economist (a right of center Republican) who suspects that infrastructure and other spending projects are likely the best bang for the buck, but we should ALSO have tax cuts AND bailouts, because this is uncharted economic territory we are in and NOBODY, not even the people who are commenting here on this article, can really know what will or won't work. All we can be certain of is that the situation is dire, and inaction is unacceptable.

This guy is one of the smartest people I have ever met. If he says throw the kitchen sink at the economy, that's good enough for me.

I would have no problem whatsoever paying 50+% taxes if management were there to assure it's being put into infrastructure, education for all, healthcare for all, respectable retirement for all. oh, i guess i'm a socialist. I already put over $200 week into health care, including dental and vision. I pay into a retirement fund that is 100% dependent on the market, and just lost 50% of it. We have seen where that has put so many retired people lately. I am paying over $600 a month in education loan payments, and so on. A population that rests assured that it is going to have it's short and long term NEEDS met is going to be one that is willing to pay for it. We have been a nation of selfish people thinking only in a short term fashion, not a sustainable one. We are going to take ourselves down, not needing any outside help, if we don't start thinking and acting toward long term, sustainable social goals.

tax cuts are good. growing the national deficit larger for our children to pay off is bad. the rest of the "capitol spending" sounds like a green light for every earmark and pork barrel project that every lobbyist, special interest group, or political insider wants. if you think that they will use the money wisely to make much needed basic repairs and improvements to our crumbling infrastructure and transit system than I have a bridge in Minnissota to sell you. if you think that new jobs will be created and it wont just be a case of insiders getting richer, corruption at every level of industry, shoddy workmanship and cost overruns than I would expect you to revisit the Big Dig. insurance, pharmaceutical, financial, media, defense contractors, agriculture, and multinational conglomerates run this country and our own elected officials are either corrupt or stupid.

The investment needs to be made into revitalizing and revolutionizing our manufacturing capabilities and agricultural base, repairing and reusing our abandoned factories and buildings, giving tax and incentives to create modern, profitable industries that can produce quality products that exceed the garbage coming from other countries. More investment needs to be made to keep America the leader in all technology, including clean energy.

There is a huge list of corruption from the top offices through the FDA that should be addressed too, but I doubt this is the place for it.

Tax cuts may be used to pay down debt. That is a bad thing? Sure would not want anyone to feel they are getting ahead. A good portion of the spending would go overseas and another substantial portion would just be wasted on administrative costs. There is hope for America if 55% of the people still know that taxes are their money and not the goverment's. People in this country will know where and when to spend their money. If they want to save it that is their business and is a positive thing. This is a capitalist country and what we need is confidence not another goverment program hoping that it will solve the "problem".

If 55% of Americans are morons and should be ignored, and opinion polls should not be used to make policy, then John McCain would be the president and not Barack Obama. The election is the ultimate opinion poll. People will always want to keep more of their money for themselves because they do have their own needs and they do not trust any government to use their money on anything that benefits they themselves instead of benefitting someone else.

Obama gets elected, and yet the people want CONSERVATIVE economic policies of less spending and tax cuts! w00t w00t!!

Didn't we already try tax cuts? Twice? Didn't they completely fail in their goal of stimulating the economy? Giving people $500 means a certain portion will go into savings, some to paying bills and the rest to China via Wal-Mart. This poll merely reflects the fact that people like getting free money for nothing from the government. (Re)build a bridge and it will last 30 years employ hundreds and generate income by making the transport of goods and services easier. Update schools and that pays for itself with a more educated and talented workforce.

If spending is the most important thing, are there other ways to approach it. Rather then take someone’s money from him or her and give it to someone else to spend, let’s give the person who earned the money the opportunity to spend it first. Then allow that purchase(s), up to whatever the taxed amount would have been, to be written off as taxes paid. You get both spending and a tax cut.

The government is clearly much better at handeling tax payers money than the common man. Look at all the A+ programs we are pumping our money into: education, roads and bridges, social security, military and super secure boarders.