You are a mid-level staffer for a senator who is evaluating the recent suggestion from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat-New York) who suggested on CBS’ Sixty Minutes program that the marginal individual income tax rate should be raised to seventy percent. Her suggestion is getting a favorable response from the public, but a skeptical response from economists and many politicians. Your assignment is to identify and evaluate the key arguments both in favor and against increasing the marginal tax rate for high-income earners. You will identify and evaluate the arguments from both the pro-increase and the anti-increase perspectives and then make a recommendation based on your analysis. You should divide your report into the following sections:
● Introduction: A brief summary of the proposal to raise the marginal income tax rate for high-income earners and a brief description of the proponents and opponents whose perspectives you will be evaluating. ● Discussion of Perspectives of Those Favoring the income tax rate increase (identify the most common arguments you see in the various articles that favor the increase): In this section, you will answer, but are not limited to, the following questions: What arguments are they making? Do they present evidence to support their arguments? Are their concerns logical (based on supportable facts), ideological (based on philosophical beliefs), or political (just directed to voting constituents)? ● Discussion of Perspectives of Those Opposing the income tax rate increase (identify the most common arguments you see in the various articles that oppose the increase): In this section, you will answer, but are not limited to, the following questions: What arguments are they making? Do they present evidence to support their arguments? Are their concerns logical (based on supportable facts), ideological (based on philosophical beliefs), or political (just directed to voting constituents)? ● Final Recommendation: Based on the comments of both sides, provide a convincing recommendation for or against raising the marginal tax rate to seventy percent and justify it through your evaluation of the evidence provided in the previous two sections.
