March 27, 2001

9:11 AM

Bush seeks support from Silicon Valley leaders for tax plan."I haven't seen the list of attendees yet, but it's for the purpose of building support for the President's budget and tax plan, for the vital group of the economy that's kept our economy strong. If there's any group that has its finger on the pulse of the economy, it's the high tech community, and the President wants to hear their thoughts about the strength of the economy and to share with them his ideas for how to improve it."

Yeah, but what about the PEOPLE? Shouldn't WE be asked about the tax plan?
posted by bkdelong (10 comments total)

OK, ok. I understand the need to check the opinions of key players in the economy but come on....if Bush's tax plan passes at this point he'll be completely and utterly the bitch of corporate America.

According to an article in today's National Journal, about 40 executives are planning to be at this meeting "including former Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Bob Herbold, former Netscape Communications CEO Jim Barksdale, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers partner Floyd Kvamme, Dell Computer founder Michael Dell, AOL Time Warner executive George Vradenburg, National Venture Capital Association President Mark Heesen and Cisco's Director of Government Affairs, Laura Ipsen".

Yeesh. It's amazing what you find buried in the news.
posted by bkdelong at 9:14 AM on March 27, 2001

Yeah, but what about the PEOPLE? Shouldn't WE be asked about the tax plan?

What are you, a commie?
posted by Dirjy at 9:37 AM on March 27, 2001

Bush will "be the bitch" of corporate America? What was he before this and how long ago was that?
posted by Postroad at 9:42 AM on March 27, 2001

What are you, a commie?
Hate to bust your bubble Dirjy, but getting the consent to tax is one of the corner stones of democrcy. If you remember history that's what out revolution was suppose to be about.

P.S. Did any get a headache from reading that page?
posted by Bag Man at 10:28 AM on March 27, 2001

Yeah, but what about the PEOPLE? Shouldn't WE be asked about the tax plan?

I seem to recall this 'election' thing a few months ago, a bunch of town hall meetings and such, three debates with Gore, more than half a dozen debates with McCain and co., and polls from every news organization there is.

Not that my opinion matters; my Rep and both of my Senators are liberal Democrats, and well, I'm not.
posted by drothgery at 10:31 AM on March 27, 2001

What is so odd about this? Bush got more money from silicone valley than Gore did. Bush is working the money givers. Dell, for example, always a big supporter--in Texas.
The corporations are smart. They give to both p[arites, though usually more to one than the other. Cover their bases (and no: they do not belong to us but to them).
Bush is appealing to chief excutives and not to underlings.
I am not sure what this is meant to accomplish since it is congress that will vote up or down or add on or take away and not CEOs in Calif.
Wonder if the President will mentiion the fact that Calif energy producers say rates may have to go up 40% in California so the big guys ought to kick money in to help out.
posted by Postroad at 11:05 AM on March 27, 2001

Bagman: I think Dirjy was kidding.
posted by thirteen at 11:27 AM on March 27, 2001

Yeah, Bagman -- I hate to burst YOUR bubble, but I was joking. I do understand the finer points of 'democrcy,' as well as democracy.

(Okay, that's going to come off as pissier than I intended. I'll stop kidding around in this thread now.)
posted by Dirjy at 2:26 PM on March 28, 2001

Just a reminder, the USA is not a democracy, but a representative republic. We elect people to make legislative decisions for us.
posted by TacoConsumer at 8:54 AM on March 30, 2001