Evaluating the recent suggestion from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat-New York)

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.