Kamala’s tax deduction problem

OPINION:

Vice President Kamala Harris comes up short on the rare occasions she is asked to come up with a solution for those struggling to make ends meet. The one proposal she keeps bringing up isn’t even a good one.

“Another thing I’m really focused on is small businesses and startups and giving startups a $50,000 tax deduction,” the Democratic presidential nominee said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast on Sunday. “You can’t start up anything — any small business — with $5,000.”

Lots of businesses are started for less than $5,000. All it takes is a trip to Home Depot to buy a lawn mower and an edger to have the foundation for a landscape business. A mobile car detailing service can get off the ground with a few simple tools. Hard work and perseverance give these entry-level ventures a chance to succeed and grow.

About 20% of new businesses never make it through their first year, and not every fledgling company is worth saving. Sometimes a startup’s new product does not turn out as the founder envisioned, or its service might not be up to snuff.

Weeding out bad ideas drives the competitive marketplace. Many of America’s business titans failed several times before achieving success, and each flop taught these entrepreneurs lessons they applied to their next startup.

Ms. Harris has worked only in government, so it’s not surprising that she fails to see how little value a $50,000 tax deduction would have for a startup.

Few companies turn a profit in their first year. Most don’t see a positive balance sheet until at least three or four years down the line, so they wouldn’t be able to claim that deduction. Those successful enough to find themselves profitable early on are the least likely to need it.

Unfortunately, Ms. Harris can’t turn to her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for sensible advice on economic matters. Mr. Walz doesn’t believe the 20 million aliens who have entered the country illegally are a source of economic stress on communities nationwide. In fact, he’s all for importing more.

At a gubernatorial debate two years ago, Mr. Walz boasted that in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, “we have more refugees per capita than any other state. That’s not just morally a good thing, it’s our economic and cultural future.”

He added, “This beautiful diversity we see out in Worthington when I’m there — you see 50 languages spoken in the school.”

That’s not a blessing; that’s the Tower of Babel.

Our nation was founded on the idea of “out of many, one.” The vision was to create a melting pot in which legal immigrants would come to this country because they share its values, not because they can get free health care and smartphones. They’re supposed to go through a lengthy process that includes learning the language and adapting to the culture.

Democrats are importing people from around the globe who don’t know the language or share our values. The point of importing so many people is to alter America’s values in a way that favors Democrats’ electoral prospects.

That’s why it’s so important to put people who understand business in the White House.