Summary: Virtually all Americans agree that the KKK is a vile, racist group has no place in contemporary public debate. What constructive action can we take? If you really hate the KKK, then cut taxes. Data show that poor economic performance enflames racial tension. According to Gallup polling, after the Bush tax cuts racial anxiety went down. But since 2010 anxiety has been rising—rapidly. One reason for that is that the U.S. has been growing at half its historic rate. When JFK proposed tax cuts in the early 60s, those cuts were opposed by southern segregationists. Senator Robert Byrd threatened a filibuster if Kennedy put forth both a tax cut and a civil rights bill. He knew that lowering taxes would increase growth, causing businesses to hire more African Americans. Our growth-less recovery has helped spawn high unemployment among youth and minorities—fueling a spike in extremist groups of both left and right. It’s time to cut taxes and get those idle hands to work.
