To answer your final question, I think that the intent is to stimulate long term investment (investments held over a year are taxed significantly lower than tho

To answer your final question, I think that the intent is to stimulate long term investment (investments held over a year are taxed significantly lower than those held less than a year) -- this tends to boost the economy and grow businesses, which create more jobs etc. To the rest-- yes, that's how I see it as well.