It’s about Taxes, Redux
From and editorial in the Economist:
The sticking-point is not on the spending side. It is because the vast majority of Republicans, driven on by the wilder-eyed members of their party and the cacophony of conservative media, are clinging to the position that not a single cent of deficit reduction must come from a higher tax take. This is economically illiterate and disgracefully cynical.
This newspaper has a strong dislike of big government; we have long argued that the main way to right America’s finances is through spending cuts. But you cannot get there without any tax rises. In Britain, for instance, the coalition government aims to tame its deficit with a 3:1 ratio of cuts to hikes. America’s tax take is at its lowest level for decades: even Ronald Reagan raised taxes when he needed to do so.
And the closer you look, the more unprincipled the Republicans look. Earlier this year House Republicans produced a report noting that an 85%-15% split between spending cuts and tax rises was the average for successful fiscal consolidations, according to historical evidence. The White House is offering an 83%-17% split (hardly a huge distance) and a promise that none of the revenue increase will come from higher marginal rates, only from eliminating loopholes. If the Republicans were real tax reformers, they would seize this offer.
Indeed.
even Ronald Reagan raised taxes when he needed to do so.
And he was promised three dollars in spending cuts for ever one dollar in tax cuts. What did he get? Three dollars in new spending for every dollar in tax cuts.
Sorry, but the GOP should hold their ground on this one. For the first time ever, spending cuts FIRST and then talk tax reform and any increases.
If the republicans were anything other than bought and paid for partisan hacks whose only interest is enriching the rich….
But then I fantasize.