The numbers don't lie. We are collecting taxes at about 15% of GDP when we should--historically--be collecting about 18%. We are also spending at 21% when it is usually around--again--18%. Is six percent on either side really that hard of a fucking deal to work out? Honestly. Is trying to raise revenue by 3% really going to throw the economy into another depression? Is cutting spending by 3% really going to make grandma starve? No on both accounts.
Raise rates. Close some loopholes. It can't be that hard to find 3% of GDP there while keeping taxes as low as possible for the middle class. I'd even be willing to pay an extra few percentage points if absolutely necessary. Shared sacrifice, right?
I agree with the percentages you list of the gaps between revenue and spending, but not your conclusion that more taxation is needed.
Even Reagan in the latter half of his presidency raised taxes to fill the gap. And George Bush Sr. even more so did the right thing and conceded to a considerable tax hike to balance things out.
But... to what effect?
All those tax increases did was enable far greater spending. It's Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football. Democrats offer cuts if Republicans raise taxes, Republicans consent to raise taxes, and Democrats never deliver with the cuts, and yank them away.
Over and over.
I say,
show us the tax cuts first, otherwise no tax raises, and that tax raises can ONLY be used to pay down the debt. We can't trust promises of cuts that have never happened, and probably never will until the economy implodes.
