According to an economist, last name Hauser, over the past 60 years, no matter what the tax rates were, at one time as high as 60% or more, all the Treasury can collect is 19.5% of GDP. The graph is so tight its rather stunning.
Given that entitlements are exploding, and without great political courage they cannot be reined in at all, the amount of Federal discretionary spending is really quite small. If a politician says he/she will raise taxes to fund programs and reduce the deficit, they are LYING. It cannot be done by taxation and they should absolutely know it or why are they in a leadership position?
Now in the discretionary areas you can move money from one program to another like from the military weapons to road building, but thats it. President Bush vetoed the recent $300 billion farm bill that was a total sell out to huge millionaire agribusinessmen and say what you want about the Pres he was right to do so.
Given that entitlements are exploding, and without great political courage they cannot be reined in at all, the amount of Federal discretionary spending is really quite small. If a politician says he/she will raise taxes to fund programs and reduce the deficit, they are LYING. It cannot be done by taxation and they should absolutely know it or why are they in a leadership position?
Now in the discretionary areas you can move money from one program to another like from the military weapons to road building, but thats it. President Bush vetoed the recent $300 billion farm bill that was a total sell out to huge millionaire agribusinessmen and say what you want about the Pres he was right to do so.