[M. Dodge Thomas]

I'm sorry, but any proposal to reduce significantly reduce the deficit that does not include both tax increases and spending cuts is just grandstanding.

Which is mostly what were are now getting for both sides.

[agere_contra]

No, no, no.

Cutting tax rates encourages wealth production and grows the economy.

Increasing taxes punishes wealth production and shrinks the economy.

Here’s the thing. Whatever the tax regime, the Govt ends up with about 18% of GDP. That’s the empirical amount, that’s what happens in economies as different as e.g. Mexico, Sweden, Dubai - and America. 18% is about all that can be squeezed out of a country while keeping it as a going concern.

So the solution to improving the economy AND reducing the deficit are the same solution. Reduce taxes, reduce regulation, reduce legal vulnerability - and let the wealth producers do what they’re best at. 18% of a bigger pie will pay down that deficit.

Hope this is helpful.