Given that all property belongs to the gov’t, letting people keep more of their money via tax breaks counts as a subsidy. That is Brooks’ argument in a nutshell.
Exactly. From the article,
In Europe, governments subsidize favored industries. We do the same thing by providing special tax deductions and exemptions for everybody from ethanol producers to Nascar track owners.
These tax expenditures are hidden but huge. Budget experts Donald Marron and Eric Toder added up all the spending-like tax preferences ..... (Emphasis added.)
This is all vintage Kennedyspeak, straight out of some old Teddy Kennedy tirade full of demands to "close the loopholes" (raise taxes).
Brooksie is a 60's liberal Democrat. Only at The New York Times, where swish is delish and gay is the Way, would Brooks be considered "conservative". He's Anna Quindlen in a two-piece.