Boo ray nails it and of course al he ad hom attacks
"Emblematic of the way "conservatives" have given up thinking in favor of dogma. The question discussed is the cause of the growing deficit. I say it is caused by tax and spending policy, the conservatives say it is only about spending.
Leads to a subsidiary question: what impact did the 2018 tax cuts have on the deficit? Conservatives say it reduced the deficit because revenues grew. I cite a Wall Street Journal article that says no--revenue fell during calendar 2018 and I cite a tax policy center piece that explains the obvious, that even year over year absolute increase in revenue growth is not proof that tax policy is reducing the deficit. Any real analysis must account for inflation, population growth and economic growth.
The conservatives cite fiscal year revenue for 2018 showing a 0.003% increase. There are multiple problems with that number. First, from an accounting perspective, the 2018 fiscal year includes significant tax receipts based on 2017 tax rates. (The 2018 US fiscal year ran from Oct. 1 2017 to Sept. 30-2018-that is why the WSJ calendar year measure is a more accurate test of the tax cut impact on revenue). Second, the number does not account for inflation or population growth. Third, it is is a minuscule increase. Fourth and most importantly, tax revenue received is just a measure of the economy and is only a very indirect measure of the effect of the tax rate changes. For instance-the same chart the conservatives rely on shows much larger tax revenue increases under Obama. If the question is which tax plan increases tax revenue and the chart is supposed to provide an answer, it is clear that the answer is "the Obama tax plan."
But you don't have to take my word or analysis as gospel. The very same article the conservatives rely on comes to the exact same conclusion: the Trump tax plan reduced federal government revenue. And the conservative's take on it all: "You got nothing."
WTH? Does it have to be engraved in stone by God for you to accept it? Your own source clearly and explicitly supports my argument.
The big issue is the deficit. It is undeniable that the GOP is increasing the deficit by reducing available revenue. That is all well and good if they are willing to reduce spending. But they aren't. They want to increase defense spending and entitlement spending for the affluent: see Medicare/Social Security/Farm subsidies. Trump himself tweets on news of the budget deal: we will worry about reductions a couple of years from now.
A real conservative says we need to reduce the deficit by greatly reducing safety net spending.
A moderate says our safety net is ok where it is, we need to reduce the deficit by taxing enough to pay for it.
A liberal says we need to expand the safety net and tax the wealthy greatly to pay for it.
A fool says we can reduce the deficit by reducing taxes and pretending we want to reduce the safety net.
This site is full of fools."
Waco1947
