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Old 09-27-10, 02:42 PM   #20
tater
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Current revenues as a % of GDP are just shy of 18% (17.7, 17.8, etc) with the Bush cuts in place.

This is an entirely normal value. The cuts did not decrease revenue as a % of GDP in any meaningful way. In addition, you cannot say what losses might have taken place with the previous rates, it's all speculation, and economic forecasting is frankly crap (coming from a physics background, I expect far smaller error bars before I'm willing to call something predictive).

The % has been in this range up and down since WW2 (between 16.something and 20% of GDP, and the vast majority of years in the 17% range).

Since revenues are essentially flat WRT marginal rates, why have them higher? Increase rates, and economy must contract just enough to offset the rise. Decrease rates, and it rises a little, keeping the revenue % nearly constant.

With any substantial changes in either direction, you'll see a spike for the year(s) of introduction, that's it. Then it stabilizes again.

What I'd prefer to see is a rationalization for spending 2/3 of our tax dollars (those of us that actually, you know, pay taxes enough to matter) on charity programs given mostly to people who don't need charity.
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