The proposed 2012 budget...

tater · 04-07-11, 10:15 AM

Gimpy, you entirely missed my point. Of course it was not just Kerry. When the rates were topped at 93%, NO ONE payed that much. I'd wager that the average effective rates are virtually identical.

My point is that calling forth old, higher tax rates is a BS argument since the marginal rates tell us exactly nothing about what people actually paid. Bottom line is that under those higher rates the taxes collected as a percentage of GDP was in fact LOWER than now.

Total government spending then was around half of now as a function of GDP. The farther back you go in US history, the less total spending was.

On topic, Ryan suggested a spending cap at 20% or GDP. This is more than reasonable, heck to me it is too high. Still it's a good suggestion. Also the basic premise of his plan is good. We do something now or watch it crash and burn. Take your pick.

04-07-11, 10:15 AM	#17
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Gimpy, you entirely missed my point. Of course it was not just Kerry. When the rates were topped at 93%, NO ONE payed that much. I'd wager that the average effective rates are virtually identical. My point is that calling forth old, higher tax rates is a BS argument since the marginal rates tell us exactly nothing about what people actually paid. Bottom line is that under those higher rates the taxes collected as a percentage of GDP was in fact LOWER than now. Total government spending then was around half of now as a function of GDP. The farther back you go in US history, the less total spending was. On topic, Ryan suggested a spending cap at 20% or GDP. This is more than reasonable, heck to me it is too high. Still it's a good suggestion. Also the basic premise of his plan is good. We do something now or watch it crash and burn. Take your pick. __________________ "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." — Thomas Paine