While a solution to our massive $2.1 trillion deficits will likely involve a combination of spending cuts and tax reform, if only to find compromise between both parties, there is a logical argument to be made that spending discipline should come before any tax increases. This video makes the case….
What would it take to cut our $2 trillion annual deficits without cutting any spending, but instead just by raising taxes? Following is one scenario, explained on video and with a chart that follows with the numbers quoted. This is not a policy recommendation. It is only meant to show
This article is an attempt to think through the federal deficit in stages, starting with the relatively lower-pain options before moving into the more difficult structural choices. (See a different approach that still arrives at similar conclusions here). The first tier discussed below focuses on reforms that could plausibly reduce
A lot of people look at capital gains taxes and assume there is meaningful money to be found. The intuition is understandable. Large fortunes, significant stock gains, valuable real estate—this feels like the place where the government could raise serious revenue. But the reality is more constrained. Even fairly aggressive
Corporate taxes are an easy place for people to look for ideas to reduce our deficit and debt. Corporations can feel abstract—large, distant, and often associated with profits and executive pay. That makes them a politically safe target. But corporations are also employers, investors, and the main vehicle through which
It’s an appealing idea. The numbers at the top are large, the need is large, and the logic feels straightforward: raise taxes on the wealthy and close the gap. But when you walk through the math, it doesn’t work. There might be an argument to be made that the wealthy
Why Different Philosophies Lead to Different Answers Arguments about taxes usually stay on the surface—rates, loopholes, and who pays how much. Below this debate are moral assumptions about different types of taxation. People often talk past each other because they are starting from different assumptions about the relative morality of
“Pay your fair share” is everywhere in tax debates, but it rarely comes with numbers attached. So start with the most basic comparison: who earns the income, and who pays the taxes. Below are two views for each group: Income share vs. income taxes (what is usually quoted) Income share
Many people point to Nordic countries as models for a more generous, stable system—often describing them as “democratic socialist.” A more precise term is social democracy, but the point remains that these countries combine broad social benefits with relatively strong fiscal positions. One of the clearest examples is Denmark. It
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