FLAIT

I wrote this Letter to the Editor and it was published in the newspaper, mostly intact. Here it is as I originally wrote it.

Regarding "Tax cuts don't cause deficits" (Your Views, Dec. 22) the writer said: "Each time tax rates were reduced…tax revenue collected by the government increased." Great, then let's cut income taxes 99% across the board and bring in more money. And why stop there? Let’s also cut state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, corporate taxes, payroll taxes, capital gain taxes and estate taxes, as well as bus and train fares, bridge and highway tolls, and tuition to state colleges by 99% as well and bring in even more money.

That’s called illustrating the absurd by being absurd.

Besides the bailouts, the stock market dive and the recession, we’re also in this mess because the Bush tax cuts (all of which should have been allowed to expire) weren't paid for, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan weren't paid for, and neither was the senior prescription drug plan. That’s what drove the deficits during the Bush years and added trillions to the national debt.

I'd also like to point out that when President Clinton raised taxes in 1993, Republicans said the economic sky was going to fall in. Turned out they couldn't have been more wrong because the 1990s were one of the best economic times in the country's history and the government was running surpluses, which Mr. Clinton used to pay off some of our debt.

The Republican record on taxes, spending and deficits couldn't be more clear, wrong and disastrous. So why does anybody listen to them?