Hypothetical issue to consider should we win in 2008: The Budget

[StrongBad]

So what happens if we can set the agenda on how we spend this country's revenue? Bush took it upon himself to fore-go any fiscal discipline with his tax cuts and failed Iraq war. Now we've got major deficits on our hand combined with a prescient need to continue investing in our infrastructure and military (yes it is necessary to some extent).

So, unfortunately it seems that if we are to enact some progressive reforms which require government spending that we either accept the fact that we are going to increase the deficit even further, or raise taxes significantly to fund said reforms.

Which brings us to another issue: How to politically sell tax hikes to the ordinary American.

I'm afraid unless Americans embrace a radical departure from recent history when it comes to issues like these that the undoing of these past 8 years are a long way off. It may only be neutralized and little more with 8 years of a Democrat in the White House.

Thoughts?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Stopping the war and cutting the "defense" budget by 2/3 would help.

Not to mention saving a lot of lives.

[StrongBad]

3. I agree with stopping the war

2/3 of a cut may be too much for my tastes. I'm happy with perhaps 1/3 instead.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Fat chance for either.

The MIC has the politicians of both parties in their pockets.

[midnight]

2. Do you think that the ordinary Americans will have to pay for this

administrations lack of fiscal responsiblility. Maybe, but what about asking those with the most to kick in. They have been receiving the best of this horrible time.

[StrongBad]

4. Certainly it would be best to make the tax code more progressive

In fact, we have gone so far off course in the realm of progressive taxation, that a return to a World War II era of taxation seems almost like socialism now to most people. However, we had periods of unprecedented growth during that time and many beneficial programs which turned out to be good investments.