What should our tax brackets be?

[DC Al Fine]

No, taxation is at historical lows and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Or... Spending is at a historical high and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Lief's statement is fact, yours is fantasy, bb.

The only other era where government spending in the USA was higher as a % GDP was during WW2.

[DC Al Fine]

No, taxation is at historical lows and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Or... Spending is at a historical high and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Lief's statement is fact, yours is fantasy, bb.

The only other era where government spending in the USA was higher as a % GDP was during WW2.

Spending or the deficit?

Deficits don't matter unless inflation is over 4%, anyways.

Spending.

[DC Al Fine]

No, taxation is at historical lows and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Or... Spending is at a historical high and it's led to a ballooning deficit.

Lief's statement is fact, yours is fantasy, bb.

The only other era where government spending in the USA was higher as a % GDP was during WW2.

Spending or the deficit?

Deficits don't matter unless inflation is over 4%, anyways.

Spending.

Do you mean raw spending or as a percentage of GDP? The former is utterly meaningless.

As a % GDP. I too am annoyed by raw numbers. There's only so many times I can be attacked for the Tories "record deficit" of 1.2% GDP

[DC Al Fine]

How do people feel about the fair tax or a flat tax rate? In exchange we could pay for government services with user fees such as toll roads, tariffs, raising the price of stamps, and other things.

It depends what you mean by "fair tax". "Fair taxes" are VAT's and therefore regressive as hell. A flat tax is fair but impractical as the poors can't really afford to pay the required %'s. Some progressive taxation is required IMO if there is going to be a functioning welfare state, even if you are going down the "punish the rich" route.