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I wrote a detailed column about this issue a few months ago, but the press keeps trying to tell
the same old lies about the economy. So here I am, again, explaining how the liberal press lies
and what the truth really is.
First issue: that this year's deficit is a "record". False! Not in any meaningful sense is the deficit
a record. The Federal government ran a deficit of 30% GDP in 1943, and that remains the record deficit. This
year's deficit is about 3.5% GDP, so much smaller than the real record that only intentional deception can
explain the continue use of the words "record deficit" by the liberal press. In addition, when you
compensate for inflation, this year's deficit is about $330 billion (1996 dollars) while the deficit in
1943 was $424 billion in 1996 dollars. Again, only deliberate deception can account for such an error
being repeated month after month. (Source:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2004/hist.html)
Second issue: Tax cuts "cost" money. Foolishness! Tax cuts mean that you, the taxpayer, have
more money, not less! Only a liberal would view the Federal budget from the side
of the government, and even then a tax cut would only reduce revenue if the reduced rate
brought in less revenue. Apparently some people still haven't learned the lessons of the
Laffer Curve and Supply Side economics. The current
economic boom is tied to the tax rate reductions, and a growing economy can mean more revenues
for the government. Whether the lower rate results in lower revenues remains to be seen. Our past
experience with tax rate cuts in the 1980s shows that inflation adjusted Federal revenues increased
at a faster rate after the tax cuts. Revenues went from increasing at the rate of $41.6 billion
per year (from 1978-81) to increasing at the rate of $52.4 billion per year after the tax cuts (1984-9).
(Source: Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2003, Historical Tables, Table 1.3: Summary of Receipts)
Issue 3: Tax cuts do not increase the rate of growth in the economy. Again, nonsense! Here is the
breakdown in growth rates since the Carter years:
| Average Yearly Compound Growth |
| Carter | 2.75% |
| Reagan | 3.5% |
| Reagan Expansion (83-9) | 4.3% |
| Bush 41 | 1.75% |
| Clinton | 3.4% |
| Clinton Expansion (94-2000) | 3.8% |
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Yearly growth rates after the Reagan tax cuts are the highest in recent history, and the growth in recent
months after the Bush tax cuts has been the highest since then!
So the next time you see someone in the liberal press lying about the economy, let them know
that you know the real facts.
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...the press keeps trying to tell the same old lies about
the economy.
Not in any meaningful sense is the deficit a record.
Tax cuts mean that you, the taxpayer, have more money, not less!
...let them know that you know the real facts.
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