Comments for The "Hyperpartisan" Washington Post at http://www.cepr.net , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.cepr.net Wed, 22 May 2013 01:03:46 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.cepr.net/index.php/beat-the-press/the-qhyperpartisanq-washington-post/#comment-195 The dynamic is a pernicious Hegelian dialectic. Politics and demographics means we will continue to get tax cuts and spending increases from both parties until their ability to borrow is broken. I agree with you Queen, we have gov't of the Least Common Denominator, what's politically easy happens, what takes courage gets forestalled. Hell, even the GOP declares, "no cuts to entitlements." - scott Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:50:43 +0100 http://www.cepr.net/index.php/beat-the-press/the-qhyperpartisanq-washington-post/#comment-187 What politician in his right mind wants to even discuss a national sales tax in an election year? The only discussion of the deficit in political circles between now and next year is going to involve how best to bash President Obama for his budget proposal. Think tanks and special commissions will make pronouncements and hold discussions about the scary Medicare and Social Security numbers and the need for more tax revenue, but politicians will become involved in these debates only if they're dragged in kicking and screaming. And who can blame them? The average citizen doesn't want to pay more taxes, doesn't want to give up any government benefits, and thinks the deficit can be handled by cutting "waste, fraud and abuse" and foreign aid from the federal budget. - Queen of Sheba Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:37:19 +0100 http://www.cepr.net/index.php/beat-the-press/the-qhyperpartisanq-washington-post/#comment-185 Economic debates are not usually a matter of partisanship, but of short-term economic gain or loss and class or other special interests (the abortion debate is partisan). The VAT is alleged to be regressive like sales taxes, but seems to be opposed by the usual pro-regressive-tax suspects - big-money interests and Republicans. It's not clear to me why this is so - is something missing from the usual accounts of VATs? - skeptonomist Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:06:16 +0100