[LearsFool]

more tax cuts won't help economy

But they'll help Americans.

(Or doesn't that matter?)

[VRWCmember]

Their main effect was simply to reduce the government’s revenue, thereby increasing the budget deficit, which all Republicans claim to abhor.

Sorry Bruce, but they didn't reduce government's revenue. Revenues WENT UP DRAMATICALLY. And the economy was NOT growing before the tax cuts. Even if you think that the tax cuts didn't do that much to stimulate the economy, allowing them to expire -- which IS a drastic tax rate increase -- would have a dramatic, devestating contractionary effect on the economy.

[DManA]

Very misleading headline. Author seems to be saying tinkering with the rates, temporarily, isn’t the answer. We need to scrap the entire mess and replace it with something rational.

I agree.

[Paladin2]

A tax increase will hurt the economy. Just watch.

[reagan_fanatic]

So, raising taxes by letting the cuts expire while we are mired in a near-depression is preferable?

This man is beyond stupid.

[freekitty]

This guy is somewhere out in never never land.

[Bigun]

Bruce Bartlet long ago proved himself a complete fool and there is no reason for anyone to read a word he writes.

[ncalburt]

another dc insider looking a new job in the GOP bashing GOP expert slot !

[jimbo123]

It’s not a tax cut. It’s a tax increase.

[mo]

The Feds..and the Democrats...DO understand that tax cuts stimulate the economy. That is NOT the big mystery to them they portray. It IS part of the Rinocrat Oligarchy’s Good Cop-Bad Cop Con.

They could care less. They would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.

Its about control.. about delivering the American people to the international banksters nicely sliced, diced and trussed.

[The_Victor]

Welcome to Free Republic.

Your addition to the headline is contradicted by the article. Bartlett is simply arguing for real supply side tax cuts.

As I explained in a previous column, it would have been better to have had a serious debate earlier this year on the efficacy of the Bush tax cuts, made permanent those that improve the tax code and the economy over the long run, and jettison the rest. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and we are now faced with the political reality that our only real choice is to extend all the Bush tax cuts or allow a large tax increase to take effect on Jan. 1. Under those circumstances, the tax cuts must be extended. But no one should delude themselves that continuing tax cuts that did nothing for growth over the last 10 years will do anything to stimulate growth in the future.

[MNJohnnie]

Yes, as usual a highly misleading headline for valid point. Tax cuts alone are not going to help. We must also significant reduce Federal Spending and reign in a overweening, out of control Government regulatory system.

[MNJohnnie]

WebFocus
Since Sep 21, 2010

Welcome to Free Republic.

[MEGoody]

Subsequent research by Federal Reserve economists. . .

And we should trust them why?

[dfwgator]

Cuts in tax rates are not tax cuts, the point is to increase revenues. Kennedy knew this, Reagan knew this, but it seems everybody else is out to lunch on this.

[B Knotts]

Your addition to the headline is very misleading. The author is saying that these particular tax cuts aren’t effective, but that across-the-board tax cuts would be.

[Cheetahcat]

Aaaahhh Mr Bruce point of interest, it is NOT the Governments Damn Money!!

[VeniVidiVici]

Is Bruce Bartlett dying? Is this a death bed confession? After all these years.

[roses of sharon]

Bartlett supported Obama in 08 and dissed the Tea Parties as racist.

[VOA]

“
Bruce Bartlett: Bush tax cuts a flop (Former Reagan adviser —
more tax cuts won’t help economy)
“

Looks like somebody didn’t watch Laffer on the John Stossel special
that aired this weekend on FOX News Channel.

It amazes AND saddens me that our nation has UN-learned the lessons of
the Reagan era.

(Of course, reducing taxes also means an accompaning cut in spending,
e.g., killing wasteful or even useless programs. When will we ever re-learn?)