[Opinionated Blowhard]

The one thing that Republicans are horrible at doing is explaining the context of why they don't want tax increases. They simply knee-jerk say “no tax increases” and wait for the applause to come in. They have to explain that the “rich” already pay over two-thirds of all taxes, and that spending has increased to historical highs of 24% of GDP. And that if we reduced spending back to 19% or 20% of GDP most of the deficit would be gone. No one says that or if they do, they don't say it enough. That makes them look rigid to the wishy-washy middle, who are desperate for everyone to “get along.”

[newzjunkey]

You must not have watched the debate.

Q: Or even 10 to one?

SANTORUM: No. The answer is no, because that’s not the problem. The problem is that we have spending that has exploded. Government has averaged 18 percent of GDP as — as a percentage of the overall economy that government eats up. And we’re now at almost 25 percent. Revenues are do

In another appearance this week a different candidate (Romney?) made the point more vividly by including all levels of government. State & local gov't add around $3 trillion more spending which puts all government sucking up over 40%, heading to 50% of GDP.