The point was that lower marginal rates improve incentives in the economy... stimulating the economy and improving productivity...tax "rebates," along with government spending, that would somehow "stimulate." the economy, but with resultant inflation and no productivity gains.
Italics mine.

I'm getting tired of conservatives crying about nobody remembering the positive effects of Reagan's economic stimulus ideas and actions. These same "conservatives" installed George HW Bush in office despite the fact that it was CLEAR he would not follow ANY of Reagan's policies. Now they want to cry in their beer about how nobody remembers Reagan's brilliant leadership in times of economic slowdown.

Hooey and Fooey on that. They made their bed, they chose a "third way", they handed over the party to neo-cons and effectively gave us a Bush family dynasty. A bunch of sniveling dolts inhabit the party now. That was crystal clear during the primaries when the Bush campaign was running TV commercials that referred to the Bush tax-cut proposal as "Reaganesque".

Callahan

Well, Harry, sounds like you better do some work and get Bret Schundler elected! :-)

I didn't see anyone else proposing a Income Tax cut during last year's election. Nor did I see anyone talking about partial privitization of Social Security.

That said, I'm unhappy Bush hasn't taken this opportunity to cut capital gains taxes.

This is a good article. A stinging reminder of how stupid the GOP of today really is. If you read Rush Limbaugh's two books, you realize that he sang the praises of Reagan's leadership both economically and otherwise. Then fast-forward the tape to Campaign 2000. Rush sings the praises of Bush Number Two? How utterly insane. Almost a TOTAL turnaround. Gone from conservative to neo-con in just a few years. Junior sprinkled just enough Reaganism into his campaign to get elected. Now that he's in office, can you tally the similarities with the Reagan Administration? Now that you have that tally, count the similarities with the first Bush Administration. When you're done with that, compare Junior's policies to Clinton's.

You will find some startling results. I'll give you a hint. Junior's Administration is proving itself to be closer to both Daddy's and Clinton's than it is with Reagan's. That should be fairly obvious.

Callahan

The GOP has forgotten how to fight. Reagan didn't give a damn and did what he wanted as the liberals kicked and screamed and frothed themselves silly. Seeing the sharp contrasts, the majority voted for him. Bush-I kowtowed to the liberals and lost since what the hell was the difference.

The last GOP fighter was Newt Gingrich who led and kept the GOP on the winning side despite the shrill hysteria of the looney left. The majority seeing the sharp contrasts voted in the GOP. With Newt gone assisted by RINOs help, the GOP has gone namby-pamby and decided to not make waves.The voters now do not know see much of a difference. Bush-II barely just won and without doubt with help of the grassroots fight led by FR against the donkeys who tried to steal the election. However, the Senate is now lost and yet the GOP are playing possum. They should look back and realize they won handily when they had fighting leaders like Reagan and Gingrich who contrasted sharply with liberals and made the majority vote for the GOP.

I'm getting tired of conservatives crying about nobody remembering the positive effects of Reagan's economic stimulus ideas and actions. These same "conservatives" installed George HW Bush in office despite the fact that it was CLEAR he would not follow ANY of Reagan's policies.

It's time to start educating people, even many conservatives again. Soon the Dem's will be talking about increased spending as a economic stimulant. In the wake of 9/11 increased spending is legitimately necessary. However when advocated as a stimulant, we are back on the larger government wagon, one pulled by both parties. The distinction needs to be made that while the economy can be stimulated in the short term be either spending or tax reduction, only tax reduction will spur productivity gains and growth rather than inflation over the long term. That message has been lost.

It isn't just the GOP of today that's stupid. Reagan was just an anomaly in that party. Remember that the national level leadership of the party always despised Reagan. It was only massive grassroots support that got Reagan the nod, which was bitterly resented by the high party fatboys.

Once Reagan reached his term limits and became gravely ill as well, those same high level bosses set about booting out everyone who wanted to continue what Reagan started.

There was a very good reason for the GOP being a minority party for half a century before Reagan. The same reasons are just as good today and we'll see the GOP slip back into minority status, with only the legislated protections against the success of a new party keeping the GOP from vanishing altogether.

Conservatives have no place in either party. The destruction of our economic power is imminent if conservatives don't come together and form independent state level parties which can build the numbers needed to eject the socialists of the "two" established parties.

BUMP for your comment, lass.

Many states are prohibited by their constitution from running deficits. I always thought that was a good thing -- sound, conservative fiscal policy. Now the Wall Street Journal announces it's nothing more than an "accounting fixation on a balanced budget". Seems silly to write "accounting fixations" into state constitutions. Maybe we should get rid of those clauses?