Under what circumstances would our party be able to raise taxes rather than cut spending?

[jpgray]

What would that scenario look like?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Why "rather than"?

Do both: Raise taxes on the top earners and cut spending for endless war. Pretty simple.

[polichick]

6. Sadly, that Democratic Party doesn't exist anymore. nt

[GSLevel9]

12. one sentence, so much logic.

it really IS that simple. The wars are literally the root of our ills.

[stevenleser]

2. In the current environment? I dont see it at all.

First off, spending bills and tax policy originate in the House of Representatives. With the incoming House configuration, there will be no tax increases.

Even if that were not the case, tax increases are toxic. Even allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthy is contentious. Yes, a clear majority agrees with what I think is the Democratic opinion, but it isnt as large a majority as it should be. (IMHO it should be close to 90% but it is about 60%)

[Cant trust em]

3. I honestly don't see it happening for at least a generation.

A lot of minds will have to change before the American public sacrifices taxes for the good of the country. It just takes more forethought and long-term thinking that I think we have the guts to handle.

[Recursion]

4. I could see a VAT getting passed

Which is unfortunate, but at least it's revenue.

[hollowdweller]

7. I could see a VAT tax passing for sure.

Lots of conservatives favor that. Puts more of the tax burden on the working class and good excuse to cut taxes for the rich in a backdoor way.

Plus most dems buy into the GOP agenda so I could see it passing.

[Recursion]

8. Yup. I'm very anti-VAT, but we need some revenue from somewhere

And if that's what's possible, then there we are.

[mtnsnake]

5. What poster 1 said. nt

[former9thward]

9. We don't need to worry about cutting or raising taxes if we just

stop the out of control spending on two hopeless wars. Yes we are still fighting and dying in Iraq and of course the useless war in Afghanistan continues. This is bleeding us dry. Putin was on Larry King the other night encouraging the U.S. to keep on fighting, dying and wasting money in Afghanistan. He knows what Afghanistan did to the Soviet Union and want the same to happen to us.

End those wars and greatly reduce U.S. military presence in Europe and Asia. All the military does in Europe is prop of the economies of countries that have U.S. bases.

[Recursion]

10. Unfortunately, ending the wars doesn't get us nearly there

"Overseas contingency operations" as they are euphemistically called cost us roughly 150 billion per year.

[former9thward]

11. Thats why we have to reduce or elimate wasted military

presence in Europe and Asia. Japan and S. Korea are strong countries and defend themselves. Europe faces no threats.