by Dan Mitchell | Jan 21, 2012 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending, Laffer Curve, States, Taxation
Two days ago, I explained that tax increases are bad policy. More specifically, I warned that giving more money to government exacerbates fiscal problems because politicians respond to the expectation of more revenue by spending more than otherwise would be the case....
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 20, 2012 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Taxation
I don’t blame the Democrats for wanting to seduce Republicans into a tax-increase trap. Indeed, I completely understand why some Democrats said their top political goal was getting the GOP to surrender the no-tax-hike position. I’m mystified, though, why some...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 16, 2012 | Big Government, Blogs, Europe, Government Spending, Taxation, VAT
In a recent column for the Wall Street Journal, I explained why Mitt Romney’s interest in a value-added tax is deeply troubling. One of my key points was that the VAT is a money machine for big government. But don’t believe me. Look at Japan, where the politicians see...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 13, 2012 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
After saddling the nation with trillion-dollar boondoggles like the faux stimulus and Obamacare, I’m not sure it’s possible for Obama to reinvent himself as a budget cutter before the election. But I welcome converts, even ones that are insincere, so I’m happy he’s at...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 11, 2012 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
I realize this is about as productive as talking to a brick wall, but I’m going to explain some basic economics to statist French policymakers (oops, pardon the redundancy). This heroic – albeit surely futile – impulse is triggered by a recent proposal from President...
