I'm curious: when did "increasing government revenue" become a fundamental goal of the left?
I consider myself a lefty, but I've never felt that "increasing government revenue" for its own sake is something I should fight for.
ok-cleek
Man I had a dreadful flight
Tax, borrow and spend!
Boring has been less expensive. WTH! We need to rebuilt our infrastructure! No better time than the present.
JW
I meant borrowing.
agreed. but that’s never stated as a need to raise revenues (and borrowing really isn’t the same as raising revenue via taxes)
I interpret the call for increased revenue in the context of a government that’s severely underfunded. I’m not claiming that’s the case, but I suggest it’s the assumption.
The simplest argument for the “underfunded government” assumption is the persistence of a budget deficit and an enormous national debt. As long as you have those kind of shortfalls, you can always say “I need more money.”
The problem, of course, is that “more revenue” often — probably usually — doesn’t get directed where it should.