Scepticism is precious in a world in thrall to the power of the state

  • theinspectorst@kbin.socialOP
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    1 year ago

    The tax cuts

    What tax cuts? The only reference the article makes to tax cuts is to a) criticise the sort of blanket Laffer curve-ism that the political right are guilty of, but b) note that, just as sometimes Laffer curve-ism can be correct, so sometimes the belief that government spending pays for itself can be correct. The article doesn’t at any point advocate tax cuts.

    I think you made an (I think incorrect) assumption about the author’s intent when you read the article and so are imposing a bunch of assumptions on to it that don’t reflect the actual words that are written.

    • david
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      1 year ago

      The authors intent was clearly and obviously to dissuade people from supporting government expenditure that has anything like an aim of improving the country. You’re trying to convince me that the author, (who labels Biden as anti capitalist and Sunak as anti London) isn’t attempting to convince governments to spend less. It isn’t working. “See how it never works! Laugh at the naivety of trying to make things better! Worry about the government spending your money! Worry about the debt you somehow personally participate in as a result of government spending!” The article is so wholeheartedly pro small government, anti big government and anti social intervention, it’s absurd of you to claim it’s not arguing for reduced government spending and reduced tax intake. It isn’t saying it explicitly very often, but the only point against tax cuts (and the one you keep bringing up) is that they might not be self funding. It’s not arguing that tax cuts always bring in more tax, no, but it is arguing for reducing taxation by spending less on “investment”.

      You’re trying to convince me that there’s no wood by drawing my attention to several trees, and even some tufts of grass. You have missed the point of the article which is to reduce government spending, especially outside London. Cuts. Cuts hurt. They hurt the poorest most. You’ve never addressed that point and you’re misrepresenting the purpose and the message of the article.