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| How much government do we want? | How much government do we want? |
| (14 days later) | |
| We are edging toward a soak-the-rich economy. To borrow from Winston Churchill: Rarely would so much be taken from so few. | We are edging toward a soak-the-rich economy. To borrow from Winston Churchill: Rarely would so much be taken from so few. |
| To be sure, the United States is undertaxed in the sense that people want more government spending than they are willing to pay for with higher taxes. Here are the numbers. In 2019, federal taxes equaled 16 percent of the economy (gross domestic product), while spending was 21 percent. In cold cash, the deficit totaled nearly $1 trillion, or 5 percent of GDP. | To be sure, the United States is undertaxed in the sense that people want more government spending than they are willing to pay for with higher taxes. Here are the numbers. In 2019, federal taxes equaled 16 percent of the economy (gross domestic product), while spending was 21 percent. In cold cash, the deficit totaled nearly $1 trillion, or 5 percent of GDP. |
| The argument — made by many Republicans — that the economy can’t tolerate higher taxes is overkill. It’s refuted by history. As a share of GDP, federal tax revenues have been higher in all but six years since 1990, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The Trump tax cut of 2017 sacrificed many billions of much-needed revenue. | The argument — made by many Republicans — that the economy can’t tolerate higher taxes is overkill. It’s refuted by history. As a share of GDP, federal tax revenues have been higher in all but six years since 1990, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The Trump tax cut of 2017 sacrificed many billions of much-needed revenue. |
| The truth is we need higher taxes as part of a political bargain to reduce and ultimately eliminate endless deficits, which pose long-term political and economic dangers. No deal is possible unless it includes a sizable contribution from new taxes. The trouble is that many Democrats view higher taxes as a vehicle to fund new social programs. | The truth is we need higher taxes as part of a political bargain to reduce and ultimately eliminate endless deficits, which pose long-term political and economic dangers. No deal is possible unless it includes a sizable contribution from new taxes. The trouble is that many Democrats view higher taxes as a vehicle to fund new social programs. |
| The bruising primary fight for the Democratic presidential nomination has left two survivors: former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Both advocate agendas that would pay for new social programs with higher taxes, as did the other candidates. | The bruising primary fight for the Democratic presidential nomination has left two survivors: former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Both advocate agendas that would pay for new social programs with higher taxes, as did the other candidates. |
| The amounts are dizzying. In a new study, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center (TPC) estimated that Biden’s proposed tax increases would raise $4 trillion over the next decade, which is a lot of money but not enough to cover $13 trillion in deficits projected by the Congressional Budget Office under existing programs for the same period. | The amounts are dizzying. In a new study, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center (TPC) estimated that Biden’s proposed tax increases would raise $4 trillion over the next decade, which is a lot of money but not enough to cover $13 trillion in deficits projected by the Congressional Budget Office under existing programs for the same period. |
| Virtually all of the Biden tax increases would fall on the rich, the nearly rich and businesses. By the TPC’s estimates, the richest 1 percent of taxpayers would see a 17 percent drop in their after-tax income, worth $299,000. (Included in this group are the richest 0.1 percent, who would experience a 23 percent decline in after-tax income, equal to an average of $1.8 million.) The poorest 80 percent of taxpayers would essentially see no loss of income. | Virtually all of the Biden tax increases would fall on the rich, the nearly rich and businesses. By the TPC’s estimates, the richest 1 percent of taxpayers would see a 17 percent drop in their after-tax income, worth $299,000. (Included in this group are the richest 0.1 percent, who would experience a 23 percent decline in after-tax income, equal to an average of $1.8 million.) The poorest 80 percent of taxpayers would essentially see no loss of income. |
| Unfortunately, the TPC study doesn’t show how Biden would spend these tax revenues. But some insights can be gleaned from other sources. | Unfortunately, the TPC study doesn’t show how Biden would spend these tax revenues. But some insights can be gleaned from other sources. |
| Biden’s plan to expand health insurance to an additional 15 million to 20 million people would raise budget deficits by about $800 billion over a decade, says the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. An additional $850 billion would cover universal prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds, plus more funds for schools in poor neighborhoods. | Biden’s plan to expand health insurance to an additional 15 million to 20 million people would raise budget deficits by about $800 billion over a decade, says the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. An additional $850 billion would cover universal prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds, plus more funds for schools in poor neighborhoods. |
| All this casts Biden as a big spender, but compared with Sanders, he’s a piker. Some weeks ago, I wrote a column estimating the costs of Sanders’s proposals, based mainly on the candidate’s own cost estimates. His plan includes free public college and cancellation of student debt; higher Social Security benefits; the Green New Deal proposal; Medicare-for-all; universal preschool. This list omits a job guarantee, because there are no reliable cost estimates. | All this casts Biden as a big spender, but compared with Sanders, he’s a piker. Some weeks ago, I wrote a column estimating the costs of Sanders’s proposals, based mainly on the candidate’s own cost estimates. His plan includes free public college and cancellation of student debt; higher Social Security benefits; the Green New Deal proposal; Medicare-for-all; universal preschool. This list omits a job guarantee, because there are no reliable cost estimates. |
| Still, the total cost came to a staggering $55 trillion over the next decade. The $55 trillion is so much money that it’s difficult to describe. If entirely covered by taxes, it would nearly double the existing level of taxes. If covered exclusively by borrowing, the federal debt held by the public, now $16.8 trillion, would roughly quadruple to $71.8 trillion. | Still, the total cost came to a staggering $55 trillion over the next decade. The $55 trillion is so much money that it’s difficult to describe. If entirely covered by taxes, it would nearly double the existing level of taxes. If covered exclusively by borrowing, the federal debt held by the public, now $16.8 trillion, would roughly quadruple to $71.8 trillion. |
| Most Americans — including me — believe in progressive government. That is: The rich and well-to-do share their good fortune with others who haven’t had it. They pay more in taxes and receive less in benefits. This reduces hardship and poverty. That’s the way it has long been. In 2019, the top 1 percent paid 24 percent of all federal taxes, and the next 4 percent of taxpayers paid 16 percent of all federal taxes. Those at the bottom paid virtually nothing. | Most Americans — including me — believe in progressive government. That is: The rich and well-to-do share their good fortune with others who haven’t had it. They pay more in taxes and receive less in benefits. This reduces hardship and poverty. That’s the way it has long been. In 2019, the top 1 percent paid 24 percent of all federal taxes, and the next 4 percent of taxpayers paid 16 percent of all federal taxes. Those at the bottom paid virtually nothing. |
| But too much of a good thing invites abuse. Democrats’ governing philosophy is to create all manner of social benefits that would be financed by tapping the wealthy and well-to-do. The political incentives are obvious: Tax the few and distribute to the many. Why would any self-respecting progressive resist the temptation? Under the rubric of improving equality, progressives promote a society that seems compassionate but, in reality, is increasingly guided by bureaucratic rules. | But too much of a good thing invites abuse. Democrats’ governing philosophy is to create all manner of social benefits that would be financed by tapping the wealthy and well-to-do. The political incentives are obvious: Tax the few and distribute to the many. Why would any self-respecting progressive resist the temptation? Under the rubric of improving equality, progressives promote a society that seems compassionate but, in reality, is increasingly guided by bureaucratic rules. |
| Just what the long-term economic and political effects of this would be is anyone’s guess. But they would probably emerge only after several decades. Granted, there are practical difficulties in deciding what are effective government interventions and what are exercises in political self-interest. Still, assuming either Biden or Sanders is the next president, the difficulties can be minimized by dealing with budget deficits before constructing a vast array of new programs. | Just what the long-term economic and political effects of this would be is anyone’s guess. But they would probably emerge only after several decades. Granted, there are practical difficulties in deciding what are effective government interventions and what are exercises in political self-interest. Still, assuming either Biden or Sanders is the next president, the difficulties can be minimized by dealing with budget deficits before constructing a vast array of new programs. |
| Sadly, the odds are against that happening. | Sadly, the odds are against that happening. |
| Read more from Robert Samuelson’s archive. | Read more from Robert Samuelson’s archive. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Read a letter responding to this column: Tax the fossil-fuel industry, not wealthy individuals | Read a letter responding to this column: Tax the fossil-fuel industry, not wealthy individuals |
| Robert J. Samuelson: Here’s how much a Bernie Sanders presidency would cost | Robert J. Samuelson: Here’s how much a Bernie Sanders presidency would cost |
| Dawn Johnsen and Walter Dellinger: Yes, a wealth tax would be constitutional | Dawn Johnsen and Walter Dellinger: Yes, a wealth tax would be constitutional |
| Greg Sargent: The massive triumph of the rich, illustrated by stunning new data | Greg Sargent: The massive triumph of the rich, illustrated by stunning new data |
| Lawrence H. Summers and Natasha Sarin: Yes, our tax system needs reform. Let’s start with this first step. | Lawrence H. Summers and Natasha Sarin: Yes, our tax system needs reform. Let’s start with this first step. |
| Paul Waldman: Joe Biden’s surprisingly liberal tax plan | Paul Waldman: Joe Biden’s surprisingly liberal tax plan |
| The stimulus deal reached Wednesday has $400 million of election assistance for states, far less than Democrats had said would be necessary. There are legal, logistical and financial concerns with implementing mail-in balloting for November. See what elections are coming up and what has moved. | |
| Former vice president Joe Biden, with a delegate lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders, is working to become more visible, sitting for TV interviews, taking questions from reporters and holding a virtual happy hour with supporters. | |
| Policy: Candidates have laid out where they stand on various issues. Answer some of the questions yourself and see who agrees with you. | |
| Sign up: Want to understand what’s happening in the campaign? Sign up for The Trailer and get insights and news from across the country in your inbox three days a week. |