Statists (both establishment Democrats and Republicans) argue about how to maximize government revenue. Keynes taught them that the revenue maximizing level of taxation must be less than 100% (because their host would not survive), but must also be greater than 0% (at which there would be no revenue). This is natural greed. What is less comprehensible is the number of private-sector dupes who offer their suggestions on how the State can maximize the pillage from the productive (non-government) economy.
To the various levels of government, the American people (revenue source) are Holsteins from which the quantity of milk extracted is maximized, but this is not an issue with which a free people in pursuit of happiness should concern themselves. What should concern free people, is how that extraction effects their pursuit of happiness. JFK had it precisely backwards: "Do not ask what you can do for your country (translation: the Federal Government), ask what your government has done for you lately, and whether it is worth the expense. Nor should a free people concern themselves with maximizing the amount of territory over which the host can extract the revenue on which is thrives.
The American people should care about lower tax rates for themselves (for the obvious direct benefit), lower tax rates for corporations (because of the benefit to the economy (lower prices, and higher productive employment)), and lower total tax revenue because that may contribute to less government (The government can survive for long periods by deficit spending, which results in monetary inflation.), which is a parasite concerned only with its own survival and propagation. The State cares about it's host, "the people", only indirectly and in so much as the death of its host would mean the death of itself.
Yes, I realize that a society that is not in a semi-symbiotic relationship with a parasite (government) is more susceptible to infection by other parasites (invasion) because the existing parasite will jealously guard its host; however, the people should realize that such infection may be less detrimental to the host (the people) than the original infection, and the possibilty of reducing or eliminating all parasites (anarchy) should always be kept in mind as an ideal.
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