Is anything well above 25 percent of GDP an intolerable level of taxation?

[A18]

Discuss the quote in Bono's sig

[opebo]

No, I don't think one can simply pick an arbitrary figure.  25% would probably be too high in an impoverished third world country, and far too low in a wealther country.  Certainly percent of GDP shouldn't be mistaken to have anything to do with the top tax rate, which could be much higher - in the 70% range.

[Hitchabrut]

Yes

[FerrisBueller86]

I voted no.

But if taxes really are that awful, then let's cut the tax rates down to 0%.  Oh, wait.  That would mean either blowing up the deficit or eliminating all government spending.  The trouble with spending cuts is that somebody's pet program has to get the axe.  The more powerful that somebody is, the more likely the program will be spared.  This means that when there are spending cuts, the politically expedient cuts are chosen over the more necessary ones.