talking points that piss you off

[Gustaf]

So the whole 95% tax rate we had from 1945-1973... it generated no revenue at all?

Pretty much. Tens of Thousands of wealthy people and celebrities moved abroad. When the top rate was cut to 60%, revenue more than doubled.
Don't forget, Taxman by the Beatles was a protest against that exact policy.. "Should 5 percent appear to small".

Tax loopholes =/= higher top rates not being a good idea.

It's not necessarily about loopholes. It just distorts the economy in a way that lowers efficiency.

And regardless, high rates always lead to loopholes. You may not like this, but it's a political reality.

[Gustaf]

7. "The American people are cutting back so government should too" [ugh]

This one is a bit weird since it is standard for private and public debt to move in opposite directions (indeed, certain economic theory pretty much makes this true by definition).