" Analyst, your posts are way to long, get to the point faster or something, I just agreed with Ruth cause I didn't want to read your ridiculously long articles. "

" Also, I have been involved in starting a couple of business and taxes where the least of our worries. Funny how the more taxes we paid the higher our income was and contrary to economic myths in the public domain, no one was suggesting that taxes were a punishment for being successful. We complained about the cost of insurance, energy, interest rates, and the price of strategically located real estate. Entrepreneurs are motivated by profits and not discouraged by taxes. If business people are complaining about taxes, they are managers, not entrepreneurs who by definition are problem solvers. Bottom linethere are trade-offs for being successful. I would rather have higher income with higher taxes, than previous lower income and lower taxes. "

" I dont mind low taxes, if the budget is balanced. However, most peoples incomes will be eroded by inflation over the long-run if deficit spending continuesmuch more than higher taxes. Most economists are saying the value of the declining dollar has added 30 to 45 percent to the cost of a barrel of oil. Three dollar gasoline would be around two dollars if not for the federal deficit. Makes the taxes on gasoline (which you pointed out, is not being used for roads) a smaller and smaller percentage of the price per gallon. Beside the oil companies did not build the vast road system in this country, but the oil companies, car companies, tire manufactures, etc. benefit greatly from the system of roads built with tax revenues. The oil companies have no incentive to build new refineries. They are not going to spend more money only to lower the price they receive for their products. This economic principle is known as the kinked demand curve. "

" Yes, Ruth we did survive the deficit of WWII, but take a look at the tax rates during the forties and even the fifties and early sixties. At the height of WWII the tax rates were 23% for the low tax bracket and 94% for the high tax bracket. During the early sixties the tax rates were 20% for the low tax bracket and 91% for the high tax bracket. Today, the low tax bracket is 10% and the high bracket is 35% (5 brackets as well). Todays tax rates are the lowest since the Great Depression and low taxes did not fix the economic problems of that era. Tax revenues, if spent wisely and judiciously are an investment in an economy and promote economic growth, for example, the internet was started by the government. Find a country with low tax rates and you will find a country with no middle class, only rich and poor. "

" Ruth, I completely agree with your point that tax revenues should be spent on infrastructure, like roads, bridges, electricity generation, etc., as well as national defense. I also agree that all spending should have a revenue source and not all be lumped into the general fund, as this promotes fiscal irresponsibility by the leadership in the House and Senate. I dont like earmarks either (pet projects in own district) but for a different reason. The 18 to 20 billion dollars for earmarks is not going to solve the money problems with a federal budget this year approaching 3 trillion. Thats the equivalent of saying I have a blemish/skin problem because I have a pimple on my back. I believe the real danger lies with the political currency the earmarks buy for elected officials. Keeps these insiders in office with their constituents (look what I did for you). "