Right Wing Talking Point Refuted

It's a common right wing meme that raising federal revenues will not reduce the deficit.

This is idiotic, since the math is pretty simple.

Revenues - Expenses = Balance

If Revenues are larger than Expenses, you have a surplus -- DOH!

Here it is, in the real world.

A careful observer might also note that flat revenues from '82 to '84, while expenses continued to rise, had a lot to do with St. Ronnie's record-breaking deficits.  Also, below-trend Revenue increases for Bush the Greater led to an even bigger deficit.

Then Revenue increases happened, rising faster than expenses. I think there might have been a tax increase in there somewhere.   It's really a shame math is so damned hard.
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