“Reaganites and other ‘conservative’ politicians love the Laffer Curve because it allows them to promise tax cuts and maintenance of the welfare state. That’s been the mantra since the 1980s: ‘We can cut taxes and still grow the federal budget — our revenues will go up, not down, because we’re on the right side of the Laffer Curve!’ This is a great way to sell tax cuts (and the politicians who promise them) to those who are directly employed by government or who depend on a government check, a government contract, etc. for their livings. BUT! Reducing the size, scope and power of government is a worthwhile end aside from the issue of how heavy the tax burden is. Increased government revenues are a bad thing, because most of what government gets up to is mischief of one sort or another.” (10/21/09)