The Left and Laffer

When it suits them, Progressives recognize that taxation changes people's behavior, by raising the cost of activities, causing people to engage in them less.

When it doesn't suit them, they scoff at the concept, the idea of "dynamic scoring", and dismiss Laffer as an ideologue.

Pointless Aside since it is referenced: McArdle is correct on the subject of Health Care, because if, for example, a whole bunch of savings could be made in Medicare costs, as Obama claims, then it should be done now (if not already), rather than being held hostage to his (non-existent) health care plan.

True, the Laffer Curve can be exaggerated, but the TNR article is objectively false on the facts. Revenues increased throughout the Reagan Administration (it was additional spending that grew the deficit), and after the 2001 tax cuts, tax revenues grew "unexpectedly".