the bistro off broadway

Townhall…
Mitt Romney, Big-Government Man
by John Stossel
Oct 10, 2012 

President Obama tanked in the last debate. Good. 

Now maybe people will listen when Mitt Romney says things like, "The genius of America is the free enterprise system, and freedom, and the fact that people can go out there and start a business. ... The private market and individual responsibility always work best." 

They do. 

But then Romney responded to Obama by essentially saying: I want big government, too! 

We who hope for smaller government as a way to expand liberty and create prosperity are disturbed by what we heard last week. The GOP candidate painted himself as a big government man. 

"Regulation is essential. ... Every free economy has good regulation." 

He added the obligatory, "Regulation can become excessive," but showed no sign of understanding that free competition -- unrestricted by government monopolistic privilege -- is the best regulation. Nothing better protects consumers and workers than free choice in a competitive marketplace. 

Romney also made it clear that he doesn't want to reduce government revenues. He insisted that his 20 percent cut in tax rates would be revenue neutral.

 "In order for us not to lose revenue -- have the government run out of money -- I also lower deductions and credits and exemptions so that we keep taking in the same money when you also account for growth." I'm all for slashing deductions and simplifying taxes, but the 1980s taught me to be wary. The top rate went back up -- from 28 to 39.6 percent at one point -- but the deductions repealed are likely gone forever. 

Then Romney said, "I'm not looking to ... reduce the revenues going to the government." 

Why not? The less revenue in government hands, the more private individuals can do wonderful things with it. 

Romney emphasizes revenue neutrality because he doesn't want to be accused of proposing to increase the budget deficit, which he repeatedly pounded Obama over. He could avoid that charge by calling for spending cuts. Our deficit is a spending, not a tax revenue, problem. The federal government already collects $2.6 trillion! That's more than enough. 

Read the rest of the article at Townhall


 
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