Quick History of Tax Hikes

You might have to click on the image to see it better.  However, this graph is rather pointless because the Bush Tax Cuts were extended permanently for about 99.3% of the population.  So the last three red lines never happened.  It's just a snapshot of what would have happened had Congress not passed the bill they did last night.

Also, as you'll notice, the tax increases included in Obamacare are the smallest tax increases since at least 1940 (as far back as the graph goes).  This didn't stop Republicans from calling it the largest tax increase in the history of the world, however.  Never mind the simple fact they were probably the smallest in history.

My point, however, is it strikes me odd that there are 5 rather moderate-sized tax increases throughout Reagan's tenure.  You mean to tell me that Ronald Reagan raised taxes to shore up his budget deficits and create revenue?????  Well, yes he did.  In fact, his tax increases added together would be the second largest tax increase since WWII.  Double factoid is that Ronald Reagan instituted the largest peacetime tax increase in the history of this nation.  Triple factoid is in addition to raising taxes, Reagan also instituted numerous fees to help raise revenue as well. Fees are taxes where I come from.

It's curious to note, too, that Reagan raised taxes to increase revenue.  Revenue that he desperately needed to alleviate his budget deficits.  But to Republicans this never happened.  When or if you get a Republican to admit that it did happen, it's in the context that Reagan was tricked by Democrats.  So even then, it all boils down to evil Democrats raising taxes.  It's how they sleep at night.  Again, however, the assertion Reagan was tricked is simply false and earns a maximum lie score on the Fact Checker site.

Pesky facts.  It's just so much easier to pretend it never happened.