The Average Joe

As the GOP pushes ahead with their tax plan, clearing both Houses in Congress, we seem to be going down a familiar, yet dangerous path. There are two economic ideas that have come to dominate Republican economic policy. They are that tax cuts pay for themselves and that the theory of “starve the beast” actually works. The “starve the beast” theory states that by lowering taxes, this forcefully reduces spending, as there is less revenue coming in. If anyone follows Bruce Bartlett, former economic advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, it is easy to see how starving the beast does not work and leads to higher spending. The truth of the matter is that neither one of these ideas have worked. In fact, a recent study done by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), has found that lowering tax rates on the top 2 percent does not spur any kind of economic growth. To add to that point, just looking back on history will also demonstrate that tax cuts do not pay for thems

So, I’m about to turn 35 and reflecting on the past experiences that have brought my life to where it is at the age of 35.  Some might say 35 is a milestone, while others may not.  Nevertheless, it is still a moment to sit back and reflect as a means of checking myself to ensure I am on the path of progress.  On the eve of my 15 th birthday I was dreading that I had to go to summer school and not spend the time I wanted enjoying the summer the way I wanted.  I failed and looked at myself as a failure.  However, this was a humbling moment as it taught me to prioritize what was important over what was not.  You could say it was a moment that forced me to level up during my teenage years. It wasn’t easy, but I learned a lot about myself, gained a unique perspective, and understood that there are no shortcuts in life.  On the eve of my 25 th birthday, after a brief soiree in the Army, I completed my undergraduate degree and was preparing for graduate school, but was dealing with