Robster - I'm not saying Bush's Tax Cuts haven't had beneficial effects for some people - even most people - like your father, for example (and I hope he's doing okay). My main point is that the Tax Cuts have created the massive deficits we're seeing today and that in the long run, as interest rates start going up, the short-term good effects of the Tax Cuts will be outweighed by their long-term costs.

It's a critical question to address because now Bush is calling the Tax Cuts to be made permanent. I'm arguing that if you want the Tax Cuts to be made permanent, you ought to sit down and show how you'd pay for it... it's just irresponsible and counter-productive to make the deficit permanent right along with the Tax Cuts. Show me what spending you'd cut and by how much to offset the Tax Cuts - that way we can see if the benefits can outweigh the costs, both for the short-term and the long-term.