Before getting into the heart of my argument, permit me to celebrate for a moment. Consider what is about to happen. The economy is about to flourish under President Obama, totally undermining the republican argument that Democrats are poor stewards of the economy. This performance will complement the experience under President Clinton and stand for a generation. Further, as long has President Obama and Harry Reid stay strong, taxes on the rich are about to rise which, coupled with the impending economic growth, will bring about meaningful deficit reduction. Here again demonstrating the superior economic stewardship by the Democrats.
I think the broader influence by Nate Silver of data and math based analysis of national issues gives us the opportunity to drive another stake in the heart of the republicans. Look below the squiggle for details.
For the past several decades the Republicans have, rather successfully, managed to impugn the democrats for putting in place tax rates which are too high. The two arguments used are that this is somehow "stealing" from individuals and/or putting a drag on economic growth.
To my point of view, the second argument can be blunted if we start to discuss tax receipts as a percentage of GDP. There is a strong, data-based argument that the economy and, thus, the deficit are best managed when we invest approximately 20-22% of our GDP in our national infrastructure.
Every time the Republicans challenge us on taxes, I suggest we respond by saying "history shows that the most prosporous times in American history correspond to times when we have invested 20-22% of our GDP in our people and infrastructure." If we can repeat this often enough to make it the norm in peoples expectations I think it will undermine the republican arguments.
Let me know if you think this could be effective.