Country Quote by Bruce Bartlett
“Up until 1986, the top marginal rate, the top statutory rate was 50 percent. Now it's 35 percent. And all the pressure is on to lower that even further. And this just doesn't make a great deal of sense. When people say, 'Oh, we can't raise taxes on the rich. They'll go on strike, they'll move to another country.' But within recent memory, it hasn't been that long ago that we had rates that were substantially higher. And these people did just fine. I just think that there's a disconnect between the facts of what taxes do and the sort of mythology of what they do.”
About This Quote
The speaker argues that high marginal tax rates historically did not harm the economy, challenging the myth that raising taxes on the wealthy inevitably leads to negative outcomes.
In simple terms: Historical tax rates show myths harm.
Key Takeaway
Tax myths clash with data.
Themes
tax policy
economic history
myth vs reality
political rhetoric
wealth inequality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
policy commentary
economic observation
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- budget planning
- public discourse
- legislative hearings
Key Concepts
marginal tax rate
economic impact
political narrative
Practical Applications
- tax reform analysis
- public education on fiscal policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports lower taxes?
- How do tax rates affect economic growth?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that high taxes discourage investment, though evidence is mixed.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
