--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is that as we move forward, if…" description: "\"The truth is that as we move forward, if one side says we can't raise any taxes on anybody or any interest, and the other side says we can't cut anythi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/david-axelrod-16685_any_the-truth-is-that-as-we-move-forward-if_215347.jpg" --- # The truth is that as we move forward, if one side says we… ![“The truth is that as we move forward, if one side says we can't raise any taxes on anybody or any interest, and the other side says we can't cut anything, we're obviously not going to make progress on this. And our interest is in making progress on this.” quote by David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/david-axelrod-16685_any_the-truth-is-that-as-we-move-forward-if_215347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/david-axelrod-16685_any_the-truth-is-that-as-we-move-forward-if_215347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/david-axelrod-16685_any_the-truth-is-that-as-we-move-forward-if_215347.jpg) > “The truth is that as we move forward, if one side says we can't raise any taxes on anybody or any interest, and the other side says we can't cut anything, we're obviously not going to make progress on this. And our interest is in making progress on this.” [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing tax and spending constraints is essential for progress; extremes block solutions. **In simple terms:** Compromise on taxes and spending needed for progress. Key Takeaway Seek middle ground in fiscal debates. Themes fiscal policy compromise governance Mood thoughtful analytical Type political policy When to use this quote - budget planning - legislative sessions - policy reform - public debates Key Concepts budgeting political negotiation public finance Questions to Reflect On - How can policymakers find workable middle ground? - What trade‑offs are acceptable for progress? A Different Perspective Political realities may limit ideal compromises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Making Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-progress/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [So, for instance, let me make this clear: You know I signed a statement. I will not raise taxes on anybody. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/so-for-instance-let-me-make-this-clear-you-know-i-signed-a-statement/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“I know you don’t understand, but sometimes we have to go back to go forward,” he says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-cruz/i-know-you-don-t-understand-but-sometimes-we-have-to-go-back-to-go/) Zoe Cruz > [The finite mind does not require to grasp the infinitude of truth, but only to go forward from light to light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bayne/the-finite-mind-does-not-require-to-grasp-the-infinitude-of-truth-but/) [Peter Bayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bayne/) > [The U.K. is already disadvantaged on the wholesale cost of energy, and then it puts taxes on it. Anybody who's an energy user is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/the-u-k-is-already-disadvantaged-on-the-wholesale-cost-of-energy-and/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [Americans don't think we should be raising taxes on anybody, especially in the middle of a recession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/americans-don-t-think-we-should-be-raising-taxes-on-anybody/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Government spending is being restrained, the economy is making progress and moving forward, and the pro-growth, tax cutting policies put in place have allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shuster/government-spending-is-being-restrained-the-economy-is-making/) [Bill Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shuster/) > [We don't want to go back to the same policies and the same practices that drove our economy into a ditch, that punished the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-the-same-policies-and-the-same-practices/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I came to the conclusion months ago, and I said it to members of Congress, that the only way people are going to fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-came-to-the-conclusion-months-ago-and-i-said-it-to-members-of/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We don't want to go back to the same policies and practicies that drove our economy into a ditch, that punished the middle class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-the-same-policies-and-practicies-that/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [In reality, finding a way to raise taxes may well be the central political problem facing the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leonhardt/in-reality-finding-a-way-to-raise-taxes-may-well-be-the-central/) [David Leonhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leonhardt/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bartlett/up-until-1986-the-top-marginal-rate-the-top-statutory-rate-was-50/) [Bruce Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bartlett/) > [GOP candidates routinely sign a pledge never, ever to raise taxes. Democratic candidates aren't even asked to sign a parallel pledge never, ever to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/gop-candidates-routinely-sign-a-pledge-never-ever-to-raise-taxes/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [And let me make this very clear - unlike President Obama, I will not raise taxes on the middle class. As president, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-let-me-make-this-very-clear-unlike-president-obama-i-will-not/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If you're white and wealthy, Texas is a great place, however, no Texas governor Republican or Democrat is eager to raise taxes and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-jillson/if-you-re-white-and-wealthy-texas-is-a-great-place-however-no-texas/) [Calvin Jillson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-jillson/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by David Axelrod > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [Now, China, India have set goals. We're going to be able to review what they're doing. We're going to be able to challenge them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/now-china-india-have-set-goals-we-re-going-to-be-able-to-review-what/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [But we are not going to stand by and go back to allowing people with preexisting conditions to be discriminated against, go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/but-we-are-not-going-to-stand-by-and-go-back-to-allowing-people-with/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I haven't given up on working... across the aisle on issues and maybe it'll take an election or two for that to fully ferment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-haven-t-given-up-on-working-across-the-aisle-on-issues-and-maybe-it/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We don't want to go back to the same policies and the same practices that drove our economy into a ditch, that punished the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-the-same-policies-and-the-same-practices/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We can't have - we can't have a patchwork of 50 states developing their own immigration policy. I understand the frustration of people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-can-t-have-we-can-t-have-a-patchwork-of-50-states-developing-their/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I think that more and more you're going to see people of good will on their side of the aisle say you know what,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-think-that-more-and-more-you-re-going-to-see-people-of-good-will-on/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We don't want to go back to the same policies and practicies that drove our economy into a ditch, that punished the middle class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-don-t-want-to-go-back-to-the-same-policies-and-practicies-that/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I think those autoworkers whose industry would have collapsed if the president hadn't intervened are certainly better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-think-those-autoworkers-whose-industry-would-have-collapsed-if-the/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We have to deal with the world as we find it. The world of what it takes to get this done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-have-to-deal-with-the-world-as-we-find-it-the-world-of-what-it/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I see my job simply as helping disseminate the message of Barack Obama, working with the communications team to make sure that we're true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-see-my-job-simply-as-helping-disseminate-the-message-of-barack/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [We are a unified party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/we-are-a-unified-party/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [Far be it from me to denigrate Senator McCain's advice on vice presidential nominees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/far-be-it-from-me-to-denigrate-senator-mccain-s-advice-on-vice/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I think the millions of people who had been able to renegotiate their mortgages so they are paying lower interest rates are better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-think-the-millions-of-people-who-had-been-able-to-renegotiate-their/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I think the average American recognizes that it took years to create the crisis that erupted in 2008 and peaked in January of 2009.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/i-think-the-average-american-recognizes-that-it-took-years-to-create/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) [Explore all 39 David Axelrod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) ## More Any quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. 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