Believe Quote by Milton Friedman
“I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible. The reason I am is because I believe the big problem is not taxes, the big problem is spending. The question is, 'How do you hold down government spending? The only effective way I think to hold it down, is to hold down the amount of income the government has. The way to do that is to cut taxes”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic Freedom Forum, 1975
Lowering taxes is less effective than controlling government spending; fiscal restraint requires limiting revenue sources.
In simple terms: Cutting taxes alone won’t fix spending.
Key Takeaway
Control spending by limiting revenue.
Themes
tax policy
government spending
fiscal responsibility
economics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- national budget planning
- state budgeting
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
public choice
budget constraint
tax incidence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can spending be reduced without harming essential services?
- What are the political challenges to cutting government revenue?
A Different Perspective
political feasibility
