Tax Cuts and the Deficit

I had it out today with with some of the Right Speak community regarding tax cuts, the deficit, and Romney's position on the income tax compromise. While I certainly agree with the conservative position (lower taxes and less government spending), I think that Republicans ought to be aware of certain realities. Like this one from the Fix.

None of the nine most-mentioned options for solving -- or at least addressing -- the nation's long-term debt issues garner majority support in a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, data that suggests the tremendous political problems inherent in trying to address the country's fiscal health.

Of the nine choices offered, only three take anywhere close to a majority. Reducing Social Security benefits for wealthy retirees garners 49 percent support as does eliminating the mortgage interest tax deduction for mortgages over $500,000 and for second homes. Forty-eight percent of the sample support a gradual increase in the age at which people are eligible for full Social Security benefits.

Other proposals are far less popular. Eliminating the tax deduction parents can take for children under 18 received just 34 percent while just 21 percent of people support at 15 cent increase in the gasoline tax.

Contrast those numbers with the fact that a majority -- 56 percent -- of people in the poll said that the government should work to reduce the debt now while just 40 percent said it should wait until the economy improves and you begin to grasp the difficulties this issues poses for politicians.

If those elitist establishment types in Washington will just start listening to the people with their common sense solutions (isn't that the Tea Party message?), then the United States will find itself in much greater debt than it already is.

So here is a question: Should conservatives demand tax cuts, knowing full well that real, significant cuts to government spending will be unpopular and very difficult to achieve?

Cross posted at The Cross Culturalist.