Another genius pops up in my local paper. He describes the "golden years" of the 50s and 60s when taxes were high, and services plentiful.

I sent in a letter to the newspaper along these lines, along with references:

Dear Editor:

Dave Johnson, in his article in the Nov. 19, 2009 Mercury News, says that the reason things are going sour is that rich Americans just aren’t paying enough taxes.

If you look at the numbers, his theory doesn’t stand up.

The tax rates themselves are irrelevant. How much total revenue was coming in? What was being spent?

In 1951, the population of the United States was 154.87 million. Federal revenues were $403.6 billion, or about $2,606 per citizen. Outlays were $355.9 billion, or about $2,297 per citizen. (All dollar numbers here are in constant, year-2000 dollars, adjusted for inflation.)

In 1963, revenues per citizen were $3,006. Outlays per citizen were $3,140.

In 1970 revenues per citizen were $3,979. Outlays per citizen were $4,038.

In 2007, revenues per citizen were $7,056, and the outlays per citizen were $7,497.

It’s fairly obvious that the problem with our modern government is not insufficient revenue. Which brings up the question: How exactly does Johnson explain the glory days of the 50s when our taxes per capita were less than half what they are now? And the outlays about a third?