Nothing wrong with tax reform

We've talked about this on the phone a bit, but in principle, there is nothing wrong with tax reform . . . if it is done right. I don't have any grand ideas on how to do it right, but tax laws could use some simplification or other improvement.

Of course, any change has to be revenue neutral or revenue positive--closing loopholes, getting rid of unnecessary deductions, etc.

I actually think this is a liberal idea, and not one the conservatives should control. Once again, however, the Democrats have to think of something other than oppose-Bush-at-all-costs. That's their challenge. We'll see if they can do it.

Whether there is an appetite for it in the general public is another matter. On one hand I want to say that all the Repubs need to do is to convince people that their taxes are too high and they'll get their tax cuts. On the other hand, I kind of think that tax reform won't get any traction unless there is an obvious need like restructuring around (new) govermental programs.