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Comment by mpalmer | Hacker News Reader

Cutting matters not one bit if Congress doesn't pass tax cuts. Voters don't care about the national debt if they don't see more money coming to them.

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I actually think that they would still care. It weirdly feels cathartic to know that we are no longer spending federal taxpayer dollars on “zombie apocalypse preparation classes” no matter how insignificant it is to the budget. What is the best way to eat an elephant?

I don't see how an informed person who cares about the rule of law feels cathartic about what is happening.

We don't. Rules are all essentially fictional, and an agreed illusion that we've all been conditioned to see as an immutable.

What the past few decades did was push enough people to the point of no longer seeing the value in continuing the illusion.

I am terrified of the long term ramifications here. But again, I do see how we ended up here.

I think you're both right. The don't care (without a tax cut) until the most ridiculous line items are made public.

Problem is the ridiculous line items wouldn't make a shadow of a dent in the federal budget. Certainly won't lower your tax bill.

Agree .. but my point is that people will still care, on principle. Throw in any kind of cut, or esp. a helicopter payment, and the effect would be shock and awe

Bad metaphor. What's the best way to lose weight? Elon thinks it's cutting your arm off.

Voters generally speaking don't pay federal income tax, or pay so little that it won't make a difference.

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