Here are a few more facts to consider:
Fact: GDP in 2001 was $10.234 trillion. Therefore, revenue was $2,149,140,000,000 (21%)
Fact: GDP in 2008 was $14.369 trillion. Therefore revenue was $2,299,040,000,000 (16%)
Fact: Despite the tax rates, the government collected the same amount (roughly) of revenue.
Fact: Since 1934, the United States has NEVER actually collected 21% of GDP in revenue. We came the closest in 1944 and then again in 2000, but not any time else.
Fact: In the middle of the wonderful Clinton years at the Clinton rates, we took in 18.8% of GDP in revenue in 1996. In the middle of the horrible Bush years and in the midst of a recession (with lower rates) we took in 18.5% of GDP in revenue in 2007.
(the numbers will vary from year to year, but generally are in this ballpark)
The way to grow revenue is to increase GDP, not sit around harping on tax rates.
