This is, basically, what pushed me away from the Republican party (aside from the relatively recent culture war). The Republicans always claimed to be the party of fiscal responsibility (as long as I've been alive, which is longer than most people on HN) but by objective measurable fact have consistently been the party of government bloat and high spending.

I don't like hypocrites.

Seems like it's always easier to sell a tax cut than a spending increase.

Somehow most people seem to assume that they'll be significant beneficiaries of a tax cut, but don't assume the same about a tax increase.

The downside of a tax is immediate and measurable. The alleged benefit is neither and understanding the cost-benefit relation requires more faith than transparency.

That's because the republicans have long been the party of entitlement receivers. This is changing as under 25s are strongly shifting republican while boomers are moving democrat.