As Candidates Talk Taxes, Remember Hauser's Law

Jim Gust once called attention to David Ranson's column on Hauser's Law.

We should keep the "law" in mind for the next year or so, as political candidates shout their promises to cut taxes or hint at plans to raise them.

Despite ups and downs in tax rates, Hauser's Law states, federal tax revenues hold more or less steady. The tax take persistently hovers at slightly below 20% of GDP.

All those tax billions the Democrats will be hoping to raise? All those billions Republicans will be hoping to shield from the IRS?  Hauser's Law indicates we shouldn't pay them much heed.