Optimist Economy

Tax Reform Gone Wild

14 apr 2026 · 00:45:36

From California to Washington to New York, states are trying to tax the very rich. The press keeps rehashing whether millionaires and billionaires will flee those states. Wrong question. The more important one is why we’re improvising tax policy state to state when it’s the federal government that should be dealing with health care, child care and affordability—all of which are national problems. Meanwhile, some Senate Democrats are proposing to take even more people out of the tax system entirely. None of these specific proposals make income taxes simpler or fairer, but they do suggest there’s an appetite for reform. 

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Chapters:

00:01:18 Announcements

00:02:33 Retcon: Occupational Licenses

00:06:16 Terms & Conditions: Progressive

00:07:59  Big Pilcrow: Everyone Wants to Tax Millionaires

00:38:23  Executive Orders: Unreadable Menus and Tax Complainer Merch

00:41:42  Spiritual Sponsors: Dream Robin & the Nobel Laureate’s WNBA Contract

Got economics questions, anxieties, or executive orders? Send them to [email protected]

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