David Leonhardt and the NYT have created another outstanding graphic trying to explain the landscape of current tax policy. This one shows what taxpayers get the greatest benefit from the various tax breaks currently in the code by income group. Click on the image for the larger graphic or click here if that doesn’t work. This graphic is part of a great explainer that lays out what happens and the stakes for the coming end of lots of government benefits in January 2014. While this is a very good overview of what likely happens to taxpayers when some of this expires, it is important that journalists point out how this kind of massive change gets to the thing that alot of our politicians are trying to sell — and that is deficit reduction as a goal that is worthy unto itself. People need to understand that deficit reduction is not an abstract thing. it will take money out of the pockets of everyone — whether you can afford it or no.
