Len, your facts are correct, as always. But current policy is still the common-sense baseline, for taxes as it is for spending. The fact that the common-sense baseline is wildly out of balance is a different issue. Two wrongs don't make a right. As the reply on EconomistMom said (and thanks for that link, by the way): "it will be played up as the largest tax increase in American history. The fact that it may simply be undoing an ill-advised tax cut will make no difference." This is similar to the game the parties play by arguing whether spending is being cut or not when services are reduced but the money spent nevertheless increases. My point is not necessarily that current policy should be the baseline for taxes or for spending, only that in public's mind current policy is the baseline. Even if the public were aware that budget projections have been based on fictitious future revenues, I don't believe that they would support expiration of the Bush tax cuts. People prefer stability in tax code and in government policies in general. They fear change except at those rare times when they fear an extrapolation of current trends even more. A tax break in the hand beats two promised tax breaks in the bush.