There are legitimate fiscal issues that demand serious discussion, including how to control growth in health-care spending and how best to structure tax reform. But the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party cares more about small government than anything else: its members insist, above all, that federal tax revenue never be permitted to exceed 18% of GDP.
需要严肃讨论的正当财政话题不少，包括如何控制医保支出增长和如何使税收改革达到结构最优。但对共和党中的茶党派来说，小政府是压倒一切的第一要务：他们固执地认为，最重要的问题是，联邦税收岁入绝不能超过GDP的18%。追溯其历史渊源，其实茶党的先辈并不是1773年反英国、要求代表权的原始波士顿茶党，而是1794年反增税的威士忌叛乱（Whiskey Rebellion）。