Jonathan Rauch leans on Bruce Bartlett to argue that federal spending is going to go up to about 24 percent of GDP. Conservatives should figure out the most responsible and least destructive method of raising taxes to pay for it. But federal revenues are predicted to go up to about 24 percent of GDP–a record, by the way–without conservatives or anyone else having to vote for a tax increase. (Bracket creep of various types is largely responsible for this projected increase in revenue as a percent of GDP.) I certainly agree that there are better and worse ways to raise a given level of revenue. But it is more important than ever for conservatives to exert downward pressure on taxes and spending in a period that will see substantial pressure pushing the other way.