Discussion 4

Discussion 4

Description

In recent years, the surging demand for public goods and services has encountered serious structural fiscal problems at every level of government in the U.S. The COVID19 pandemic makes the situation even worse. The following are some examples that are heavily debated among budget officials and experts:

· Unsustainable National Debt Path

· The Elephant in the Federal Room – Growing Medicaid Cost

· The Elephant in the State/Local Room – Pensions

· Insufficient Infrastructure Investment

 

1. Please pick one of the four issues and explain why it is a big threat to U.S. fiscal sustainability. (It is required to integrate assigned module readings. Please use APA in-text citation. )

2. To deal with these fiscal challenges, one option is to increase the taxes. Proponents of the tax increase say that adequate tax revenues are a prerequisite for making government function and "a functioning public sector is critical for a comfortable and civilized society" (Mikesell, 2011). However, some people argue that prudent funding would force the government to prioritize projects and eliminate waste. Should governments raise taxes? Why?

The approximate length of an original post should be between 200-300 words. 

Please use APA in-text citations of the articles read or websites to strengthen your opinion/ argument.