According to an article in The Economist (“Five into four,” February 3, 2018), cutting taxes at the state level in Oklahoma has been disastrous for its schools.

The tax cuts were based on the belief that cutting taxes will so invigorate the economy that the loss in revenue will be replaced, even exceeded, by economic growth.

Instead, according to the article, “. . . deep tax cuts have wrecked the state’s finances . . . lawmakers gave a sweetheart deal to its oilmen, costing $470m in a single year . . . ”

Teachers have fled the state for living wages in other states. Other services also have suffered, including the state highway patrol.

Tax cuts in neighboring Kansas wrecked state finances there as well, However, a Republican legislature in that state rebelled and reversed tax cuts. Tax raises require a larger majority in Oklahoma.

Despite these examples, cutting taxes on the more well off appears alive and well in the recent tax package passed by the U.S. congress. Unfortunately, the deficit from such cuts threatens programs enjoyed by the less well off. Anybody for cuts to Social Security?