Cass - You state that you are a "Student of History" could you please tell me what country has ever successfully taxed itself into prosperity??

I wouldn't be real excited about GM being No. 1 again - it's not real hard becoming profitable when the government cancels all the debt you had (the bond holders and creditors). Not hard to be profitable when you don't have to pay back the government loans. And let us not forget that the real reason GM is no. 1 is that the Tsunomi and following floods disrupted manufacturing for both Honda and Toyota. Otherwise, GM would be no. 3.

And your assertion that the reason European countries are having economic problems now is because of austerity programs is just laughable.