re: On a dollar basis, taxation does not hurt nor benefit an economy

The effects of taxation on the economy and business growth are negligible and there is plenty of data that supports this. What is not negligible is the effect of taxation on an individual's economy....it sucks to pay taxes period. This sucking is the only reason so many "experts" try to make the case for taxation being such a detriment to economic growth. No one likes being taxed but in the overall scheme of things the effects are minuscule compared to cronyism, corruption and uncertainty. Eliminate the first two (the third is inherent) and business growth would be tremendous even with stiff tax increases.