The facts-on-the-ground of a politician's world:
1. Each individual spending cut is opposed by a strong constituency that benefits from that spending.
2. Each individual spending increase is opposed by a strong constituency when a party's political philosophy is disadvantaged by the spending.
3. Each individual tax increase is opposed by a strong constituency that would pay higher taxes.
4. Each individual tax break is supported by a strong constituency that benefits from the break.
5. Each individual tax break is opposed by a weak constituency, as little political advantage is gained across moderate voters by opposing tax breaks.
The significance of a weak constituency opposing tax breaks is...
