Line in the sand on taxes | Michael Tomasky

Let us say first that yes, on balance, I probably think that the Bush tax cuts should be repealed for everybody, or nearly everybody. I don't say that lightly, because I understand that a return to the old higher rate - which is a tax increase, at the end of the day - might be hardship for many people.

On the other hand, actual dollar amounts for taxpayers at the US median, around $52,000, would be really small. I went to this handy-dandy calculator set up by the Tax Foundation and plugged in ...