My partner and I both strongly affirm that the United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts. With this, we believe the most beneficial approach would be to increase taxes through an increase on the sin tax. A sin tax is government levied tax that is added to products or services that are seen as vices, with the intention of discouraging individuals from partaking in such acts. Imposing a higher sin tax on those products/services condemned as bad would allow the government to refrain from depending so heavily on solely increasing the upper class’ income tax. This is so important because there simply are not enough rich people in the world to effectively balance the budget on the backs of the top percent. According to CBO figures, the government would need to tax them at a rate of almost 100 percent; by doing so, this top 1 percent will inevitably be shot into poverty. Resultantly, the government will have no choice but to target the top 2 percent the next year and then the top 3 the following year. Before you know it, this cycle is in full swing and heading your way. Because the U.S. is in desperate need for more efficient and effective way of collecting revenue, the resolution-that the US should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts is true. Contention 1 Sin taxes boast the economy effectively while also helping fund health care programs. In an article entitled "Tax and Spend for Better Health" in March 2009, The Disease Control Priorities Project demonstrates the effectiveness of this blend of fiscal policies: “Governments in developed and developing countries use fiscal policies-taxing and spending policies-to improve their nations’ health. These policies include taxing alcohol and tobacco, subsidizing certain foods and medicines, and giving tax breaks to businesses or individuals to pay for health care. Experiences from developing countries show that fiscal policies work well when public institutions are credible and strong, when consumers and producers respond to changes in prices, and when the policies are well designed so that the neediest people benefit. Fiscal policies for health offer a unique opportunity for health and finance ministries to interact.” Contention 2 The economic outline curren