The Fiscal Cliff: What Would Reagan Do?

The Fiscal Cliff: What Would Reagan Do?

Editor's note: A version of this article first appeared at FoxNews.com. It was also co-authored by Michael Reagan.

As President Obama and Democrats urge Republicans to increase taxes, some liberals are curiously invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, the ultimate tax-cutting Republican. They insist that even Reagan was willing to compromise with Democrats on tax increases; thus, John Boehner and Republicans should as well. In truth, this is (at best) a false parallel.

It is correct that Ronald Reagan occasionally compromised on certain tax increases, as he did in 1982. He did so in exchange for promised...