increasing taxes on the rich doesn't discourage production

Conservative & Libertarian apologists for absurd supply-side policies (e.g. flat tax, end capital gains taxes etc.) always feature as part of their argument something tantamount to - "increasing taxes on the rich 'discourages' production and wealth creation" but let's all embrace reality and call that bull crap. If you didn't know the facts, you could imagine evidence for their assertion would include lower production & wealth creation under Clinton and higher production & wealth creation under GWBush. BUT, IN REAL LIFE, THE EXACT OPPOSITE HAPPENED. Thus eviscerating their argument. QED. >>> SECONDARILY - Conservatives & Libertarians consistently make the superficially plausible argument that "private industry is always better than government". Let's leave aside the myriad examples where the results prove that, at a minimum, their claim isn't true 100% of the time (q.v. private contractors in modern wars etc.) >Instead let me mention that, in the current situation where private industry is sitting on $2 TRILLION in cash and not spending it on growth/jobs in the US (because demand is so weak), giving further tax breaks to the wealthy and to corporations (which are enjoying RECORD PROFITS, literally) is a bad idea because they've proven that THEY WON'T SPEND IT on America. Whereas government-run FDR-style plans will actually put money into the American economy. >>> Finally, let's remember that the current GOP talking points about "regulation & taxes are choking industry" is complete bullshit by any historical standards or reasonable appraisal of rival countries. "Regulations, taxes aren't killing small business, owners say"> http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/09/01/122865/regulations-taxes-arent-killing.html .