ISSUES '72: Nixon v. McGovern on Taxes, Prices, Jobs

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Yet even a substantial Nixon victory would not be likely to bury the McGovern-raised issues entirely, but only drive them underground for a while. They could easily re-emerge—:soon and with force. If Nixon is compelled to propose a tax increase, as he probably will be, he will touch off an acrimonious quarrel about tax preferences for corporations, investors and high-income people. If the tax increase is needed largely to pay for greater military outlays, the argument over spending priorities will break out again in full cry. Conversely, if Nixon's budget hold-down causes the economy to slow and unemployment to rise from an already too high level, Democrats will certainly revive the pressure for a job-creating program. McGovern's ineffective campaign has deprived the nation of the searching debate over its economic future that once seemed likely this year. But he has provided abundant raw material for the Democratic candidate of 1976—and beyond.