Um, student loans are not all you think they are. I speak here as someone dependant upon them. The MOST you can get via the GSL program is 10.5k a year Now, I dunno about other places, but 10.5k doesn't even cover my rent + utilities, and I live in a inexpensive place. Student loans, and especially the grants, could definitely use adjusting, as their available values haven't increased at all with inflation.
As for taxes, some increases I am for, some I might not be. I would DEFINITELY be for repealing the tax cuts for capital gains and the elimination of taxes on dividend income. Both areas of which will impact the middle class very little. Oh, and were not many of these taxes in place back in 99? Funny, I seem to recall doign just fine and taxes not being an undue burden in 99....
All that said, I would still be in favor of a national flat tax over anything like what we have now. If only the idea could get real political traction.
-Arlos