A reasonable conversation we're not going to have

Here's what I think is going to happen with the Bush tax cuts. The cuts for the rich are likely to be extended for at least two years. The cuts for the middle class are sure to be extended for even longer than that. Total cost to the deficit over the next 10 years? More than $3 trillion, and maybe more than $4 trillion.

But according to a Pew poll, the American public isn't as sure about this as the politicians are. A slight plurality -- 31 percent -- want all the tax cuts repealed. Thirty percent want the cuts for the rich extended. In other words, opinion is divided. Andrew Therriault comments:

This is pretty amazing. We could argue to no end about the reasonableness of (effectively) raising taxes during a recession, but that’s not the point. Nor are the exact numbers themselves gospel – I imagine more than a few respondents are reacting to the “Bush” part of “Bush tax cuts”, and the option of sticking it to the unspecified “wealthy” does summon the populist rage in a bipartisan fashion. What’s really important here is that, while Democratic lawmakers are clamoring to get on the tax cut bandwagon (or off of the tax increase bandwagon, if you’re thinking about attack ads), Americans appear willing to have a reasonable conversation about taxes -- that is, one in which raising taxes is at least on the table.

Anyone want to place a bet on whether they'll actually get that conversation?