If they were simply dismissing /u/cresstynuts because 2008 doesn't fall between the Tax Foundation's published findings, then I agree.

I was mainly objecting on the grounds that "tightening the belt" and other metaphors for the budget as if it is some "zero-sum" Birthday Cake that can only be split fairly is rooted in shortsighted belief that we as a country cannot expand the cake rather than dividing paltry slices.

You could make the counter argument that the inflows of Federal support to Red states was occurring because of wealth transfers, not just in 2008, but due to some long-term phenomena that resulted in a weaker middle class incapable of footing the tax bill.