The federal government doesn't need or use tax collections to spend. That mistaken assumption (understandable since all politicians and the media push it) is what is wrong with Social Security and Medicare currently. The debt that created our money to begin with, while being nothing more than an accounting identity, destroys any money as soon as it re-enters the government sector. There are no "funds" with money waiting to be distributed to beneficiaries. Funding is created "as we go" every time the federal government spends.

We should tax the bejesus out of the wealthy, but not with the purpose of "paying for" spending at the federal level. That creates a two front battle on money creation for the public purpose with the apologists for the oligarchy claiming "job creator" status for them. It also provides politicians with loophole legislation to use in trade for campaign donations.

In addition to arguing for the programs and spending we have to show how we "pay for it", which is nonsense with a sovereign fiat currency and a constitutional mandate (Article 1: Section 8) to "coin" the money for "the common welfare".

Make no mistake about MMT (which, yes I am a proponent of) being "new" or needing to be "installed". It is the way our current system functions and is non-political. Numerous economists and even a Fed Chairman or two have verified this and stated that "taxing for revenue is obsolete".