Much as the absolutists on each side relish such clashes between church and state, forcing the issue risks damaging something worthwhile.

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The sad fact is many business people are absolutists in that they only see things in terms of rights and wrongs.

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But the point was a powerful one, at least within the GOP caucus where Norquist and the anti-tax absolutists held sway for years.

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But some anti-tax absolutists have decided that closing any tax loophole amounts to a tax hike unless it is deficit neutral -- ignoring the whole reason for engaging in this forced fire drill.

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