Originally posted by masscatFlat tax would almost certainly NOT benefit you then. In order to compensate for the reduced tax take from the wealthy (seriously - you think Bill Gates' tax code has a serious effect on his standard of living?) they'd have to bump your tax up.
Including Federal, State and local taxes plus other deductions for 401k and whatever else that’s coming out of my check, I only get two thirds of it which is almost enough to live on. I told my boss I’d like to get paid what I’m worth, but he said he can’t do that; he has to comply with the minimum wage law. So I’d be in favor of anything that allowed me to take home more of what I make.
Originally posted by TheSkipperSpot on. rec'd.
I think a flat tax seems fair only at first blush.
Consider two families, family A makes 30k per year pre-tax and family B makes 300k per year pre-tax. Now assume a flat tax were instituted at 10%. Family A pays 3k in taxes and family B pays 30k...easy and fair, right? Maybe not.
If you consider the difference in effect these two sums of money hav ...[text shortened]... all. So, while the percentage may be the same the BURDEN is decidedly different.
TheSkipper
Originally posted by scottishinnzOr reduce guvamint (grants for growing grass)
Flat tax would almost certainly NOT benefit you then. In order to compensate for the reduced tax take from the wealthy (seriously - you think Bill Gates' tax code has a serious effect on his standard of living?) they'd have to bump [b]your tax up.[/b]
Originally posted by TheSkipperThis reeks of envy.
I think a flat tax seems fair only at first blush.
Consider two families, family A makes 30k per year pre-tax and family B makes 300k per year pre-tax. Now assume a flat tax were instituted at 10%. Family A pays 3k in taxes and family B pays 30k...easy and fair, right? Maybe not.
If you consider the difference in effect these two sums of money hav ...[text shortened]... all. So, while the percentage may be the same the BURDEN is decidedly different.
TheSkipper
The burden is most definitely not the same, the 300k family are much more likely to make use of private health, education etc. So apart from paying ten times more tax than the 30k family they are less of a burden on their fellow taxpayer.
What it amounts to is people being punished for being wealthy, people being fined for working hard and smart. If we're to have a graduated sysyem it should be turned around the other way.
Originally posted by WajomaYes, who will stand up for the rich people? They have no tools with which to defend themselves from the ceaseless attacks of the envious.
This reeks of envy.
The burden is most definitely not the same, the 300k family are much more likely to make use of private health, education etc. So apart from paying ten times more tax than the 30k family they are less of a burden on their fellow taxpayer.
What it amounts to is people being punished for being wealthy, people being fined for working hard and smart. If we're to have a graduated sysyem it should be turned around the other way.
There are many things wrong with a flat tax. Rich people use way more communal and governments resources than poor people or the middle class. The entire economic sector of the US government (e.g. the SEC) exists to track, manage, and police the transactions of the wealthy. Does your waitress care about the Dow?
Rich people use the system to make a lot of money. They should bear the financial burden of supporting the system. At the least.
Originally posted by WajomaThe point was about the governemnt giving people job full time- giving the them the income to pay taxes. People should provide the labour they can, so they can get what they require- e.g. a decent, regular wage.
So when slaves in the past were paid with bread and water, or possibly given 2 cents a month they magically weren't slaves?
This isn't exactly slavery- more about creating a socialist state.
Which was clearly something you completely missed altogether.
Originally posted by WajomaSo people who are smart get rich, those not that intelligent starve.
This reeks of envy.
The burden is most definitely not the same, the 300k family are much more likely to make use of private health, education etc. So apart from paying ten times more tax than the 30k family they are less of a burden on their fellow taxpayer.
What it amounts to is people being punished for being wealthy, people being fined for working hard and smart. If we're to have a graduated sysyem it should be turned around the other way.
Bit of a social darwinist streak coming through there.
Interesting story .. somewhere near the topic
................
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.
He responded by asking her how she was doing in school.
Taken back, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Aubrey doing?"
She replied, "Aubrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."
Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1 .0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, “That wouldn't be fair!” I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Aubrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party"
Originally posted by jammerNice story but it doesn't really relate to the flat tax debate- more republican propaganda- getting in opposition to liberal intellectuals and creating selfish fear about redistribution.
Interesting story .. somewhere near the topic
................
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly ex ...[text shortened]... ther slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party"
What the father says deosn't make sense anyway- its not as if higher taxes on him would leave him earning as much as someone unemployed!
Originally posted by jammerThis story assumes that everyone starts at the same place, and that wealth is simply the product of more hardwork and intelligence. This can be the case, but most of the time it definitely is not.
Interesting story .. somewhere near the topic
................
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly ex ...[text shortened]... ther slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party"
Originally posted by jammerIn fact, to finish your story:
Interesting story .. somewhere near the topic
................
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly ex ...[text shortened]... ther slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party"
The girls finish college. Aubrey, who has lots of friends and contacts by this time, lands a high paying managerial job which has few hours and lots of vacation time through a recomendation by a friend of a friend. The protagonist of our story, however, being very smart, has decided to do a PhD. She is still studying all the time and living on the small grant the government has given her for her research. So according to the republicans, these two have equally earned their salaries and therefore should be taxed equally. Hmm, I think not.