I'm sure it's more complicated than Economics 101, but...

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buddy

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rumor has it there are warning signs everywhere and there are very large cracks in the ceiling.

How long before the roof caves in?

Barring a natural disaster like a catastrophic hurricane or major earthquake, I'll give it three years.

Any other uneducated guesses?
 
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Mags

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Agent 0659 said:
We could solve THAT problem with a flat tax...but NOOOOOOOOOO
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Would that be awesome! Just make it a flat 18-20% - no deductions such as mortgage, kids, etc. No funky deductions at all.

Everybody pays the same % of income, with no extra BS.

The only people that wouldn't like that would probably be the tax accountants.

THEN, Mr. Obama, EVERYONE would be paying their fair share - instead of having all the highest paid workers shouldering the majority of the tax burden as it is now (and about to get worse)....
 
Agent 0659

Agent 0659

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Mags said:
Would that be awesome! Just make it a flat 18-20% - no deductions such as mortgage, kids, etc. No funky deductions at all.

Everybody pays the same % of income, with no extra BS.

The only people that wouldn't like that would probably be the tax accountants.

THEN, Mr. Obama, EVERYONE would be paying their fair share - instead of having all the highest paid workers shouldering the majority of the tax burden as it is now (and about to get worse)....
Click to expand...

No, make it a SALES tax. Then EVERYONE would be taxed, including drug dealers, etc. Not to mention, those who live frugally could be rewarded. Do away with the IRS.
 
dawgball

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Agent 0659 said:
No, make it a SALES tax. Then EVERYONE would be taxed, including drug dealers, etc. Not to mention, those who live frugally could be rewarded. Do away with the IRS.
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This is pretty close to where I believe, but I wouldn't mind a small FLAT income tax alongside the large sales tax. I think this would push a larger percentage of the tax burden to the wealthier income earners which I think is appropriate as long as it is proportionate (is that a word?).
 
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Mags

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dawgball said:
This is pretty close to where I believe, but I wouldn't mind a small FLAT income tax alongside the large sales tax. I think this would push a larger percentage of the tax burden to the wealthier income earners which I think is appropriate as long as it is proportionate (is that a word?).
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I have always struggled to understand why a progressive tax system is "fair".

The higher income earners pays more in total tax even with a contant percentage. And if you really looked at it from a usage basis, I would argue those who pay the least in taxes get the most value out of government services.

So, why should the higher income earners pay a higher tax rate?

It'd be nice if everything the gov provides would be user based - like toll roads - if you use the service, you pay for it. Even schools for those familiies that have 8-10 kids - you brought 'em, you pay for them.

Now THAT would be fair. Won't happen though.

And I do understand why - so many people don't make a high enough wage to leave "well" - so it is important for the higher income earners to pay the vast majority of the taxes. I do understand that this is for the good of the country (and I'm even a Republican).

But I still shake my head when I hear the stat that 1% of the people pay 40% of the overall tax. And that 30% of the people pay $0 in taxes.

Those stats just don't seem "fair".....:0corn
 
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Mags

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Morris said:
Never understood why school taxes are based on property value???
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Morris:

Great point - it should be based on how many children are using the schools....

I have a hunch if we did it that way though, our school system would fall apart. They count on money from high income earners that send their kids to private school to subsidize them. Which amounts to double taxation to those that do, as you do not get a credit against your taxes if you choose to send your kids to private school instead of public school. That one has always bothered me.
 
dawgball

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Morris said:
Never understood why school taxes are based on property value???
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I think the real question is why is it a separate tax at all?

As for the other post (I think by Mags), I personally don't want to be hassled with a "toll" on every little thing I receive from the government. Take this road, gimme a dollar. Turn right, gimme $2. Turn left, gimme $0.50.

If we based the tax revenue generated from a flat income and sales tax (each state and city could levy their own taxes if desired), then it would be up to the government to stay within that budget. Being able to invent new taxes for everything is one of the main problems we have now. The government can over-spend then make up some BS new tax.

Oh well...
 
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Mags

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dawgball said:
I think the real question is why is it a separate tax at all?

As for the other post (I think by Mags), I personally don't want to be hassled with a "toll" on every little thing I receive from the government. Take this road, gimme a dollar. Turn right, gimme $2. Turn left, gimme $0.50.

If we based the tax revenue generated from a flat income and sales tax (each state and city could levy their own taxes if desired), then it would be up to the government to stay within that budget. Being able to invent new taxes for everything is one of the main problems we have now. The government can over-spend then make up some BS new tax.

Oh well...
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Dawgball - I love the sales tax idea - it will incent people to save (especially for retirement).... but why add a flat tax????

Let's make it fair for all and have just a sales tax - no exemptions - everything taxed the same, no matter what your income or what you buy....

That would work well, be simple, and most importantly, be fair.
 
IntenseOperator

IntenseOperator

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Mags said:
Dawgball - I love the sales tax idea - it will incent people to save (especially for retirement).... but why add a flat tax????

Let's make it fair for all and have just a sales tax - no exemptions - everything taxed the same, no matter what your income or what you buy....

That would work well, be simple, and most importantly, be fair.
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Sales tax would never fly. A self employed evil white guy like myself, with no kids, no wive(s), would be considered beating the system. Those "poor" families with seven kids via 10 fathers would consume much more and thusly pay more into the system. Forget the fact that they take from the system far more than I do.
 
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Mags

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IntenseOperator said:
Sales tax would never fly. A self employed evil white guy like myself, with no kids, no wive(s), would be considered beating the system. Those "poor" families with seven kids via 10 fathers would consume much more and thusly pay more into the system. Forget the fact that they take from the system far more than I do.
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Self employed - no wives, no illegitimate kids....yes, you are getting screwed my friend... and you are probably evil too....:mj07:

Try being married with no kids - doubly screwed.....
 
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