Death and Taxes...
Monday, April 18, 2005
By Bill O'Reilly
Death and taxes on tax day, April 15th: that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo."
The House has passed a law that would repeal the death tax, but the Senate might once again vote to keep that un-American tax in place. Predictably, "The New York Times'" lead editorial today was headlined, "Long Live the Estate Tax." The liberals love the fact that the federal government can take half of your stuff when you die if you are wealthy.
Now, since the death tax kicks in at $3 million, most Americans don't have to deal with it, which is why this example of socialism is allowed in this country. Most of us simply ignore this gross violation of our private property rights.
The left hides behind the deficit to argue for the death tax, but if liberals really cared about the deficit, they'd demand a flat tax for corporations and individuals that would close all loopholes and stimulate the economy at the same time.
For example, if the U.S. government imposed a 20 percent corporate flat tax, foreign companies would move to America in droves, because most countries tax businesses at a much higher level than that. Thus, there'd be more jobs here and more people in corporations paying taxes to the U.S. government. The revenue would come pouring in, the deficit would recede.
But that's not what the left really wants. It wants income redistribution. That is, taking assets from the affluent and giving it to those less well off. Somewhere, Karl Marx (search) is glowing.
The truth is that millions of Americans pay almost nothing to their country. Those on welfare and receiving other entitlements like housing subsidies and food stamps are being supported by the rest of us who pay their own way.
Now, some of these Americans deserve the helping hand and some don't. But the government doesn't differentiate. If you are poor because of addiction, laziness or apathy, the government is apathetic. It doesn't care. You get the handout.
But what liberals really want is more than a handout. They want subsidies that would lift the poor into the middle class. They want Americans who succeed to support those who fail, no matter what the circumstance.
In addition to the federal government, 19 states and D.C. also have death taxes, more seizure of private property. This isn't in the Constitution, where private property is supposed to be protected from seizure.
It is time for Americans to decide just what kind of country we want. We should vote on the death tax. Let's have a referendum on capitalism. And the next time these closet socialists scream about taxing the rich, point out that all Americans should be treated equally. If you want to live in Havana, go there.
And that's "The Memo."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No More Money Waste
Monday, April 18, 2005
By Cal Thomas
Real journalism: fair and balanced. That's why we're No. 1 - FOX News Channel.
Watch After Hours
with Cal Thomas
Saturdays at 11 p.m. ET
Now that most of us have settled up with the federal government by paying our income taxes, let's take a look at how they are misspending our money.
The Heritage Foundation is out with a timely report that contains the top 10 examples of government waste.
For example, did you know that $25 billion is missing from the Treasury Department? What do they care? They only print money. You and I have to earn it.
The Pentagon also bought 270,000 commercial airline tickets worth $100 million. Not only did they not use the tickets, they never asked for a refund, though the tickets are fully refundable.
At the Agriculture Department, which has more employees than America has farmers, employees used government credit cards to pay for Ozzy Osbourne tickets, tattoos, lingerie, bartender school tuition and even make their personal car payments.
And we are told that government can't afford any more tax cuts? We can't afford for them to keep spending like this.
There's plenty more. Medicare overspends and wastes more money than any other government program, but because Medicare is popular, politicians demagogue whenever anyone wants to cut unnecessary costs.
Did you know the Education Department certified student loans to a college that doesn't exist? Congress faked the documents to see what the department would do.
I wonder how many other examples of waste, fraud and abuse exist at the Education Department.
The Army Corps of Engineers manipulates data to get more congressional funding and the government's earned income tax credits squanders about one-third of the program's costs in overpayments.
Then, there are numerous examples of government creating new programs that duplicate existing ones. For example, there are 342 duplicative economic development programs.
Think of this when your government tells you at tax time, or any time, it can't afford to let you keep more of your money. Tell Congress you can't afford to let them waste any more of it.
And that's Column One for this week.
Monday, April 18, 2005
By Bill O'Reilly
Death and taxes on tax day, April 15th: that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo."
The House has passed a law that would repeal the death tax, but the Senate might once again vote to keep that un-American tax in place. Predictably, "The New York Times'" lead editorial today was headlined, "Long Live the Estate Tax." The liberals love the fact that the federal government can take half of your stuff when you die if you are wealthy.
Now, since the death tax kicks in at $3 million, most Americans don't have to deal with it, which is why this example of socialism is allowed in this country. Most of us simply ignore this gross violation of our private property rights.
The left hides behind the deficit to argue for the death tax, but if liberals really cared about the deficit, they'd demand a flat tax for corporations and individuals that would close all loopholes and stimulate the economy at the same time.
For example, if the U.S. government imposed a 20 percent corporate flat tax, foreign companies would move to America in droves, because most countries tax businesses at a much higher level than that. Thus, there'd be more jobs here and more people in corporations paying taxes to the U.S. government. The revenue would come pouring in, the deficit would recede.
But that's not what the left really wants. It wants income redistribution. That is, taking assets from the affluent and giving it to those less well off. Somewhere, Karl Marx (search) is glowing.
The truth is that millions of Americans pay almost nothing to their country. Those on welfare and receiving other entitlements like housing subsidies and food stamps are being supported by the rest of us who pay their own way.
Now, some of these Americans deserve the helping hand and some don't. But the government doesn't differentiate. If you are poor because of addiction, laziness or apathy, the government is apathetic. It doesn't care. You get the handout.
But what liberals really want is more than a handout. They want subsidies that would lift the poor into the middle class. They want Americans who succeed to support those who fail, no matter what the circumstance.
In addition to the federal government, 19 states and D.C. also have death taxes, more seizure of private property. This isn't in the Constitution, where private property is supposed to be protected from seizure.
It is time for Americans to decide just what kind of country we want. We should vote on the death tax. Let's have a referendum on capitalism. And the next time these closet socialists scream about taxing the rich, point out that all Americans should be treated equally. If you want to live in Havana, go there.
And that's "The Memo."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No More Money Waste
Monday, April 18, 2005
By Cal Thomas
Real journalism: fair and balanced. That's why we're No. 1 - FOX News Channel.
Watch After Hours
with Cal Thomas
Saturdays at 11 p.m. ET
Now that most of us have settled up with the federal government by paying our income taxes, let's take a look at how they are misspending our money.
The Heritage Foundation is out with a timely report that contains the top 10 examples of government waste.
For example, did you know that $25 billion is missing from the Treasury Department? What do they care? They only print money. You and I have to earn it.
The Pentagon also bought 270,000 commercial airline tickets worth $100 million. Not only did they not use the tickets, they never asked for a refund, though the tickets are fully refundable.
At the Agriculture Department, which has more employees than America has farmers, employees used government credit cards to pay for Ozzy Osbourne tickets, tattoos, lingerie, bartender school tuition and even make their personal car payments.
And we are told that government can't afford any more tax cuts? We can't afford for them to keep spending like this.
There's plenty more. Medicare overspends and wastes more money than any other government program, but because Medicare is popular, politicians demagogue whenever anyone wants to cut unnecessary costs.
Did you know the Education Department certified student loans to a college that doesn't exist? Congress faked the documents to see what the department would do.
I wonder how many other examples of waste, fraud and abuse exist at the Education Department.
The Army Corps of Engineers manipulates data to get more congressional funding and the government's earned income tax credits squanders about one-third of the program's costs in overpayments.
Then, there are numerous examples of government creating new programs that duplicate existing ones. For example, there are 342 duplicative economic development programs.
Think of this when your government tells you at tax time, or any time, it can't afford to let you keep more of your money. Tell Congress you can't afford to let them waste any more of it.
And that's Column One for this week.
