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Posted by Kris Krieger on November 13, 2007, 6:50 pm
>
>> On Nov 2, 5:30 pm, "Amy Blankenship"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> >> > I never knew there was an argument that the poor and middle
>>> >> > class pay
>>> >> > most of the taxes. Sure there's lots of people, but they don't
>>> >> > pay much in taxes. If a typical family earned under about
>>> >> > 20,000 per year, they pay no taxes.
>>>
>>> >> > I'll add this, the "flat tax" proposals that you hear about are
>>> >> > a bunch of bull. They don't want to make taxes "fairer", they
>>> >> > want to shift the taxes from the upper income to the lower.
>>> >> > You see, we already have a flat tax system. Go take too many
>>> >> > deduction or credits
>>> >> > and see how long it takes until AMT kicks in. AMT is our flat
>>> >> > tax.
>>>
>>> >> The main flat tax proposal has a rebate annual to EVERYONE based
>>> >> the average expenditures on food/clothing/housing/transportation.
>>> >> The idea
>>> >> is that you only pay taxes up to the poverty level, or some other
>>> >> set level (I think at one time the amount was $36,000 for a
>>> >> family of 4). This would remove the "regressive" nature of the
>>> >> tax by refunding the taxes paid by the poor back to them...
>>>
>>> > Do you mean "over" not "under" the poverty level?
>>>
>>> > But that system is basically the same system we have now.
>>>
>>> I'd personally like to see a national sales tax. It would encourage
>>> saving,
>>> eliminate paperwork associated with taxes, and no one who spends
>>> money would
>>> be able to avoid it, even if they earn cash under the table.
>>
>> Sales tax is incredibly recessive.
>
> You mean *regressive*? If not, explain pls
>
>
THe argument is probably something like, "Poor people need food,
transportation, soap, and clothing as well as do rich people".
What always gets swept aside is the fact taht in all of those areas, once
can choose whether to be frugal, average, or extravagent in their
spending. I recall a news story a year or two ago, where we were all
supposed to feel sorry for some doood who was "struggling" to pay to put
ever-more-expensive gasoline into his $750/month-payment 9MPG mega-truck
- the fool was unemployed and living with Mommy and Daddy. No pity from
me (driver of old 29MPG - yes, I check it periodically - basic Saturn).
Price is sometimes, but not always, an indicator of quality or origin.
THose expensive "designer" duds are typically made in the same third-
world sweatshop as the cheaper jecns, it's just that they have someone's
name plastered across the ass. Everyone has a choice re: what they want
to pay for.
"Choice" meats have less fat (ergo are healthier) than are Grade A to AAA
meats - choice. You can pay for nutrition, or fat - choice. Same with
"fast food" - pay for convenience, or pay for quality/nutrition - choice.
Toll roads that are decently maintained (here, called the "Lexus Lanes"
by various nitwits) versus slower roads paid for by "the gov.t" (i.e.
taxes, i.e., you and me) - choice.
We all have freedom to choose how we'll use our income. People with
lower income have mroe restricted choices, but for most, there
nevertheless *are* choices.
What pisses me off is being robbed to support other people's stupid
choices and general ineptitude...tho' it also pisses me off when chouice
is destroyed by a few fatasses who are basically just running their
companies, and possibly the eeconomy, into the ground out of psychotic
levels of greed that exceed a healthy desire to make a profit.
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