That’s always the way with LIBs; touchy feely. The real world simply doesn’t work that way. Human beings don’t work that way. Big Government might try to force their will, while going against human nature, but they will fail miserably every time. History is littered with those failed attempts.
You get a job that offers a pension and you have a pension. There are jobs out there that still offer pensions. Mine still does. I’ve been in unions all of my life in every job I ever had. Now I’m in a state union. I’m not an idiot. Similar to Doug, I bought an 1800 SQ FT colonial and took out a 15 year mortgage back in 2003. I’m 52 right now and can retire in 3 years. In all of that time I have owned a total of 4 cars.
I don’t think you’re criticizing anyone. I just think you want the same opportunity as anyone else. But I’m guessing you’re young. That boat sailed in the mid 90s. Back in the 70s and 80s there were decent paying jobs for anyone coming out of high school. That no longer exists.
Snow96
600
You want an even playing field for everyone?
How the hell do you do that? Can I be like the lower income and NOT pay any federal tax and get money back over and above what I paid? Can I get food stamps so I don’t have to pay for food?
WOW just WOW.
Start with fixing the tax code so people can’t get back more than they paid in. While we’re at it lets eliminate a lot of the loopholes the ultra wealthy get to take advantage of to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. That would be a start. It also has the added benefit of actually doing something to change the status quo instead of just bitching about it. I’m game, are you?
Just remember, before we can do any of that we have to wrestle back control of the government from those who have taken control of it. Reversing Citizens United would be a good start there.
Don’t think many will disagree with most of those points.
The sticking point is: what definition of “fair share” do you use?
Fair as in: everyone pays the same amount.
Fair as in: everyone pays the same percentage.
Fair as in: some other definition of fair that contradicts the actual definition of “fair”.
I believe everyone should pay the same percentage. A flat tax across the board. I always have. No deductions, no exemptions, no credits, nothing. Just a straight flat percentage. I also think 10% is way too high, especially if everyone is paying. Part of the problem is government spending money they don’t have. Fixing the tax code would actually alleviate some of that, but not all. Like I said, it’s a start.
Snow96
605
You should like my proposal of a flat tax then.
Flat tax rate for ALL tax payers. (I’m thinking somewhere between 10 and 20%. Bean counters would have to figure out what that would be. BUT the rate should be revenue neutral).
ALL income – earned and unearned counted. (that would be interest, wages, capital gains, dividends, rents, royalties and all the other stuff).
One tax payer per tax form
Each tax form gets a single deduction equal to 80% of the federal minimum wage – currently 12,064 (7.25 * 40 = 290. 290 * 52 = 15,080 15080 *.8 = 12064)
No other deductions or credits allowed. Everyone would have skin in the game (someone making minimum wage would pay 300 t0 600 dollars a year in federal tax.
Now a couple – each would have a seperate tax form for there income. Mom works less than full time, guess what – no taxes. Mom and dad both work full time, 24k in deductions.
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That’s not a flat tax. The people who make less than 12,064 still pay nothing. That kills your “ALL tax payers” right there.
So much for everyone having skin in the game. Oh well.
Snow96
607
So I’ll put you down as no deduction, no nothing EVERYONE pays a flat tax then?
Removing yourself from the conversation by continuing to post in it. How does that work?
Of course. That’s why they’re rich. Greed is good. There was even a movie about it once.
Notice all the billionaires rushing to donate half of their wealth to charity in the past week? Well half of their disclosed wealth anyway. Nothing going on there, I’m sure.
I saw one billionaire do that – Bezos’ wife. Which “all” are you referring to? Do you think there’s a conspiracy?
The conversation I was having with an individual forum member about a specific item, not from other discussions in this thread.
Of course you only saw Bezos doing it. You think foreign companies pay US taxes too. Obviously you don’t really pay attention to much that’s actually going on. You’re too busy arguing on internet forums about imaginary points and such.
https://www.coindesk.com/another-crypto-billionaire-signs-gates-buffet-founded-giving-pledge
Meanwhile, it turns out these billionaires aren’t actually handing over “half” of their wealth. But we’re supposed to think they are. Because they’re super generous while also being super greedy.
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/with-giving-pledge-half-can-mean-different-things
But hey, what’s a few billion between friends?
The problem can’t addressed by only tackling ordinary income, because wealth creates the unfair advantage of being able to generate income beyond living expenses due to possession of that wealth alone, not hard work. The heirs of wealth can continue to make more money than 99% of the population each and every year without lifting a finger.
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MarkyS
616
Nobody’s talking about winning the lottery. We are saying that NO ONE is stopping you from making your own life better, or even becoming wealthy, yourself.
Stop coveting and go get your own.
M
That’s a great argument, marky. You should run for office.
Samm
618
Yes he did. And so did I. So did a lot of people. It’s all about choice. Choice of education; choice of profession; choice of employer. You should have chosen better.
Samm
619
Yep. “The Ant and the Grasshopper”
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