death to the death tax!

[Mr. B]

That's largely the case already. The top 50% pay 97.11% of all income taxes. The top 1% of earners pay 40.42%. Before long we will have a voting majority with no income tax burden. [link]

Pointing that out certainly doesn't help your cause.

Indeed, the top 1% in the US earns 20% of all the income. In other words, 99% of the population gets to fight over the remaining 80% of the income that's left. The bottom 50% earn only 12.8% of all income in the US. So, yeah, I would think the half of the population that fights over less than 15% of all wages in this country shouldn't be paying taxes. Good Lord.

If you look at wealth rather than income distribution, the picture is slanted even more toward the top end.

Source.

First, I don't really have a "cause" here, I was just addressing Randy's assertion that only the rich should pay taxes... it's pretty much the case already.

However, your assertion that an overwhelming majority "fights over less than 15% of all wages" is absurd. Capitalism is not a zero-sum game. There is no fixed pie that people compete for. Surely the concept of wealth creation is not completely foreign to you.

 

[Taylirious]

Yes. I don't know why we have all these taxes when the money isn't being used right to begin with? There should only be 2 taxes in America 1. A flat National Tax of 15% and A State Tax of 5%...those numbers can be adjusted as long as they are low and stay flat...IMHO. TY.

S.

So, basically, you are in favor of "crush the poor" taxes. Good to know.

Since I am "Poor" um no...but I want something that is fair. If I never got back the taxes taken out & unearned income credit I got...it would have been ok. I want less taxes period. If everyone paid something I don't think it would be bad.

S.

 

[cultcross]

That's largely the case already. The top 50% pay 97.11% of all income taxes. The top 1% of earners pay 40.42%. Before long we will have a voting majority with no income tax burden. [link]

The fact that the majority of the raw tax income comes from the rich does not imply that the tax burden on the poor is low or reduced. It certainly doesn't follow that it is on the way towards zero.

Your tax 'burden' is dependent on your income. $2000, say, is a much larger burden on someone earning $20,000 than someone earning $2m. Just because your contribution is a drop in the proverbial ocean when it comes to the actual money the government pulls in doesn't mean it isn't a heavy burden on you, the individual. You are nowhere near a voting majority with 'no income tax burden'.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Pointing that out certainly doesn't help your cause.

Indeed, the top 1% in the US earns 20% of all the income. In other words, 99% of the population gets to fight over the remaining 80% of the income that's left. The bottom 50% earn only 12.8% of all income in the US. So, yeah, I would think the half of the population that fights over less than 15% of all wages in this country shouldn't be paying taxes. Good Lord.

If you look at wealth rather than income distribution, the picture is slanted even more toward the top end.

Source.

First, I don't really have a "cause" here, I was just addressing Randy's assertion that only the rich should pay taxes... it's pretty much the case already.

However, your assertion that an overwhelming majority "fights over less than 15% of all wages" is absurd. Capitalism is not a zero-sum game. There is no fixed pie that people compete for. Surely the concept of wealth creation is not completely foreign to you.

Actually, there is a fixed pie when it comes to wages people can earn. The companies out there can each only afford to pay out so much, or are only willing to pay out so much. So yes, it is fair to characterize it as people fighting over a certain amount of wages. That's why you have companies with a handful of job openings, crappy pay, and hundreds of people line up to apply. To imply there is no fixed number of jobs (and thus, income) available at any given time is defiant of reality.

Yes. I don't know why we have all these taxes when the money isn't being used right to begin with? There should only be 2 taxes in America 1. A flat National Tax of 15% and A State Tax of 5%...those numbers can be adjusted as long as they are low and stay flat...IMHO. TY.

S.

So, basically, you are in favor of "crush the poor" taxes. Good to know.

Since I am "Poor" um no...but I want something that is fair. If I never got back the taxes taken out & unearned income credit I got...it would have been ok. I want less taxes period. If everyone paid something I don't think it would be bad.

S.

Do you or do you not pay sales taxes? Everyone does pay. Some just don't pay income taxes.

 

[Taylirious]

^
I do pay a sales tax and I think that either income tax goes or sales tax...I don't want to be taxed on every little thing but I don't mind paying something. Just 1 National tax and 1 State tax and that is all. Personally if tax money isn't being used the right way I don't want to be taxed period.

S.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If you don't think your tax money is being used the "right way," then I suggest voting for people who will use it in a way more concordant with your values.

But you don't get to pick and choose, say "I will pay taxes for this, but not for that." Not if you want to live in anything resembling a democracy.

 

[Taylirious]

If you don't think your tax money is being used the "right way," then I suggest voting for people who will use it in a way more concordant with your values.

But you don't get to pick and choose, say "I will pay taxes for this, but not for that." Not if you want to live in anything resembling a democracy.

I know all this. I am just expressing a personal feeling about it, not how I act in my day-to-day life.


S.

 

[cultcross]

^
I do pay a sales tax and I think that either income tax goes or sales tax...I don't want to be taxed on every little thing but I don't mind paying something. Just 1 National tax and 1 State tax and that is all.

Then I hope you don't enjoy living in a functioning society with a working government. Taxes are a necessary part of that, a country can't magic money from nowhere. You can rearrange how it's paid, if you like, but it needs to be paid.

 

[Taylirious]

^
I do pay a sales tax and I think that either income tax goes or sales tax...I don't want to be taxed on every little thing but I don't mind paying something. Just 1 National tax and 1 State tax and that is all.

Then I hope you don't enjoy living in a functioning society with a working government. Taxes are a necessary part of that, a country can't magic money from nowhere. You can rearrange how it's paid, if you like, but it needs to be paid.

Did I say no taxes at all???

S.

 

[cultcross]

^
I do pay a sales tax and I think that either income tax goes or sales tax...I don't want to be taxed on every little thing but I don't mind paying something. Just 1 National tax and 1 State tax and that is all.

Then I hope you don't enjoy living in a functioning society with a working government. Taxes are a necessary part of that, a country can't magic money from nowhere. You can rearrange how it's paid, if you like, but it needs to be paid.

Did I say no taxes at all???

S.

I'm assuming from your "I don't want to be taxed on every little thing but I don't mind paying something" you want significantly reduced taxes overall. That means you get significantly less from those taxes, and you have to start picking services to lose.

 

[Taylirious]

I didn't say reduce taxes, I just want them simplified.


S.

 

[Supreme Admiral]

I have a question: What's the hell wrong with our society when it comes to death tax? Almost as if we're living among with richest, powerful people all across the world who don't care anyone but themselves. That, I can't stomach to think of that!

 

[Candlelight]

For those who for whatever odd reason don't understand what estate/death tax is, maybe I should explain. It is the condition wherein the assets of a person, after death, are taxed before being passed on in accordance with that person's will.

In other words, when Grandpa dies and leaves you his house, Uncle Sam skims X% off the top before giving you the keys.

I knew what it was, I was just amazed. We don't have that here.

 

[Joshua Howard]

I think it should be stopped and frankly I don't see how stopping "perpetual financial dynasties" is any of the government's business. Taxation of the living makes a pretty good effort already.

I agree with this. All of this taxation-for-protection scheme is based on the assumption that we can trust big government, but we can't trust large amounts of power in the hands of individuals.

 

[Commander Rabbit]

The estate tax is only on estates over a certain value -- I don't know what the amount is right now, but it used to be $750,000, and I know it's gone up since then -- so it affects only a very small portion of people.

And, yes, I think it should be kept.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It should be dropped no matter who it affects. There's no justification for the government undermining hereditary wealth.

 

[cultcross]

It should be dropped no matter who it affects. There's no justification for the government undermining hereditary wealth.

There's no more or less justification for undermining income or capital gains of any other kind, really. What is it about hereditary gains over x million dollars that makes them particularly out of the government's dominion?

 

[RJDiogenes]

It should be dropped no matter who it affects. There's no justification for the government undermining hereditary wealth.

There's no more or less justification for undermining income or capital gains of any other kind, really. What is it about hereditary gains over x million dollars that makes them particularly out of the government's dominion?

From what was said earlier in the Thread, the purpose of the tax is to undermine hereditary wealth. I don't see any justification for the government to be undertaking that mission.

 

[David cgc]

Because those who live off of hereditary wealth would still be benefitting from living in a functioning society that they don't pay in to. It's charity for those who are most easily able to take care of themselves: The people who can live off the accomplishments of their ancestors.

 

[Mr. B]

That implies said people don't pay other taxes and it fails to justify why the government should act as some sort of moral arbiter in the matter.