Why should i pay $14 to enter the US?

[infinix]

Flat Tax (Fair Tax) system where everyone is charged a very low (10% or lower) income tax across the board, regardless of income. No deduction, no rebates, nothing.

All other government income will come from sales taxes. Sale taxes tier up with the value of the purchase. It could go up by as much as 100% for uber luxury items such as McMansions, 30 ft yachts, private jets, and other large ticket items. For companies making capital investments, the sales tax would be capped at 50%.

All tax paying citizens will receive a tax pre-bate for a preset dollar amount of essential necessities such as bread, milk based on the number of people within the household. So those with kids will receive more tax pre-bate than those without. For example, let's say that a family of 4, two parents and two kids. The parents will get a pre-bate of $500 per person where as the children will be on a age defined tier from $200 when they are born to $500 by the time they are 18.

I'm just throwing out the % and numbers randomly, but the idea is the same.

On the subject of leaving tips, I love it when I go back to Asia. Tipping is not part of the Asian culture. Though some establishments are spoiled by westerners and are beginning to demand tips. White people, STOP TIPPING THE ASIANS. YOU ARE RUINING IT FOR THE REST OF US.

 

[infinix]

Yes of course that's part of it, but it's also quite likely that almost everyone would benefit financially, as it's quite possible that the level of flat tax required to maintain current revenue levels would be lower than the current lower rate of tax, not just lower than the upper brackets, as revenue would rise as a function of the laffer curve, as I suspect that we are already on the right-hand side of the curve in this country. I believe there's been some preliminary statistical modelling by the ONS (or was it the OBR?) supporting this, but of course it remains a controversial suggestion and the case isn't proven yet. However, it's worth exploring further IMO.

yes, the prelim numbers definitely so support the notion that a falt tax system is more beneficial to the masses. More people should read The Fair Tax.

 

[Kestra]

I would say that you should always start assuming you will tip 20% and then adjust accordingly based on the service you receive. Again, I know that there are a lot of crappy servers out there that probably don't deserve a full 20% tip, but please tip them something. Try to remember that they are probably being forced to tip out the hosts or the bussers based on their sales, so if you tip them nothing, it will actually cost them money to wait on you.

It's ridiculous that the customer is expected to know that and compensate for it.

Is it? I think while the base rate may be lower for most (I'm usually in the 15-20% range myself), most American restaurant customers do know this...

It isn't exactly arcane knowledge...

Sorry, I meant the part about sharing with the hosts and things like that.

 

[Myasishchev]

You know, I threw a lot of invective toward tourists out earlier, but it's really the visa holders that are the most terrible.

Last restaurant I worked at was near a GE R&D facility, so there were many foreign engineers. Tourists I'd see once, but these bastards I'd see day after day after day.

For my coworkers, it actually developed into a pretty serious racism. I knew better, because I'm an educated person, but it's no prejudice when you get angry after you've microwaved a six person party's water, because the fountain and even the tap water (!) were each too chilly, on top of otherwise perfect service, and you've receive a 7% tip on cheap vegetarian meals for your troubles.*

*You know, it just occurred to me, I probably couldn't work in a restaurant in good conscience now. It'd be like running the canteen at Dachau.

 

[RoJoHen]

My restaurant is attached to a hotel that is constantly hosting foreigners, usually Germans. Many of them have visited so many times that they are becoming quite fluent in English. I have noticed that, over time, their tips have increased. It's actually been interesting to watch as they become more and more Americanized.

However, we also host larger groups of foreigners that don't tip at all. Australians are by far the worst offenders, usually just leaving random pennies and nickels because they claim that Australia doesn't use coins. If I wait on an Australian, you bet your ass I am adding a gratuity to that check. Many foreigners are so used to the gratuity already being included that they don't even question it.

 

[Myasishchev]

I noticed that the GE employees did get better, the longer they were in country.

 

[DonIago]

It's ridiculous that the customer is expected to know that and compensate for it.

Is it? I think while the base rate may be lower for most (I'm usually in the 15-20% range myself), most American restaurant customers do know this...

It isn't exactly arcane knowledge...

Sorry, I meant the part about sharing with the hosts and things like that.

Ah, okay. Thanks for the clarification!

I've known it for a few years myself, but I agree that part of it may not be common knowledge, and I can certainly understand why travelers from abroad may not be aware of it and consequently fail to understand American tipping policies.

This has me wondering how many faux pas I committed when I visited England that my host didn't point out to me for one reason or another...though to be fair, my host told me in advance that I probably wouldn't be too impressed by Stonehenge because he confused 6 meters with 6 feet...great when the tourist knows more about your country's landmarks than you do.

I -did- almost get turned away at the English border because the person interviewing me (who only had one arm, which wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't had a hellish trip and insufficient sleep) was concerned that I planned to get into a relationship with my host and not return as scheduled. And since I'd booked my travel via Continental Airlines and didn't need to (or even could?) print my boarding pass until 24 hours beforehand I didn't have my return ticket on-hand. I had to endure a lecture on how much more gay-tolerant England was than the US, which turned deliciously ironic when on my last day there my host and I were threatened by someone who'd had far too much to drink.

Oh, am I rambling?

That all being said, it actually was a fabulous (ha) trip for the most part. Hopefully not a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

 

[Alex1939]

I gotta comment on this tip thing one more time. It's all about context.

Example, I go to a chain restaurant after work and order a burger and 2 beers. I'm there a total of 25 minutes. My total comes to 19.79. I leave $22 and walk out.

If you tell me that is a terrible tip then fuck you. A waiter's job requires minimal skill. I don't have sympathy that you deserve a 3rd dollar for the little amount of work. And really, if you are going to complain over that, then it's time for a new career.

 

[Pingfah]

I would like a flat tax system for other, broader reasons

Because you'll make more money, by any chance?

Yes of course that's part of it, but it's also quite likely that almost everyone would benefit financially, as it's quite possible that the level of flat tax required to maintain current revenue levels would be lower than the current lower rate of tax, not just lower than the upper brackets, as revenue would rise as a function of the laffer curve, as I suspect that we are already on the right-hand side of the curve in this country. I believe there's been some preliminary statistical modelling by the ONS (or was it the OBR?) supporting this, but of course it remains a controversial suggestion and the case isn't proven yet. However, it's worth exploring further IMO.

Hmm, interesting. This presumably would hinge on closing loopholes and actually making corporations pay their taxes? I'm pretty sure none of the major banks are paying anything like 10% tax on their annual profits...

 

[Myasishchev]

I gotta comment on this tip thing one more time. It's all about context.

Example, I go to a chain restaurant after work and order a burger and 2 beers. I'm there a total of 25 minutes. My total comes to 19.79. I leave $22 and walk out.

If you tell me that is a terrible tip then fuck you. A waiter's job requires minimal skill. I don't have sympathy that you deserve a 3rd dollar for the little amount of work. And really, if you are going to complain over that, then it's time for a new career.

This post isn't even wrong.

 

[RoJoHen]

I gotta comment on this tip thing one more time. It's all about context.

Example, I go to a chain restaurant after work and order a burger and 2 beers. I'm there a total of 25 minutes. My total comes to 19.79. I leave $22 and walk out.

If you tell me that is a terrible tip then fuck you. A waiter's job requires minimal skill. I don't have sympathy that you deserve a 3rd dollar for the little amount of work. And really, if you are going to complain over that, then it's time for a new career.

This post isn't even wrong.

No, but it certainly is bitchy.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I'm not going to add to the debate about tipping. Returning to the OP's question, I would only ask why anyone would travel 5000+ miles with a budget that is so tight that £14 seems like a big deal. US border control shouldn't let anyone into the country who doesn't have demonstrably sufficient funds to support themselves.

 

[SmoothieX]

I'm a pretty light tipper. The concept is to reward exemplary service, which has somehow gotten twisted into supplementing someone's income.

Unless you do a real great job, I'll give you a little something, but none of this 20-25% stuff.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'm a pretty light tipper. The concept is to reward exemplary service, which has somehow gotten twisted into supplementing someone's income.

Unless you do a real great job, I'll give you a little something, but none of this 20-25% stuff.

No joke. My baseline is 10-15%, depending on the venue and type of service. You get less if you suck, more if you're awesome. This mentality that a server is entitled to a minimum gratuity is asinine. And even if I agree to such a concept, it sure as shit wouldn't be 20%.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't think someone is entitled to a minimum gratuity, but I do think the baseline needs to be higher. If you get shitty service, give less. Give less even until it reaches zero. But if you have a normal expectation for service and that is met, it should result in 15-20% tip. For exemplary service, you can give more.

 

[thumbtack]

it's time for a new career.

Perhaps, but do anticipate the flavorless tinge of fecal matter on your next burger. Revenge is quietly tolerated in the restaurant industry.

 

[Scout101]

Good, as long as you don't mind doing a little time for assault because someone didn't leave you an extra dollar on the tip...

 

[RoJoHen]

The emotions in this thread are absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Alex1939]

it's time for a new career.

Perhaps, but do anticipate the flavorless tinge of fecal matter on your next burger. Revenge is quietly tolerated in the restaurant industry.

So for getting shafted a dollar you would deliberately damage my food?


This thread is making me hate waiters and waitresses.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

it's time for a new career.

Perhaps, but do anticipate the flavorless tinge of fecal matter on your next burger. Revenge is quietly tolerated in the restaurant industry.

So for getting shafted a dollar you would deliberately damage my food?


This thread is making me hate waiters and waitresses.

Yeah, I love how people think it's okay to respond with criminal acts if they don't feel they've been tipped properly.