POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

I personally think some sort of progressive tax structure is fine.

However, it does irk me when I read statements of alleged fact like you just wrote that I might use "many times more" government infrastructure and services than others.

I'd really like to see a link on that.

I know for a fact that my neighbor doesn't make 25% of what I make. But we drive down the same street to get home, the same cop drives by both our homes, the same street light lights our street, the same sewer line hauls both of our crap away, our kids went to the same school, etc...

Yes, but it’s not about personal consumption. That’s a use tax or sales tax. Those are inherently regressive.

A person who makes $50,000 can’t afford to pay $1,000 in taxes as much as a person who makes $500,000 can afford $10,000.

If we want a flat tax, I want the first $250,000 exempted. The rich can fight it out over the rest.

[SJHovey]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

Yes, but it’s not about personal consumption. That’s a use tax or sales tax. Those are inherently regressive.

A person who makes $50,000 can’t afford to pay $1,000 in taxes as much as a person who makes $500,000 can afford $10,000.

If we want a flat tax, I want the first $250,000 exempted. The rich can fight it out over the rest.

I didn't say anything to the contrary. If you want to argue that I should pay more because I can afford it, fine. Make that argument. But don't tell me that I "use many times more government infrastructure and services" than someone making a fraction of what I earn.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

This. It isn't like I pay the top percent on all my salary. I only paid the higher rate on a small portion that crossed the threshold.

I don’t think the GOP voters or Fark Independents understand this math. For every dollar society provides me in income, I am necessarily using progressively more of society’s resources.

Say I’m selling lemonade on a street corner. I make $100. I use two streets. My grocery store is down the street and I can bike there. Not much wear and tear.

Now say I grow to be Lemonade Stands Corp andbi make $1,000,000. Instead of selling my lemonade on a street corner and using two streets I use the federal highway system now because my supply chain has grown. I also use Customs to import specialty lemons and cane sugar from Brazil. I’m using ports and docks now and all of the inspectors that come with it.

In order to make that last dollar, I’m using far more of the nation’s resources and not just my local streets. I should pay progressively more in taxes because I use progressively more resources.

[rufus]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

I'm not poor, but I am far from rich. My "big day out" is to go to a local restaurant for lunch and a beer or two. That was my choice in life. I value other things more than money. I still am saying that I don't think it's right that if you earn more, you pay a higher rate of taxes.

Taxes are the price we all pay for living in a civilized society. Otherwise, we'd be Somalia.

It only stands to reason that those who benefit most from that civilized society should also be expected to contribute the most towards its continued existence. Otherwise, we're Somalia.


When the mobs start descending on their gated communities, the rich are gonna wish they'd contributed a bit more towards the peoples' well-being.

[5mn_Major]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

This is the post I read.

However, it does irk me when I read statements of alleged fact like you just wrote that I might use "many times more" government infrastructure and services than others.

I'd really like to see a link on that.

Didn't I just answer that? Isn't that what you wanted?

[dxmnkd316]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

and because the more money you have, the easier it is to make more money. Left unchecked, within a few generations the top 1% will own nearly all wealth instead of "just" 40% of it owns now (source on the 40%: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.a33cddd5d140)

There’s also this.

Otherwise it’s an exponential series with nothing to stop it from shifting all money to the richest person. The money will always flow up unless there is a downward pressure. For every dollar a corporation makes, the largest fraction (that isn’t distributed to shareholders, which is more complicated) will always go to the executives.

The richer you are, the more you can afford to not spend $1. If you are making $35,000 a year, you can’t afford to not spend it these days. So that dollar the person spends will inevitably get spent in the economy and it gets cleaved up proportionally with the vast majority going to the rich who can sit on it.

This is also one of the reasons why you lower interest rates in a down economy. It stimulates spending instead of saving. Taxes do that in an up economy by forcing the rich to spend the same fraction as someone who makes much less than them.

[The Rube]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

If we want a flat tax, I want the first $250,000 exempted. The rich can fight it out over the rest.

Mookie suggested this earlier.

This is why I stated I was open to hearing about a flat tax.

[SJHovey]

I don’t think the GOP voters or Fark Independents understand this math. For every dollar society provides me in income, I am necessarily using progressively more of society’s resources.

Say I’m selling lemonade on a street corner. I make $100. I use two streets. My grocery store is down the street and I can bike there. Not much wear and tear.

Now say I grow to be Lemonade Stands Corp andbi make $1,000,000. Instead of selling my lemonade on a street corner and using two streets I use the federal highway system now because my supply chain has grown. I also use Customs to import specialty lemons and cane sugar from Brazil. I’m using ports and docks now and all of the inspectors that come with it.

In order to make that last dollar, I’m using far more of the nation’s resources and not just my local streets. I should pay progressively more in taxes because I use progressively more resources.

Or, we understand that tariffs, excise taxes, import fees, gas taxes and a virtual plethora of other taxes and fees operate to recover those infrastructure costs to which you refer, long before I pay income tax on my net distribution.

[5mn_Major]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

I didn't say anything to the contrary. If you want to argue that I should pay more because I can afford it, fine. Make that argument. But don't tell me that I "use many times more government infrastructure and services" than someone making a fraction of what I earn.

Ah. You must be referring to the biggest part of US govt. discretionary spending. With the US hiding behind this 'fantastic' 2nd amendment, who gains from the military and other overseas govt. services (at $600B for the military + a paltry $100 for sec of state that's much of our $1T deficit)...maintaining a worldwide structure safe for Americans overseas? Is it the guy who eats spam for dinner and can't afford to heat his place?

Listen. I'm not the guy who wants to have the rich folks pay for everything. But don't sit there telling everyone that the rich don't use tons of government services.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

Or, we understand that tariffs, excise taxes, import fees, gas taxes and a virtual plethora of other taxes and fees operate to recover those infrastructure costs to which you refer, long before I pay income tax on my net distribution.

Or, we understand those taxes don’t do that fairly. They shift that burden to the lower income brackets.

[rufus]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

Gas taxes don't come anywhere close to the costs of maintaining our roads and interstates, as they are supposed to. Hence, the sorry state of their condition, in many areas.

[The Rube]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

Gas taxes don't come anywhere close to the costs of maintaining our roads and interstates, as they are supposed to. Hence, the sorry state of their condition, in many areas.

True.

[aparch]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

that gives one incentive though to earn a 10mm paycheck

brent has a point though.

how about everyone pays 6% of their gross for social security.
everyone pays 8% of their gross from national health care
and everyone pays 45% of their gross for income tax with the first $200k exempt.
then everyone (here companies are people... freedom of speech and all) pays 5% of the wealth (whatever they own) with no exemptions.

can even do away with corp tax (so no more excuse for double tax on passive income)

flatter than twiggy!

I'm in! Where can I vote for you?

[aparch]

Re: POTUS 45.42: Who Needs Tax Increases? If You're Rich Just Write A Check.

Gas taxes don't come anywhere close to the costs of maintaining our roads and interstates, as they are supposed to. Hence, the sorry state of their condition, in many areas.

There is some local movements to have GPS trackers voluntarily installed where drivers would be charged per mile driven.

My issues are with those who use their vehicles on off-road trails (not maintained by DOT's so they don't receive funding) or for Toll Roads (which are ineligible to receive State and Federal funding for the construction or maintenance of said roads).

My suggestion is to charge an additional fee for electric vehicles (and a lesser charge for hybrid vehicles that still use some fuel) during each license renewal. Also, find a different source of funding for roads than relying on the 'hasn't-been-increased-since-the-80's' Motor Fuel Tax.

[SJHovey]

Ah. You must be referring to the biggest part of US govt. discretionary spending. With the US hiding behind this 'fantastic' 2nd amendment, who gains from the military and other overseas govt. services (at $600B for the military + a paltry $100 for sec of state that's much of our $1T deficit)...maintaining a worldwide structure safe for Americans overseas? Is it the guy who eats spam for dinner and can't afford to heat his place?

Listen. I'm not the guy who wants to have the rich folks pay for everything. But don't sit there telling everyone that the rich don't use tons of government services.

This what the argument always turns to. The argument that the rich benefit from the military way, way more than the poor.