That Last post was something I came across a while back when I heard the same old crying "the rich always gets the breaks".
Teal...When I read "progressive tax" all I can see is punitive or punishment, why should someone that earns more be made to pay incrementally MORE, in my ideal world, everyone above a specific amount (ie to not make the lowest earners carry the brunt, because of all the "other taxes" out there) would pay 10%. You see in my universe, math is simple, the sum of 10% of $500k is MORE than the sum of 10% of $50k. Of course all deductions would need to be eliminated. As far as the national sales tax, there would be many items not taxed, such as raw/non-processed foods but if you want to go out to a restaurant, then your going to pay a tax, no one makes you go out and eat. When a person with low income goes out to buy a car, they do not shop at the Hummer dealership. I think we need to get rid of all these nuisance taxes, I think as it is now all those local and state taxes you bring up (which I agree hurts the lower class) only makes it hard for anyone to get above the tide and make a positive income.
As I said before, I am not naive enough to think things will change, but I have a hard time not thinking a TOTAL tax change would not be for the better, but to get all the local/county/state/nation to make the changes would be near impossible.
When people complain about tax breaks bankrupting our future, why do they not think instead the bloated and inefficient programs will bankrupt our nation. I do not want to live in a socialist country (nothing personal my friends that live in such countries), but these programs are there, will always be there, but by god I want the money to go to the people that need it, not gobbled up because of an inefficient bureaucracy that could care less where the money is going. Our politicians when they leave office get paid a yearly salary and insurance benefits, you tell me what incentive do they have to make SS and Medicare viable, they will never use the service so they only have to pay lip service to the voting public.
As far as living in Washington, yep I thought California was a heavy tax state, but hell they tax the snot out of you here. Nice weather though. I had a house that wasn't fancy, I paid $145k for, but paid $200 per month for property tax, OMG is that sick or what? No wonder retirees have to sell their homes because they cant afford the sales tax.
Atrocities--Sorry you feel the way you do about Republicans, I can see where your feelings come from since that is all we hear from liberals and their attacks on people that only want the freedom to better themselves and not punished for success. I will say that the Democrats do not want their constituents to become educated and better themselves, because if they do, the will realize that all the rhetoric they have spewed is just that. So instead they ask "vote for us and we will get goodies for you from the government (which comes off the backs of them evil rich people)". But they never really come through, ohh they get government pork sent their way, but it doesn't really help the POOR, it just keeps the poor there, and I think the past 30-40 years prove it. And if anyone does better them selves, well they are evil and should be punished.
I will finish on this note, I am by no means rich (in American terms), the most I have ever made is around $45k (lots of over time), I got laid off after 9-11 and am going through retraining and will be finishing my schooling in the spring of next year. I hope to start my own business. But I remember a long time ago in my first real job, I was making $11/hr. and my supervisor overheard a conversation I was having with another co-worker. He asked me how could I be a conservative when I make so little money. I was floored by his question, I told him "What does the amount that I make have to do with fairness? I want to be able to better myself, and the amount that I am making now shouldn't make any difference".
Fairness. I do not think a progressive tax system is fair, it is punitive. Do I think it will change, no, not unless as I said above to Teal every level of taxes get changed so it will not be regressive as he said. I no what the socialists will say, it is only fair that the rich pay more since they have more, and my answer to that is who gives you the right to decide who should be punished more than someone else (yes, I contend that it is punishment). If I remember correctly, the IRS thinks you are rich if you make around $96k, that's a hell of allot of money true, but incrementally increasing their tax rate to make them "pay" more is not fair, why should the be punished because they make more. As long as there is class hatred and class envy, we will never focus on the real issues, which is, how can we be more efficient with the money we are spending now.
ACK, another tomb
I am going to stop posting, since I know that most of use believe what we do, and it will be near impossiable to change our minds.