What do you think of current taxes?

Since it was brought up in the wrong thread and is a good discussion topic...



I've gotta say that I don't mind paying taxes at all. I drive roads, I go (went) to schools, my kid(s) will be, etc. I use public resources and I want them to be good. I want my country to be defended, I want a lot of things and I have no problem paying my fair share.

What I do have problems with:
1. Our area of the country has a poverty level for a family of 4 that approaches $48,000 or more. Some people just do NOT get the disparity of cost of living across this country. The going rate for new single family homes... call it 4 bedroom 2.5 bath is over three quarters of a million dollars! We all need more in this area just to pay for our 'normal' homes. Not mansions, but normal! This is not figured at all into the national tax structure. Where our $75K a year equals someone elses $35K a year.

2. Social Services are a good thing, but they do not have enough policies in place to protect from abuse. There are those who are misfortunate and I am happy to help those out. But, someone who is not trying - who is LAZY deserves the karma they have earned. Not a handout.

3. The top income level paying more doesn't bug me, as long as they are all paying it and that it applies to their area. A flat tax somehow sclaed for cost of living across the country seems like a good way to do this. Adjustments can be made for the lower level incomes as necessary - but they should be forced to ask for it so they can be held accountable as well. Less deducations, more accountability.

Other people's opinions?

Public School

As far as public school, if I had children, I would like a little more choice in where they go than have the decision made by the street I live on.

When I was in high school (1990-94) I started at a school that had won academic acheivment awards in years past. In my third year my father and I had to move to a different town. The high school I was required to transfer to was (self admitted) little better than babysitters. The school was so broke they changed their schedule to 5 am to 1 pm to get affordable bus service. Gang violence also made it into the paper on a near weekly basis.

I was lucky enough to transfer to the school that my grandmother was in district for. The school was much safer but not much of an academic challenge compared to the first school. Three years at the first school was enough to meet the grad requirements by 95% of the last school.

Any of you out there have your mortgage paid in full? Skip your property tax and see how much property you own. 85-90% of my property tax bill gets sent to the local public grade and high school. I have zero children using said schools. Could someone explain how its my financial responsibility to pay for other peoples children?

Social service

This one is worse than the schools. There was a time before FDR when we did not have the "dole". When some one was down on their luck their family helped them. If their family could not help them many other PRIVATE charities helped them (free masons and many others). If the person down on their luck could not help themselves, and their family could not help them, and the private charities could not help them they perished.

This was supposed to be a free country. That means you are free to work and succeded or free to crash and burn. There is no guarantee you will survive.

Flat Taxes

Correct me if I am wrong. I'm no math major. Isn't 10% of a million more than 10% of a thousand?

All taxes are evil. Nothing more than extortion.

Shadow_Ferret said:

All taxes are evil. Nothing more than extortion.

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"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." -- Alexis de Tocqueville

Just curious BMXTRIX, what do you consider "fair share"? An estimated percentage taken from gross imcome. Those crazy Yankees in the late 1700's thought 3% was extortion.....boy would they be surprised now

Mort

If public school tax keeps 90% of those under 18 from becoming professional thugs & burglars, I'm all for paying it (and you know most of the country wouldn't pay a penny to teach thier "chilluns" basic literacy if they weren't forced to by the current system). I'd glady pay even more in taxes to get universal healthcare. But maybe thats because my insurance company denied my MRI's two months ago and I had to pay $2000 out of pocket.... on top of the thousands I pay a year for insurance!!! Asshats!

I think a flat tax would be better in the long run, no deductions. You want 6 kids? get a better job or learn to love Wal*Mart clothes. (I already own them, they aren't bad).

I personally resent the hell out of not having kids but having to pay for their school and have the parents go all whiney about the quality of the service.

I also resent the hell out of same parents who send their kids to private school and think THEY shouldn't have to pay for public schools.

That being said, I firmly believe that parents and students should be able to write 100 % off their taxes for all legitimate post-high school education costs, be it college or vocational school. These people are working to get better and will also be paying more taxes.

Keep in mind that sorority T-shirts and keg parties at the local DeltaDeltaDelta house do not qualify as "legitimate expenses".

Shadow_Ferret said:

All taxes are evil. Nothing more than extortion.

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i agree 1,000 %,our government takes our cash & wastes so g*# damn much of it that its outright theft not to mention that the government use's our cash to pay their employee's better wages than 50% of the amercian people get,oh & we cant forget about the extremely generous number of paid sick, holiday, personal & vacation days that they get,all free.

welfare

food stamps

social security for drug addicts

social security for ignoramus's

the guys who patch pot holes in the rain

10 men to sit in a water dept truck & read magazine's

free cell phones for employee's

city vehicle's for any nit wit that can drive them

free mansion's for mayor's & govenor's

I will say this: America treats its non-wooorking poor better than most countries treat their middle class. Medicare/Medicaid, foodstamps, HUD, Social Security, rent control, volunteer drivers, etc etc etc. And all this is on-top of the public roads, free school, police, paid fire departments, non-corrupt military, clean water.

And how exactly did we go from "Poor people starve to death" to "poor people = fat people" in 50 years?!?! Unbelievable!

As "working poor" (according to some people) I actual live worse then the poor: I pay for food, my rent isn't subsidised, I make too much money (!?!?) for college grants, my private healtchcare insurance has less coverage than Medicare/medicaid (I pay a deductible if its even covered!). Sure I get to pick my own dentist, but I can't afford braces (not covered, $4000 out of pocket).

About my only real benefit to working is that I get to have a car/motorcycle. my love of transportation is the only thing from turning me into a bum (poor people get to have TVs, surround sound, & music collections).

So basically if the government gave me free housing, free healthcare, free college, free insurance, and free food I'd gladly pay 75-80% flat tax. because I would still be ahead at the end of the year.

Two sides to it

In my life I have had two kinds of financial problems. I have had income problems and tax problems. Tax problems are much better.

No one likes to pay taxes, but if my taxes allow me to live here, enjoy my family and life I am not too upset.

Would I like to see changes? Yes, I for one believe in a flat tax with no deductions.

social security for ignoramus's

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What would a Ignoramus do if they got no money from the government?? Oh kill people for food. Sounds great to me. I think it is really sad that a person you can afford 50k in audio gear is compaining they need more money.

sts9fan said:

What would a Ignoramus do if they got no money from the government?? Oh kill people for food. Sounds great to me. I think it is really sad that a person you can afford 50k in audio gear is compaining they need more money.

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They would have to go to work.

Jerry

jawilljr said:

They would have to go to work.

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STOP IT. That's crazy talk!

3 out of the past 5 years we have owed within $100 of what we had saved through the year, $5200 in 02, $4700 in 03 and $7800 this year. Each year our savings account was wiped clean. Odd isnt it. Being taxed at almost 50% sucks.

I'm abit overdone with programs that want our money going to another Country to help there people that there Gov are not helping. We have our own to help and if we kept all the money in the USA,we could put a hell of a dent in all money problems. BTW other Country's, stop calling the USA ********** because either we dont or you dont think its enough.

Originally Posted by jawilljr
They would have to go to work.

STOP IT. That's crazy talk!

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What if they are mentally incapable of a job better then minimum wage? Do you think you could live on minimum wage?

This a good nonpartisan book about people I dare you to call lazy. If you won't spend the 10 bucks I will lend you my copy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805063897/sr=8-1/qid=1141314480/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-1132297-8536647?_encoding=UTF8

sts9fan said:

What if they are mentally incapable of a job better then minimum wage?

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What if they are a single parent raising 4 kids? These are valid issues and there are certainly people we need to help. The trouble is that the money and programs are already there. Our government mismanages the funds - but for some reason there are people who want to give these same people MORE money to mismanage.

If you want a real good cause to fight for - find out where the already-allocated money goes and why we still have any (real) poverty in America at all?

I care - I just don't trust the people who garnish my wages to do the right thing. That's why I give so much money locally and to charities that I trust (and hold accountable for how they spend the money I give).

Hey sts9fan or should I say comrade?

What happens in nature when a critter can't take care of itself or young? They perish! That's what happens to the weak and unfit. Do you think your doing the human race a favor keeping the unfit afloat?


Why am I respnsible for your food,health,shelter, survival in general. I take care of myself first, family second, freinds third, public charity last(witch is hard because the gov claims this part first!)

Fair enough but taking money away will not solve these mismanagement issues. Restructuring is needed. This not the goal of many conservitives. Just like the SS reform was not ment to help people. Its sole porpose was to shrink the government(which I am for in some regards). That is why it only got 30% approval with evangelical christians who are one of the GOPs base demographics.