Comments on: Tax Talk 2007: Ron Paul

By: Darren

Darren — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:45:08 +0000

Cutting spending is what’s important. The debate over flat taxes or national sales taxes is not the big issue. The size of the government and continued government interference in our lives and our economy is the problem. When you deviate from an agreement that is set in place to assure a group’s survival, you create problems. That group is the United States of Ameriaca, and that agreement is the Constitution. It’s been violated, and here we are today. Yes, Ron Paul feels like the income tax should be replaced by something, but it’s not the big issue.

By: anna and margo :]

anna and margo :] — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:57:44 +0000

hey i didn’t really read this…but GO McCAIN!!!

By: Syn Holliday

Syn Holliday — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:48:50 +0000

I’m not sure I’m getting it. If we all pay 10%, how is that an advantage to the rich? The more money you make, the more tax you pay. The less money you make, the less tax you pay. And it’s all proportional. How is that unfair? If you make more gross income, it’s only fair that you SHOULD have more after-tax income.

By: Montgomery

Montgomery — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:25:45 +0000

Commentor Jamie said, “How about the top 10% just leaves the country and we’ll see what happens to the other 90%.”

I have been looking in to this. It looks like some payments (or business investments) can be made in many countries so that permanent residency will be granted.

I have concluded that it is actually much easier than moving countries. The plan for recovery from oppressive taxation:
1) pay off all debt, including house car credit card, etc.
2) get enough cash in relatively safe investments to cover household expenses - food, utility, property tax, new roof, etc. This may be $25K depending on property tax.
3) Become part-time employee with organization that will pay medical benefits. Look to earn around $10K and have paid medical.
4) File for all available welfare - food stamps, school lunch.
5) File tax forms of income of $35K.

If you need more money, do some under the table work - landscape, home repair, financial planning - whatever skills you have.
People are quietly doing this, and living their lives when and how they desire.

Debt is a noose. Escape from debt, and you can choose your life. When income taxes are raised to support socialized medicine, we won’t be taxed more because we appear to be in poverty while living well. When socialized medicine is implemented we can even quit the part-time job that provided medical benefits. It is our mind, our body, and our efforts when we trade time for money. Trade wisely!

By: Syn Holliday

Syn Holliday — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:54:08 +0000

Why is anyone who is successful considered “greedy” by the less successful? How un-American! This isn’t a communist system. A significant aspect of the American Dream is being blessed with the opportunity to “shoot for the stars.” Stratification is a necessary outcome of the American system. Are these bozo poor people actually expecting the successful to just give up their rightly-earned finances? What a slap in the face to the free market system. Whether I am poor, middle-class, or rich, I wouldn’t want anyone telling me what I need to do with my after-tax income. What I chosoe to do with it is my own right. “Yeah, you were successful, but now we’re going to ask you to give most of it back, so that you’ll be equal with us.” What a croq.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:51:56 +0000

Quint -
The problem is that there is no “perfect” flat tax. When you say “pay 10% of what you earn in a year” - meaning tax earned income - you’re proposing what Forbes did during his presidential run. The problem? The rich who rely on interest and dividends and not wages wouldn’t pay anything under that system.
So, some folks say “tax it all” - but then you run into the problem of the double tax from corporations (as it exists now, so that’s no better).
While a flat tax seems like a good idea, it is not equitable and once exemptions and deductions are created to make it seem equitable, it will be as complicated as our system is now. Remember, the Tax Code didn’t start out as big as it is now… that took a lot of help from Congress and special interest groups!

By: Quint Langstaff

Quint Langstaff — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:36:17 +0000

Everyone,

The people who bear the bulk of taxes are the middle class. The rich jump through loop holes, and those below the poverty line pay almost nothing, if anything at all. A flat tax would have no loop wholes. You pay 10% of what you earn in a year, period. This way taxes wouldn’t need to rise because everyone would actually be paying something to the government. Also, everyone is paying the same thing proportionally to one another, and I think that is as equal as it can be.

By: John Galt

John Galt — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:33:50 +0000

Richard,
Can’t someone express their opinion without name calling?

Also whether Jamie is a republican or a democrat is irrelevant. I imagine there are many republicans and democrats who pay plenty of taxes and would prefer not to pay more than they do already. As for the use of expletives I wouldn’t limit that to one party either.

Finally, the percentages that you threw out as facts would you be so kind to provide the rest of us a cite or some support so that we don’t fall into that “other” category that you mentioned if we do not see your statments as “facts”?

Thanks Richard!

By: Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:42:20 +0000

Jamie,
It is easy to see by your use of expletives that you are a ditto head Republican. If the top 10% of tax payers paid their fair share the rate would
be 65%. That is the amount of the total income in the US that goes to yhe top 10%. But I can see that you are inane and will not see this as fact.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:55:23 +0000

If the greediest 10% left the country, then that would leave more opportunities for the rest of us who work hard and don’t complain, as well as (according to Jamie) 90% of the GDP back in circulation, for new distribution.

So….Lead the way out, Jamie. Enjoy your next country!