TAX TAX TAX and more TAX

[afx114]

[quote=surveyor]
The people who are part of the Tea Party understand that more taxes and more spending are not answers in making the U.S. economy better. They also understand that bigger government does not create more jobs and prosperity. They are also very alarmed at the high amount of debt that the U.S. has and they want that fixed yesterday.

For me, I am against higher taxes for the simple reason that it is against common sense to give money to people who have proved unable to spend it properly. I will be the best judge on how to spend my money, not the government, not anyone else.

There is a certain principle of money and economics that if you are forced to spend your own money, you try very hard to spend it wisely. There is no such concern when you are spending other people’s money.[/quote]

Those are very valid points and I agree with most of them. But please refer back to the graphs I posted on page 2 of this thread. I still haven’t heard anyone explain the logic behind the claim that our taxes are too high. They aren’t — both historically and comparatively speaking. Even if we raised them 5% across the board.

I understand that taxes will always seem too high, no matter what level they are at. I understand everyone would like to pay no taxes. I understand that spending cuts need to be made. But there are two sides to this same coin: cut some, tax some, and meet somewhere in the middle.

[Anonymous]

The whole notion that progressive taxes discourage hard work is ridiculous.

The progressive tax rates are not steep enough to have much impact on the hourly worker. The guy who works a few extra double shifts *might* move into a higher tax bracket. Big deal. In the worst case he’ll pay a few percentage points more tax on a fraction of his income. This is not going to impact anyone’s motivation.

Nobody says “screw it” and declines more work just because they have to pay 3% more taxes on the last 20% of income. Nobody.

The progressive tax debate is only interesting when we consider situations where there are orders of magnitude income differences. I’m pretty sure that differences on this scale are attributable to more than just work ethic.

[Anonymous]

The whole notion that progressive taxes discourage hard work is ridiculous.

The progressive tax rates are not steep enough to have much impact on the hourly worker. The guy who works a few extra double shifts *might* move into a higher tax bracket. Big deal. In the worst case he’ll pay a few percentage points more tax on a fraction of his income. This is not going to impact anyone’s motivation.

Nobody says “screw it” and declines more work just because they have to pay 3% more taxes on the last 20% of income. Nobody.

The progressive tax debate is only interesting when we consider situations where there are orders of magnitude income differences. I’m pretty sure that differences on this scale are attributable to more than just work ethic.

[Anonymous]

The whole notion that progressive taxes discourage hard work is ridiculous.

The progressive tax rates are not steep enough to have much impact on the hourly worker. The guy who works a few extra double shifts *might* move into a higher tax bracket. Big deal. In the worst case he’ll pay a few percentage points more tax on a fraction of his income. This is not going to impact anyone’s motivation.

Nobody says “screw it” and declines more work just because they have to pay 3% more taxes on the last 20% of income. Nobody.

The progressive tax debate is only interesting when we consider situations where there are orders of magnitude income differences. I’m pretty sure that differences on this scale are attributable to more than just work ethic.

[Anonymous]

The whole notion that progressive taxes discourage hard work is ridiculous.

The progressive tax rates are not steep enough to have much impact on the hourly worker. The guy who works a few extra double shifts *might* move into a higher tax bracket. Big deal. In the worst case he’ll pay a few percentage points more tax on a fraction of his income. This is not going to impact anyone’s motivation.

Nobody says “screw it” and declines more work just because they have to pay 3% more taxes on the last 20% of income. Nobody.

The progressive tax debate is only interesting when we consider situations where there are orders of magnitude income differences. I’m pretty sure that differences on this scale are attributable to more than just work ethic.

[Anonymous]

The whole notion that progressive taxes discourage hard work is ridiculous.

The progressive tax rates are not steep enough to have much impact on the hourly worker. The guy who works a few extra double shifts *might* move into a higher tax bracket. Big deal. In the worst case he’ll pay a few percentage points more tax on a fraction of his income. This is not going to impact anyone’s motivation.

Nobody says “screw it” and declines more work just because they have to pay 3% more taxes on the last 20% of income. Nobody.

The progressive tax debate is only interesting when we consider situations where there are orders of magnitude income differences. I’m pretty sure that differences on this scale are attributable to more than just work ethic.

[Aecetia]

This is a fun site:
Paying taxes in the U.S.

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=197

U.S.46.3 vs. Iraq 28.4

Even Germany is better tax wise 44.9
Iceland 25.0 Ireland 26.5
Wow China 63.8 worse than us.

[Aecetia]

This is a fun site:
Paying taxes in the U.S.

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=197

U.S.46.3 vs. Iraq 28.4

Even Germany is better tax wise 44.9
Iceland 25.0 Ireland 26.5
Wow China 63.8 worse than us.

[Aecetia]

This is a fun site:
Paying taxes in the U.S.

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=197

U.S.46.3 vs. Iraq 28.4

Even Germany is better tax wise 44.9
Iceland 25.0 Ireland 26.5
Wow China 63.8 worse than us.

[Aecetia]

This is a fun site:
Paying taxes in the U.S.

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=197

U.S.46.3 vs. Iraq 28.4

Even Germany is better tax wise 44.9
Iceland 25.0 Ireland 26.5
Wow China 63.8 worse than us.

[Aecetia]

This is a fun site:
Paying taxes in the U.S.

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/PayingTaxes/Details.aspx?economyid=197

U.S.46.3 vs. Iraq 28.4

Even Germany is better tax wise 44.9
Iceland 25.0 Ireland 26.5
Wow China 63.8 worse than us.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=afx114]You gotta give it to the prior administration though, they were smart. Why raise taxes to pay for a couple wars when you can be a hero abroad with your militarism and a hero at home with your tax cuts, all the while leaving the next guy holding the bag? Genius.[/quote]

Jeez. Scary but true. Don’t tell Congress or they’ll start a new bill to kill all the Geniuses.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=afx114]You gotta give it to the prior administration though, they were smart. Why raise taxes to pay for a couple wars when you can be a hero abroad with your militarism and a hero at home with your tax cuts, all the while leaving the next guy holding the bag? Genius.[/quote]

Jeez. Scary but true. Don’t tell Congress or they’ll start a new bill to kill all the Geniuses.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=afx114]You gotta give it to the prior administration though, they were smart. Why raise taxes to pay for a couple wars when you can be a hero abroad with your militarism and a hero at home with your tax cuts, all the while leaving the next guy holding the bag? Genius.[/quote]

Jeez. Scary but true. Don’t tell Congress or they’ll start a new bill to kill all the Geniuses.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=afx114]You gotta give it to the prior administration though, they were smart. Why raise taxes to pay for a couple wars when you can be a hero abroad with your militarism and a hero at home with your tax cuts, all the while leaving the next guy holding the bag? Genius.[/quote]

Jeez. Scary but true. Don’t tell Congress or they’ll start a new bill to kill all the Geniuses.

[Author]

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