TaxDay

[AKDejaVu]

However, as you point out, many "typical" US married couples, with both partners working, that busted their *sses to get educated in their chosen fields and then busted their *sses to get good at what they do and then busted their *sses to get a good job in those fields..... make up a significant portion of those haughty, spoiled, rich bastiges in the "top 5%".

And what about those people that bust their bellybutton just as and make less money?  Truth be told... I've never seen a consistant correlation between anual salary and "busting ass".

Deja, it's why the whole system needs a serious overhaul and change of direction.

I disagree.  Changes are needed... but serious overhaul and change of direction?

Do you like paying taxes: "NO!"
Do you think changes should be made: "YES!"

Seems the only solution is to eliminate the need for the first question.

I personally favor a "flat tax + national sales tax combo". I'd exempt people below a certain level of income from the flat tax and I'd only put the sales tax on items that are not "necessity" items.

I'm totally against a national sales tax.  Especially a "luxury" tax.  It is a hinderance towards encouraging people to attain better things.

I am also a believe that the tax rate should be dropped across the country.... though not the % variation.  The government should be forced to manage the tax $$$ better.  I'd sense some true reform as a result... though it would also bring about a recession.

What still gets me about the people complaining about a totally unexpected bonus is simply the fact that they were just handed money and chose to complain about it.  That will always amaze me.  Its like complaining about it raining outside and ruining your picnic, despite the fact that it just ended a 100 day drought that was ruining crops.

Rain and taxes... there's just no use in complaining every time they happen.

AKDejaVu

[mietla]

Originally posted by AKDejaVu
LOL! So.. we didn't have income tax because the founding fathers thought it was socialistic?

that's not what I said. I meant that the Founding Fathers would consider it immoral and illegal to take someone's property. They did not know socialism then, so they could not reject income tax as socialist, only as immoral and illegal.

It's just that the solialism embraced the idea of "justified" extortion and succeded dim masses that it actually is not only ok, but it is for the "greater" good. Obviously, many bought it.

I do believe our founding fathers would have suggested having some kind of say-so in where your tax dollars were going and having some accountability for tax increases.  I believe they called it representation.

You almost got it, but you've missed a part the the person paying has to be the same as the one that is represented. With the progressive income tax where 50% pays nothing or even negative tax in a form of EIC, we are hardly represented.

People who do not pay taxes vote to tax people who do pay, and then they demand the wealth transfer to the losers.

A theft, plain and simple.

Note: I'm talking about progressive income tax, not about taxes in general. Obviously we need taxes, but they have to be just.

[Fatty]

Welp, the IRS has found an error in my favor in the past, but they still scare the piss out of me.

[AKDejaVu]

With the progressive income tax where 50% pays nothing or even negative tax in a form of EIC, we are hardly represented.

LOL!  Hell.. when you say it like that...

Of course.. that's not an exageration:rolleyes:

AKDejaVu

[LoneStarBuckeye]

As one of my law professors used to say, it's okay if your heart bleeds, so long as it bleeds green!  I submit that most who defend the current tax system either have so much money that it doesn't matter what rate they pay or make so little that it is fun to stick it to the "rich" guys.  

I grew up poor/middle class and thought the tax system was fine.  I went to college/graduate school/law school for 12 years so that I could get a good job that would allow me to support my wife and our future children without requiring her to work.  I bought a house and contributed to many charitable causes, thinking that I would be entitled to nice deductions.  

Well, guess what?  The line between "rich" people who get screwed by the IRS and middle-class is much lower than most people realize.  I have only been working for a few years, and already a sizable percentage of my itemized deductions are disqualified.  In a few years, they will be gone completely!  Maybe by then, I won't care (I will, of course), but right now it really pinches (between income tax, property tax, and sales tax, I paid over 50% of my income to the government this year).

It's easy to be self-righteous and indignant when you're sitting in the cheap seats, watching rather than playing.  When you've just paid $80k in federal income tax, I want you to let go of your ankles, stand up, and tell me how good it felt.

[Greese]

Getting 1209 back from the Feds.

I was going to launch into a tirade about how much fun it is for me to go to the DMV, pay my taxes, get building permits, etc., but what's the point?  I guess, with my experiences with most governments (I have run into some city governments that are amazingly efficient, but few and far between) I have been SO impressed by their efficiency and pursuit of my best interest, that I can't wait to give them more of my money....

[fd ski]

Originally posted by LoneStarBuckeye
It's easy to be self-righteous and indignant when you're sitting in the cheap seats, watching rather than playing.  When you've just paid $80k in federal income tax, I want you to let go of your ankles, stand up, and tell me how good it felt.

I wish I had your problems

Wanna switch ?

[mietla]

Originally posted by fd ski


I wish I had your problems

Wanna switch ?

no need to switch, You both can be in the same position. It's not a zero sum game. You can have your money (however much you want to make) and he can keep his.

Heck, even I won't be negatively affected by your success ... succeed away:)

[fd ski]

well, i'm a horrible runner. Could never quite keep up with ambulances

[LoneStarBuckeye]

You'll never see my mug in a TV ad or on the back cover of the Yellow Pages.  I'm not a very good runner either!  

[AKDejaVu]

You paid over $80,000 in Federal income tax alone?  You made nearly $270,000 last year?  That leaves $55,000 in sales tax and property tax?  My god man... how much is your estate worth?

The horrors.

AKDejaVu

[LoneStarBuckeye]

I think not.

Have you ever tracked your sales taxes, particularly in a year when you bought two cars?  Plus, property tax on a house and one piece of investment property ads up pretty fast.  That is particularly true in TX, where sales and property tax rates are exceptionally high (due, in part, to the lack of a state income tax).  

I don't care how much money you make, you should never have to give half of it to the government.

[mietla]

Originally posted by fd ski
well, i'm a horrible runner. Could never quite keep up with ambulances

No needfor it. I am talking about earning money, not stealing it as lawyers do. If a puny engineer like myself can make it, so can you.

Just remember, it's not the effort, it's the result. Sweat does not pay, the goddies you've produced do

[mietla]

double post]

[AKDejaVu]

Have you ever tracked your sales taxes, particularly in a year when you bought two cars?

Hard to argue with that one.

AKDejaVu