joshh wrote:I agree completely, they deserve to pay the same rate as me. Too bad their tax rate is 15% or less and mine is 25% or more.
There was a point in the early 90s when a proposal for the rich and less than rich to all pay the same rate. It was called a flat tax (sometimes fair tax) and has been explored in this forum before.
It was touted by Newt Gingrich and a few others when the wealthy were still paying a large percentage of income and dividends into the federal coffers. It was seen (by the wealthy), as a way to reduce their tax burden while not trying to manipulate the IRS codes (aka paying expensive lobbyists) and appealed to those more interested in reducing the size of government. It is possible that if enacted it could have eliminated the IRS.
Unfortunately we have long since passed the point where the amount of tax collected could match the amount spent, let alone try and repay that which was taken from SSA and other entities.
We and others can argue as much as we want about who spends and spent what, the problems caused and future ramifications, but it's virtually impossible to get that water that has gone over the dam and no magical spell is going to get it back.
Governments (federal, state and local) will tell us that everyone has to do and pay their share, tighten their belts and blah de blah de-friggin blah. It's a rhetoric spouted by those who have not a clue and probably never will.
Is there a solution to not paying higher taxes and not funding pork and to giving people a living wage and providing affordable decent health care? Sure. It just takes a concerted effort to kick out those that say they can, when all they really can do is line their pockets.
Make politicians and judges accountable for the decisions they make. get people who have had to work for a living to run for public office.
Term limits is not a solution, but a poorly constructed eye patch. Keep those that truly make the world a better place and send those that don't, down the road. If after a single term an elected politician is not doing a good job for the majority, find someone YOU know and convince them that they are needed in that spot and then help them get elected! Money gets lazy people elected, but grassroots campaigns get qualified people elected. If a person is the best then red nor blue nor green makes a difference (except those not smart enough to know the difference).
We as a society need to stop electing a party and instead elect a PERSON!!
If a politician gets less than 70 percent of the vote then challenge every decision they make. A politician that gets 50 percent of the vote by those that voted (not really 50 percent of the people), it means that they were chosen by a coin flip. Not my idea of a strong endorsement. No politician is ever going to make everyone happy. We live in a society of diversity. But we can hold them accountable for each and every decision.
While we still have the First Amendment, follow the lead of those that were speaking the loudest as I was in college... "Question Authority!" Personally I think it should have been "Question those who tell us they know what's best for us." When people start telling me that they know what I want (especially without asking), it's time for me to tell them that their opinion is no longer accepted.
Look at all the energy that the members of this forum have expended presenting opinions. What if that energy was directed at solving problems rather than just rehashing them!!! Without trying to be dramatic, there is a great deal of wisdom written by the members of this site and it seems a shame if all of that wisdom gets left here.
Wishing you and all those those in your world, wellness, wealth (in its MANY forms) and the continued freedom to speak your hearts and minds.
Ben
Dang I'm long winded!! but when I get on a roll...
