05-12-2007, 01:39 AM
Quote:I keep reiterating because it seems so simple to me. If people are taxed, they should be treated equally. Instead the government tries to figure out if you belong in a special class that gets to pay more, or gets to pay less, or gets to pay zero.
The only way out of this is a poll tax, not a flat tax. That's treating everyone equally, isn't it? Or is that a flat tax? Or a progressive tax that's equal for all people, given similar incomes?
That it seems "simple" to you just means you're assuming your conclusions. An argument will be required to be convincing on this point, no matter how much you prefer to invoke "class", and presumably the resultant warfare.
Quote:Person A works if they want, has zero debt, $100 million in assets tied up in holdings and their personal accountant arranges that their income from capital gains never exceeds $50,000 a year. Many of this persons costs are tax deductible, including their accountant. Person B works in a salaried position 50 to 60 hours per week, has $300,000 in debt including their house, but earns $100,000 per year. Person C is a capable adult and chooses not to work at all, enrolls in every government hand out possible. Who pays the highest taxes?
What does this prove? The question is: Why is your notion of taxation more fundamentally "fair"? That is not an answer to that question.
Quote:You do need to work with the government and do what they tell you. They actually often do not require you to pay your taxes. This works particularly well if you earn no income. Explore just how much of your assets and income you can have tied up in a Limited Liability Corporation.
Okay, but that totally contradicts what you said earlier. If the government tells you to pay your taxes, you have to pay your taxes. How does that square with your earlier statement?
The rest of that, about not earning an income and whatnot, is just a giant red herring, as obviously you don't owe taxes the government hasn't asked you for.
Quote:Oh, BTW, another example for the slippery slope list: Our state is poised to pass a Statewide smoking ban. I hate cigarette smoke, but I hate tyranny worse.
Could there perhaps be just one of these threads that doesn't turn into the entire laundry list all at once? We've hit immigration, taxation (and its legality), global warming, smoking bans, the deterioration of France into socialism, Nazism, welfare bums, and just about everything in between. Is there a topic we could stick to, please?
-Jester