It is amazing to read this thread. I don't understand why some of these people don't drop out of school and collect welfare. It's the greatest government freebee in history. I have never seen such a lack of understanding of taxes and economics in my almost 60 years on this earth.
If you want to be a selfish prick, it's a free country. Hey, you make 100K and you want it all and let others suffer because they are _____________ than you it's your right to feel that way and it's your right to advocate for that kind of policy.
This is a fundamental argument about how much government we want to have. Just admit that. Tell me what you want to get rid of. Be specific. If you want o get rid of some regulation, say it. But remember what it was like before that law or regulation went in to effect. Remember, a CEO's sole function is to make more money for his shareholders. If he/she has to screw over his workers and customers so be it.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr said it best in two different quotes;
I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization.
Taxes are what we pay for civilized society …
Decide what you wish to have the government stop doing and what the consequences of such action would be. There is price for everything in life, we will pay a price if we raise taxes, cut taxes or leave them alone.
As for the annual budget deficit and the total national debt, they are more complicated than you portray them. As long as we are the most dominant economic power on earth US Government securities will always be in demand and we will be able to finace our debt.......
I listen to politicians and it makes me cringe. You have the Bernie Sanders left who will tax the rich for everything they have and spend it all twice. Then you have the right led by Paul Ryan, the liar in chief. As it stands right now 31 of the 50 states are facing a budget shortfall and Mr. Do Gooder looks you and me in the eye when he is informed there is not enough money to cover people with pre existing conditions in the AHCA and says the states will make it up. Just say what you mean. The ACHA and the Right does not believe it is societies obligation to pay for healthcare for all of it's citizens. Own it and just say it.
We are all free to argue and debate what is the best course of action. But own your beliefs and back them up with facts. There is no direct correlation between marginal tax rates and economic growth. If there was, how did the economy grow when Bill Clinton raised taxes? It grew because of increasing productivity and the the steady decline of long term interest rates.....
Also, the current Republican orthodoxy that holds we can cut taxes and spending and there will be an economic explosion has to admit it has never happened, not even once. There have been three major tax cuts in US history:
- The Kennedy Tax Cuts that were accompanied by the massive government spending on the Great Society and the war in Vietnam
- The Reagan tax cuts which were accompanied by the massive government spending on Military.
- The Bush tax cuts which were accompanied by the massive government spending on Medicare Part D and the war on Terror
When the state of Kansas tried to use itself as laboratory for this type of economic theory it was sort of a crash and burn.
Like I said, advocate for what you believe, just back it up with real life facts and illustrations.
Look at the deduction for mortgage interest. It costs the treasury billions of dollars per year. But we as a society agree that home ownership is important and incentivize it. Why does a a pharmacist who makes 120K per year and pays rent for an apartment pay more taxes than a pharmacist who makes 120K and owns a home with a mortgage. Maybe we shouldn't do that?
Look at the deduction for state and local taxes. This is the governments why of subsidizing K-12 education without federal control. The largest single part of this deduction in most states is the real estate tax and most of that goes to k-12 schools. Maybe we shouldn't do that either.
I don't know that right answer is on these questions, but I know if we were to change the deductions there would be an effect on school funding and home values.
Why is is if Pharmacist A marries Pharmacist B and together they make 250 K per year but are for some reason unable to have children (leave out those childless by choice) have to may more in taxes than Pharmacist C and Pharmacist D who have three children?
When is it a compelling societal interest t encourage or incentivize some kind of behavior.?