Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Grumpy · 04-15-2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Melkor
I think the biggest tax reform that needs to take place is the way that taxes are collected.
They should NOT come out before people see the money. They should be paid at the end of the year by each individual...

Yeah! Imagine how outraged taxpayers would get when they realized that, come April 15th, they won't be able to buy food or pay the rent, because now they're forced to give Uncle Sam money they already spent!

That'll teach 'em!

Jat · 04-15-2003, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spurly
I think it would be great if taxpayers could decide where their own money could be spent. They could be given choices like the following, and then they could decide what percentage of their tax money would go to the different programs:

Welfare
Food Stamps
Defense
Congress and Senate Salaries and Benefits
Infrastucture (Roads and Highways)
Farm Aid
Disaster Relief
Centers for Disease Control
Foreign Aid
Education
National Parks
EPA
Commerce Department
FDA
FCC
OSHA
Etc.

If we had these options, needless pork barrel spending would be gone very quickly.

Kevin

There would be many problems if one could deside where one's taxes are spent. City people wouldn't want them spent on those in the country and vice versa just to name one.

Craig · 04-15-2003, 02:31 PM

Paid 16% of my income in Fed Income Tax. Washington has no state tax, but we have a steep sales tax (about 9%).

That Freedom.gov site seems to be off by a bit- their claims about the flat tax savings in particular seem to be pretty optimistic. Nearly every flat tax I've seen proposed has been at around 17% or so, which is more than I paid.

ImGod · 04-15-2003, 02:44 PM

If you count federal and state income taxes about 36%. Property tax about 6%. Sales tax 5%. Federal social programs, I don't know for sure.

Ab_Normal · 04-15-2003, 02:46 PM

I can't recall my tax numbers off the top of my head (we filed back in February) but I don't feel oppressed. Shoot, I paid almost as much for health insurance for my family as I did in federal income tax...

Melkor · 04-15-2003, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Grumpy
Yeah! Imagine how outraged taxpayers would get when they realized that, come April 15th, they won't be able to buy food or pay the rent, because now they're forced to give Uncle Sam money they already spent!

That'll teach 'em!

No doubt. We would see an almost immediate change from complacency to rage.

Melkor · 04-15-2003, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jat
There would be many problems if one could deside where one's taxes are spent. City people wouldn't want them spent on those in the country and vice versa just to name one.

That's not a problem at all. That's acknowledgement of the idiocy of taking money from one segment of society and spending it on another. A step in the right direction, in my opinion.

If nothing else, one main effect would come of it: a dramatic decrease in the size and influence of government.

"We elect a Republican president and government gets bigger. We elect a Democratic president and government gets bigger. We elect a Democratic Congress or a Republican Congress and government gets bigger. We are told 'the era of big government is over' and government gets bigger. Welfare is reformed and government gets bigger. We're told that Congress has made 'tough budget cuts' and government gets bigger. Whatever happens, government just gets bigger and bigger and bigger." -- Harry Browne

Autonemesis · 04-15-2003, 02:55 PM

Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot. Today is Late-Filing Penalty Accrual Day.

Autonemesis · 04-15-2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamSmith
Tax burden calculator.

34%

39% here in California, according to the calculator. I allowed $10K deduction to account for mortgage interest. Did not factor in stock options, which are basically taxed at the highest rate, which I'm at, so it wouldn't change my overall burden to include them. Single workers with no dependents always get the shaft, even while we use the least amount of public services. Hope you're all happy with all the crap I bought for your kids.

meritocrat · 04-15-2003, 03:50 PM

In Britain there are three main bands of income tax. 10%, 22% and 40%.

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04-15-2003, 02:31 PM	#23
Craig Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,058	Paid 16% of my income in Fed Income Tax. Washington has no state tax, but we have a steep sales tax (about 9%). That Freedom.gov site seems to be off by a bit- their claims about the flat tax savings in particular seem to be pretty optimistic. Nearly every flat tax I've seen proposed has been at around 17% or so, which is more than I paid.

04-15-2003, 02:44 PM	#24
ImGod Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 6,264	If you count federal and state income taxes about 36%. Property tax about 6%. Sales tax 5%. Federal social programs, I don't know for sure.

04-15-2003, 02:46 PM	#25
Ab_Normal Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,842	I can't recall my tax numbers off the top of my head (we filed back in February) but I don't feel oppressed. Shoot, I paid almost as much for health insurance for my family as I did in federal income tax...

04-15-2003, 02:55 PM	#28
Autonemesis Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: I've left FRDB for good, due to new WI&P policy Posts: 12,048	Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot. Today is Late-Filing Penalty Accrual Day.

04-15-2003, 03:50 PM	#30
meritocrat Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 2,608	In Britain there are three main bands of income tax. 10%, 22% and 40%.

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