Take a break from filing your federal tax return or extension and share your feelings about high taxes and bloated wasteful government, or something.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 17, 2006 01:08 PM | Email This36% Federal Income Tax
12.4% Self Employment Tax
2.9% Medicare Tax
8.9% Sales Tax
Outrageous property tax, liquor tax, phone tax, etc, etc, etc.
Posted by: swassociates on April 17, 2006 01:16 PM1. No tax code for politicians and special interests to tinker with
2. No more social engineering through the tax code
3. Eliminates an entire multi billion dollar industry dedicated to tax preparation
Feel free to add your own...
Posted by: Palouse on April 17, 2006 01:21 PMI just made a check out for $16k to make up for my dismal estimated tax for last year. The year before I binged on equipment for my office and a new business and was able to deduct the whole package. So, I just got done with a year of estimated taxes at 3k total. That extra 16k was collecting more interest if it wasn't also getting 7% interest on a loan or as an investment into future earnings.
I also had to pay income on the return on my investment. But, it was all deferred.
Without the Bush tax cuts, I wouldn't have been a player, even at the meager levels I am on.
Long live the Bush Tax Cuts!!!
Posted by: swatter on April 17, 2006 01:44 PMI'd like somebody to explain to me when the educational industrial complex will finally find sufficient - or as they say, ample - funding?
BTW, ample means "Fully sufficient to meet a need or purpose" in this discussion.
Posted by: A Watchdog on April 17, 2006 01:59 PMThe Concord Coalition estimates that between 2015 and 2080, there will be a $67 trillion dollar shortfall of revenues to satisfy the promises made by our government to the elderly, based on current taxation and benefit schemes. By 2035, Medicare's deficits will equal Social Security deficits and be on a pace to double SSI deficits by 2080.
If you think your federal taxes are too high today, you ain't seen nothing yet! The Democrats have made reforming these programs impossible, and the medias' collusion in this scandal is sickening.
Posted by: MJC on April 17, 2006 02:00 PMWithout the practice, I am willing to bet my farm that there'd be far fewer taxes with far smaller rates.
Anyone (in government, that is) want to take on my bet?
Posted by: C. Oh on April 17, 2006 02:15 PMWhen I did the yearbook in my senior year long, long ago this (now-24 yr. old and still a) virgin got sent over... there. I volunteered for the tough assignment. That's my nature.
That said, State Street High School is your typical dumping ground alternative high school, full of kids who simply need a kick in the hind quarter. And for-the-record Michelle Turek is one of the good guys.
Posted by: A Watchdog on April 17, 2006 02:56 PMWe'll just keep taxing ourselves until it looks like Sweden here if we are not careful. And it's bad on both sides, but worse on the Democrat side.
I suggest all put on Robert Cray's "1040 Blues" and crank it. I'm going to press play right after I post this comment.
Not much incentive to work hard and try to make something more of yourself.
Posted by: Ken on April 17, 2006 03:52 PMMost significantly: What can be done so that people get the relative difference between the scale of the federal government versus state government?
If folks realized how much they are shipping off to DC, and took a moment to contemplate what they are getting for it . . .
Just thumbnail estimates:
The feds spend roughly $7,500 each year for every man, woman and child in the country.
The state is spending roughly $4,700 per person.
States cannot spend into debt or steal from other states. States have line item vetoes and a part time legislature.
10th Amendment anyone?
Posted by: GentleRant on April 17, 2006 04:21 PMIn the last six years, non-defense domestic spending has grown at an average rate of 8% per year under a Republican contolled Senate, House and white house.
Power corrupts. We need true fiscal conservatives in government.
When the government takes this much more than is necessary to preserve our equal, individual rights to life, liberty and property, it is reduced to nothing more than a pack of thieves. The gang and the government are now no different.
If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention.
I don't have the guts, but I admit that anyone who uses non-violent civil disobedience against the IRS by not paying their taxes is a hero to me.
I see it as my moral duty to earn less money so that the government theives get less, and thus have less power over peaceful people.
This confiscatory taxation winds up hurting the poor through reduced job growth, even though the do-gooders in government try to justify their theft by saying they are helping the poor.
I say rubbish.
Posted by: Alexis de Toqueville on April 17, 2006 04:54 PMas for me, well i would expect a better return for the amount we pay in taxes. i feel like we have 3rd rate politicians squandering hard-earned dollars. politicians (regardless of party affiliation) have proven themselves incapable of managing other people's money. if the federal govt were a publicly traded corporation, i don't believe they could pass a GAAP audit. it's borderline criminal.
Posted by: dinesh on April 17, 2006 04:55 PMTax day is the day before election day.
Consumption tax.
Flat rate tax.
Feds following the 10th amendment.
Finding a few fiscal conservative for the Republican party.
Anybody really serious about tax reform?
No!
To much power, too much money for reelection in the current system.
Posted by: JCM on April 17, 2006 06:07 PMFor 3 years straight I've enjoyed some wonderful refunds. I especially enjoy the "state" tax credit we can now claim! It gives me joy to get something back from this awful liberal tax-thieving state!
It's also wonderful to receive credits for young children! I'm sure that angers the child-less,gay,pro-abortion liberals here in Washington state!
Posted by: Deborah on April 17, 2006 07:14 PM
In 2004 in Pacific Grove Ca. 92% of the residents paid Federal Tax!!!
I wonder why the Homeless and Crime Rate in Pacific Grove is LOWER???
I for one am happy to pay my share. I enjoy the roads I drive on, the military to protect me, the social services to help those in need, and the research that keeps me healthy and living well. Taxes are a patriotic duty.
Posted by: Giffy on April 17, 2006 09:02 PMThere are estimates that compliance with the tax code will cost businesses and the public $300-500 billion. That's money that isnt being used to expand businesses, create jobs or new technologies. Neal Boortz has a lot to say about taxes today at his site: boortz.com
Posted by: wanting reform on April 17, 2006 10:43 PMWell THAT'S crap.
As a homeowner and a parent who's paid taxes for many years....looking for every deduction and credit, from administration to administration - I can tell you that the Democrats are NOT tax credit friendly! It wasn't until Bush and a Republican congress passed the child tax credit! They are also the ones who sent refund checks out to families after 9/11 in the average amount of 300.00. They have also increased the child tax credit annually since their creation of that credit. They have also added states with no state income tax to the state sales tax refund's on the federal returns. Cantwell tried to take credit for that but it was already in discussion when she voted for it...
Now...about the road maintenance paid for with my tax dollars? You're joking - right? Not only does this state tax my tax dollars for non-existent road repair - but they now tax my gasoline purchases through the roof for the very same thing! And yet - the roads still suck! In fact - the Democrats are famous for that sucking sound coming from my pocketbook....
Open your eyes! Quit being the fool.
The income tax is not a tax on the rich: It is a tax on people who are creating wealth in this country. It is amazing that despite the income tax, America is as productive as it is.
A flat tax is still a tax on wealth generation, and would still serve the purposes of harming our economy and economic liberty. Ask yourself: If you raised the tax rates high enough, what would be the effect? Everyone but the rich must generate income, and to do so, they would have to produce vast amounts of wealth. High taxes still get collected, because people still need to eat.
A sales tax too is oppressive. The federal government should have no right to intrude on a business and demand to see its sales receipts, nor to intrude on individuals and demand to see its purchase receipts (5th amendment and all). Although the safety valve is built in (high taxes = no (legal) commerce = no money for the government), it is still intrusive.
Let the states determine the most efficient way to raise money, and let the states shoulder the burden of collecting it. I would much rather live in a country where I could flee oppressive and intrusive taxes than one where there is no escape!
And one more thing, if you want reduced spending, stop accepting money from the federal government. All those highways they build--turn down the money. All those programs they support? Stop participating in them. Yes, there is a bit of "I want my piece of the pie back", but it all ends up in pigs feeding at the trough. Make a decision to stop being a pig and stop feeding at the trough, and demand that others do the same. As long as we demand money for this and that, we will always have congress extorting the money from the people.
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on April 17, 2006 11:56 PMGenerally Rupublicans usually favor simply cutting the rates (i.e. income, capital gains, sales) wereas Democrats favor target tax relief usually focusing on low and middle income earners. (i.e. Health care credits, education credits, child credits etc)
Posted by: Giffy on April 18, 2006 06:55 AM"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan
Posted by: SouthernRoots on April 18, 2006 10:14 AM- - Alexander Fraser Tytler (1748-1813)
2 I don't mind paying taxes, but get excited when elected officials decide they know better than you and waste money on baseball and football stadiums and other Greater Seattle area foolishness
You don't understand, my good man, it's good for the economy! Those stadiums produce a few dozen badly needed part-time, living (read: minimum) wage jobs. But how dare you criticize the benevolent rich people who have inherited, erm, stolen, erm, earned the money and who pay their 3% fair share of taxes. What are you, some kind of "tur-ist"?
4 Gotta go to the post office
Hope ya got there before midnight.
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:23 PMOh? What have Bush's tax cuts done besides (1) throw us into a deficit (from a surplus) and (2) made the top 0.5% income households even richer?
In fact, they should be a flat 10% for everyone. Period.
Agreed, and I would apply it across the board, including to corporations like Ingersoll-Rand and Accenture. You know, the ones who locate their offices in tax havens like Bermuda to avoid paying income tax? Fact is, many large, very profitable corporations pay no income tax whatsoever. So, when you write out that check, what you're really doing is writing a check to some corporate fatcat.
Food for thought.
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:28 PMNot enough, I'll bet.
36% Federal Income Tax
That's cause you're a winner of life's lottery. And it's only 36% of the upper part of your earnings. Quit being so damn greedy.
12.4% Self Employment Tax
Being self-employed is a choice. Don't want to pay the tax? I hear Wal-Mart is hiring. Go work there, that's where the rest of us will be working in a few years. Or McDonald's.
2.9% Medicare Tax
Chump change.
8.9% Sales Tax
Wouldn't a state income tax be more fair?
Outrageous property tax,
On outrageously valuable property, thanks to the real estate bubble.
liquor tax,
Don't drink. It's bad for you.
phone tax, etc, etc, etc.
Want roads to drive your Hummer/RX500/Escalade on? Want the cops to show up when it gets a 1/8" dent in it? I thought so. Then shut the hell up and write the damn check.
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:34 PMI pity you. The same way I would have pitied a buggywhip maker when cars were invented. I'm oh-so-sorry that you can't make your living by raping the planet and mowing down the remaining 3% of old-growth forest that remains. Question: If the "managed forests" are working so well, why do the bastards at Weyerhaeuser, et al, want to log more old-growth?
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:38 PM1. No tax code for politicians and special interests to tinker with
Like the software industry, rich art collectors, the horse racing industry (only reason Emerald Downs is still in business).
2. No more social engineering through the tax code
How else will they get us out of our cars?
3. Eliminates an entire multi billion dollar industry dedicated to tax preparation
Most of whom are Republicans and bribe, erm, donate, accordingly.
Feel free to add your own...
4. Corporations that presently pay little or no tax would have to pay. We can't have that now, can we?
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:41 PMYeah, the one to some property so that Ted Stevens' family could sell it?
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 20, 2006 08:44 PMLiberals AKA Democrats support redistribution of the wealth. What the Republicans support is not clear.
Posted by: Snuffy on April 21, 2006 09:32 AMRepublicans support redistribution of wealth . . . to Halliburton, to Boeing, to Wal-Mart, to General Dynamics, and to all manner of other corporations that survive on the federal tit. Hell, they've redistributed how many billions to fund Bush's Iraq fetish?
Posted by: Critical THINKER on April 21, 2006 10:10 AM