tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post3656079504195976044..comments2023-08-06T05:21:10.740-05:00Comments on Intellectual Detritus: Stupid Question: Why do People Care About Other Groups' Tax RatesPaul Wiedelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689322002502187400noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post-45915179256939899592008-10-22T00:11:00.000-05:002008-10-22T00:11:00.000-05:00Those who have more, can afford to pay more.Very t...<I>Those who have more, can afford to pay more.</I><BR/><BR/>Very true. But should <I>that</I> be the reason they have too? <BR/><BR/>For me, its the principle behind it that concerns me.<BR/><BR/>Who decides who can afford what? Is it OK to take what was legally earned from someone when someone else decides they don't need it?<BR/><BR/>Anyway... interesting to get your perspective on things as always. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post-67623540417158007822008-10-22T00:10:00.000-05:002008-10-22T00:10:00.000-05:00There are somethings I feel strongly about defendi...There are somethings I feel strongly about defending. My freedom is one of them. An income tax is unconstitutional and an invasion of our right to personal property. Originally the income tax was meant to be only for the very rich and it was only meant to be temporary. Like all government programs it's scope has out grown it's original boundaries and it's here to stay. <BR/><BR/>I don't think it's the job of the government to hand out welfare. I believe that once people start getting hand outs they will start expecting those hand outs. I tend to think socialist ideas have already ruined our manufacturing industry and if we start down a Marxist agenda we will be doomed to the same fate of those other nations that went down that path.Brian Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354120492801738081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post-29530073452988220372008-10-21T22:26:00.000-05:002008-10-21T22:26:00.000-05:00@BrianTell us how you really feel.@JohnI agree tha...@Brian<BR/>Tell us how you really feel.<BR/><BR/>@John<BR/>I agree that generous people with the means to help the less fortunate is a good thing. Unfortunately, I do not believe that there are ample people with both the means and the generosity to help.<BR/><BR/>My first job out of college would have put me in the lowest bracket.<BR/>I worked a 280 hour December and 60 hour weeks at that job. The millionaire owner of the company gave me a bonus of $50 less taxes for my efforts. So much for trying to hack it as a writer.<BR/><BR/>Having worked hard and made little gave me perspective. I know that there are people who are no less deserving than others who earn less money than others. That does not make them any less of a person. <BR/><BR/>Those who have more, can afford to pay more. <BR/><BR/>If I were asked by my country to pay more in taxes I would. My grandparents gave to the country through their service in WWII, a little bit of my earnings is the least that I can do.Paul Wiedelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08689322002502187400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post-89412553492533867512008-10-21T21:44:00.000-05:002008-10-21T21:44:00.000-05:00I guess it depends on what you believe in. If you...I guess it depends on what you believe in. If you believe the government's job is to take money from those who have it and give it to those that don't - then yeah why should you care (until the day it does impact you). Government as the equalizer. Socialism anyone? <BR/><BR/>Its funny... if <I>I</I> were to stop you during the day, threaten you're lively-hood, and force you to give me your money only to turn it around and give it to somebody who I determined needed it more - most people would call that stealing! However, if we get the government involved then its "OK" for some reason. The morality of it all is the same. <BR/><BR/>Strange...<BR/><BR/>Personally, I think charity by those that have to those that don't is a <I>good thing</I>. Honestly (and thankfully), its human nature. Forced charity (progressive taxes), on the other hand, is heading toward slavery...<BR/><BR/>Both candidates are trying to sell off sections of the tax code to get votes... which in the end is the saddest part.<BR/><BR/>I'm curious... how would you feel if the taxes <I>did</I> impact you? I'd bet the bottom-earners feel you have plenty of money to spare. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069003509993211331.post-47144884253453142332008-10-21T17:28:00.000-05:002008-10-21T17:28:00.000-05:00Here is the reason I care: I work hard, I paid at...Here is the reason I care: I work hard, I paid attention in school and I got a good job that pays well. The folks on the bottom of that scale didn't. If we were all gazelles those bottom dwellers would be looking pretty good to some lions. <BR/><BR/>Here is another reason: If I get taxed more for doing well then wouldn't I want to shelter some of my income so that I'm not taxed so much? My father once told me about a conversation he has with his accountant. The accountant told him he would have to either give money to a charity of his choice or to the government. He chose to give it to a school. So even if Horton makes 3 mill a year he just donates 1 mill to his favorite charity and lowers his taxable income. Since Horton has a good accountant he uses all the loop holes to pay as little as he can.<BR/><BR/>Reason 3: Horton sees that his company is evading the highest corporate tax in the world and thinks "why can't I do this too?" He then takes his investment income all off shore where he can KEEP MORE OF HIS MONEY. <BR/><BR/>Reason 4: Why should 1% of our population carry 40% of our tax burden? Why should people not paying taxes get any tax rebates? Another story I was once told was of the A+ student that thought the rich should give their money to the poor because they have so much. Her father asks her how she would feel if little Tommy, who's a D student, got some of her academic credit since she does so well and he does so poorly. Give her a B and Tommy a C. Well does that sound very fair? Nope, it really isn't fair to either of them.<BR/><BR/>Reason 5: Because Socialism is Un-American. Spreading the wealth around is nothing more than light weight socialism.Brian Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354120492801738081noreply@blogger.com