Time for a flat tax

[KLHJ2]

There is no way for man to make it fair. I can explain how to make it fair, but there are two major problems. It would take to long to explain, and most people have too closed of a mind to let it work. Hence man will never make it fair.

[jsarno]

Watch, it's simple...charge everyone the same percentage. Let's call it 20%.
So here is the example:
1mil / year = 200k in taxes
200k / year = 40k in taxes
100k / year = 20k in taxes
75k / year = 15k in taxes
50k / year = 10k in taxes
25k / year = 5k in taxes

You take it directly out of the paycheck and no exceptions, and poof...no April 15th, no complications etc. Of course that is about as simple as you can make it.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Watch, it's simple...charge everyone the same percentage. Let's call it 20%.
So here is the example:
1mil / year = 200k in taxes
200k / year = 40k in taxes
100k / year = 20k in taxes
75k / year = 15k in taxes
50k / year = 10k in taxes
25k / year = 5k in taxes

You take it directly out of the paycheck and no exceptions, and poof...no April 15th, no complications etc. Of course that is about as simple as you can make it.

My idea is similar to that, but alot more in depth. It is not only a plan for taxes but for compensation and payments to anyone for anything period. Its kind of a combination of capitalism and socialism combined. That is the last I will speak of it.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by angryssg

My idea is similar to that, but alot more in depth. It is not only a plan for taxes but for compensation and payments to anyone for anything period. Its kind of a combination of capitalism and socialism combined. That is the last I will speak of it.

I am intrigued.
PM me with some more details.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I am intrigued.
PM me with some more details.

Its going to take a while.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by angryssg

Its going to take a while.

Just the basics of the idea is fine. I have my own ideas too, so I'd love to hear someone else share the ideas.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Just the basics of the idea is fine. I have my own ideas too, so I'd love to hear someone else share the ideas.

You should have it by now.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Watch, it's simple...charge everyone the same percentage. Let's call it 20%.
So here is the example:
1mil / year = 200k in taxes
200k / year = 40k in taxes
100k / year = 20k in taxes
75k / year = 15k in taxes
50k / year = 10k in taxes
25k / year = 5k in taxes

You take it directly out of the paycheck and no exceptions, and poof...no April 15th, no complications etc. Of course that is about as simple as you can make it.

LOL! Can you even comprehend what devastating impact 5k in taxes would do to the first year teacher, farmer or factory worker's ability to even attempt to provide basic food/clothing/shelter for his/her family?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

LOL! Can you even comprehend what devastating impact 5k in taxes would do to the first year teacher, farmer or factory worker's ability to even attempt to provide basic food/clothing/shelter for his/her family?

Well, yeah...if they are a first year, they were in school making NOTHING, so they are still 20k richer. Also, the first year teacher here in SE New Mexico makes around 40k. Ouch.
ps- farmers can easily make 200k+ a year. Don't let their bitching and moaning fool you. It's just a hard job. I have friends that are farmers (cotton and chili peppers) they make a killing...and when the weather doesn't cooporate with them, they get government assistance.

[dmek25]

this is a dumb comparison. you choose 20%. well 20% to someone making,100,000 is nothing. 20% to the guy making 25,000 is alot of cash. and i don't begrudge anyone their money, but the old saying is true, the less money you make, the harder you work. i am a perfect testament to that. all the $5.00 and $6.00 an hour jobs i worked and busted my balls, now i make about $75,000 a year and its the easiest job i have ever had. and this arguements biggest point will be, if they do go to a flat tax, where will they make up the lost money? your arguement is all about the rich getting richer.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Well, yeah...if they are a first year, they were in school making NOTHING, so they are still 20k richer. Also, the first year teacher here in SE New Mexico makes around 40k. Ouch.
ps- farmers can easily make 200k+ a year. Don't let their bitching and moaning fool you. It's just a hard job. I have friends that are farmers (cotton and chili peppers) they make a killing...and when the weather doesn't cooporate with them, they get government assistance.

Umm...errr...never....mind...{sigh}.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

But they do pay more. As it stands right now, the richest 1% of the country pays over 35% of all income taxes.

This is pretty consistent with the numbers I've seen.

I know we here at the Warpath like to argue what "should" be the case on a lot of issues, but so often (as with the salary cap) we forget to ground ourselves in what is possible.

We need to tax the rich a greater % than we tax the middle class and the poor, because the nation needs that money. If we went with a flat tax that managed to net the same amount of overall revenue that our current graduated system does, the flat tax rate would represent an absolutely CRIPPLING tax hike for the poor and the middle class. Maybe that seems "fair" to you, but I don't see how that can be considered a good thing when so many middle class people are struggling to afford health insurance as it is. With college education costs rising so fast and with the recent run-up in home prices, the middle class is getting squeezed enough as it is. A flat tax would thrust many of them into poverty so the top 1% could buy more yachts.

I'm a red-blooded Republican, and I still recognize a flat tax makes no sense. The middle class does indeed need to realize that they need to work hard and pull themselves up, and not depend on the government. But the shift of money from the poor to the rich would be huge if we moved to a flat tax.

Besides, this idea would NEVER pass in congress. The likelihood of this ever happening is so remote that it almost renders this thread "retarded."

But please, let's all continue arguing based on ideals instead of reality, and continue to pretend a flat tax would be more fair in our ideal worlds.

[Hog1]

The UNITED STATES government has become a juggernaut that exists mostly to feed itself. NO flat tax like formula will ever be adopted as it would effectively do away with the IRS, with it's simplicity.
THEY will not allow that type of impact to...........the machine.
-Fox Mulder

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Hog1

The UNITED STATES government has become a juggernaut that exists mostly to feed itself. NO flat tax like formula will ever be adopted as it would effectively do away with the IRS, with it's simplicity.
THEY will not allow that type of impact to...........the machine.
-Fox Mulder

[JoeRedskin]

One of the underlying principals of progressive taxing is that, if you are making more, you have benefitted from the system more. While the top 1% pay 35% of the taxes, they also hold approximately one third of the nation's wealth. The top 10% hold (approximately) 60% of the nation's wealth.

You are right, the harder you work, the more you pay in taxes. Unlike in many countries, however, there is still an incredible incentive to work hard. From just brief internet research, it appears to me that America's tax to GNP is significantly less than most countries in the world. US taxes are slightly less than 30% of the GNP as opposed to European countries which tax, on average, at about 50% of the GNP.

In America, the wealthy are entitled to retain wealth. More millionares AND billionares (in US Dollars) live in America than anywhere else.