Tax Policy

[pnkpanther]

not all democrats think taxes should be high

[Vegas]

not all democrats think taxes should be high

How do you define "high" taxes?? It's a serious question.

[pnkpanther]

How do you define "high" taxes?? It's a serious question.

we've talked taxes several times, you cant pull it out of my ramblings?

i'm flat out against flat taxes.
I think budget should be balanced, you want to spend insane amount, tax an insane amount, reel in spending, reel in taxes, i'm in favor of both, believe it or not..i think max ceiling should be 33%, ideally 25%. I think capital gains are jsut fine to tax, you cant just tax labor, i have no problem with death taxes as large part of that is on unrealized capital gains, republicans act like it shuts down family farms (no family farm has ever shut down due to death taxes) and dems are even willing to exempt a very high amount on the estate (2.5 million i believe)....

[Vegas]

we've talked taxes several times, you cant pull it out of my ramblings?

i'm flat out against flat taxes.
I think budget should be balanced, you want to spend insane amount, tax an insane amount, reel in spending, reel in taxes, i'm in favor of both, believe it or not..i think max ceiling should be 33%, ideally 25%. I think capital gains are jsut fine to tax, you cant just tax labor, i have no problem with death taxes as large part of that is on unrealized capital gains, republicans act like it shuts down family farms (no family farm has ever shut down due to death taxes) and dems are even willing to exempt a very high amount on the estate (2.5 million i believe)....

So did you ever look at the Steve Forbes plan where he proposed to exempt the first $36k of income and have a flat rate of 17%? It would have actually increased total receipts as well as simplified taxes.

A 33% ceiling is way too high, even 25% is too high. But I do agree about the balanced budget. The thing about high taxes is that they're unnecessary. There has NEVER been a problem with tax receipts being too low. The problem is that Washington is addicted to spending money. When revenues go up, spending goes up faster. And the past 6 years under Bush, spending has gone up insanely largely due to him asking for it. Whenever the president asks for spending, congress spends even more. It's disgraceful the way they've wasted money even without the expenditures for the war on terror.

[pnkpanther]

So did you ever look at the Steve Forbes plan where he proposed to exempt the first $36k of income and have a flat rate of 17%? It would have actually increased total receipts as well as simplified taxes.

A 33% ceiling is way too high, even 25% is too high. But I do agree about the balanced budget. The thing about high taxes is that they're unnecessary. There has NEVER been a problem with tax receipts being too low. The problem is that Washington is addicted to spending money. When revenues go up, spending goes up faster. And the past 6 years under Bush, spending has gone up insanely largely due to him asking for it. Whenever the president asks for spending, congress spends even more. It's disgraceful the way they've wasted money even without the expenditures for the war on terror.

in THEORY i agree with you, i'd prefer taxes for all to be 10-15%. I'm aware of Forbes plan and i think people who make six figures plus can afford to pay a few more. ONe of the things about forbes he'd never reveal how much he SAVED under that plan..

[Vegas]

in THEORY i agree with you, i'd prefer taxes for all to be 10-15%. I'm aware of Forbes plan and i think people who make six figures plus can afford to pay a few more. ONe of the things about forbes he'd never reveal how much he SAVED under that plan..

Of course, I disagree about the accelerated rate for people over 6 figures. A flat tax rate is inherently fair, is it not? If you make 10x more money, you pay 10x more taxes. Why should the rate accelerate?

[pnkpanther]

Of course, I disagree about the accelerated rate for people over 6 figures. A flat tax rate is inherently fair, is it not? If you make 10x more money, you pay 10x more taxes. Why should the rate accelerate?

life isnt always fair

[Vegas]

life isnt always fair

Life is very rarely fair. But someone who is already paying more taxes shouldn't have to pay at an accelerated rate.

And progressive taxes prevent people from getting rich more than they soak the people that are already rich.

[Jiddy78]

Life is very rarely fair. But someone who is already paying more taxes shouldn't have to pay at an accelerated rate.

And progressive taxes prevent people from getting rich more than they soak the people that are already rich.


Sounds like someone prefers a consumption tax....Tryin' to put me out of business...

[pnkpanther]

Life is very rarely fair. But someone who is already paying more taxes shouldn't have to pay at an accelerated rate.

And progressive taxes prevent people from getting rich more than they soak the people that are already rich.

we'll have to agree to disagree on taxes

could do what Mn governor does and just charge "fee's" so he can hold to his no new tax policy, although dem's in state want to bilk the wealthy right now, a move i'm not a fan of

[Vegas]

we'll have to agree to disagree on taxes

could do what Mn governor does and just charge "fee's" so he can hold to his no new tax policy, although dem's in state want to bilk the wealthy right now, a move i'm not a fan of

At least we agree on cutting spending.

[Vegas]

Sounds like someone prefers a consumption tax....Tryin' to put me out of business...


I like the idea of a conumption tax, but the transition would be very unfair to retired people. They paid income taxes their whole life and then during their retirement they have to pay much higher prices.

I'd prefer to see the flat tax, but have no illusions that it will ever happen. All of the social engineering and special interest groups that have lobbied so hard to get their deductions and credits implemented in the tax code won't give up. And there would be a mutiny bordering on a revolution if they took away the mortgage tax deduction.

[pnkpanther]

i wouldnt mind seeing sales tax increased on non essential items

[LSU]

i wouldnt mind seeing sales tax increased on non essential items



sales tax here is 9.5%. Only 3 percent on groceries, though.

[pnkpanther]

sales tax here is 9.5%. Only 3 percent on groceries, though.

thats high,

MN it's 6.5 for most part, when i lived in Duluth the city had 1% (so 7.5 total) sales tax to maintain spirit "mountain" a ski hill

WI had 5.5% (but they tax everything, MN doesnt tax groceries at all or "essential" clothes) and people used to drive across bridge to save a few bucks on larger purchases

[LSU]

thats high,



you're telling me...

[pnkpanther]

you're telling me...

MN booze tax is 9.5 I believe, maybe 10.5

[Vegas]

sales tax here is 9.5%. Only 3 percent on groceries, though.

I'd do a lot of ebay shopping if I were you, except for groceries.

[LSU]

I'd do a lot of ebay shopping if I were you, except for groceries.



I've bought 3 things from ebay. We do buy a lot from amazon and buy.com though...I haven't gotten the wife convinced to buy clothes online, though...that's harder sometimes because of size issues...same with shoes. But for the most part, we really don't buy anything besides food, gas, diapers, pet food, and pet meds (which we've just begun getting online).

[Jiddy78]

I like the idea of a conumption tax, but the transition would be very unfair to retired people. They paid income taxes their whole life and then during their retirement they have to pay much higher prices.

I'd prefer to see the flat tax, but have no illusions that it will ever happen. All of the social engineering and special interest groups that have lobbied so hard to get their deductions and credits implemented in the tax code won't give up. And there would be a mutiny bordering on a revolution if they took away the mortgage tax deduction.


Perhaps a refund for those below a certain age as a suitable remedy? Although compliance sounds like a b*tch for that type of idea...

One good thing that a consumption tax would do is eliminate so many being able to dodge our taxes (illegals)....

[Jiddy78]

Florida is 6% across the board with various counties levying surtaxes...7% is the highest I've encountered...

[Jiddy78]

I'd do a lot of ebay shopping if I were you, except for groceries.

Florida's tax is a sales and USE tax, lotta companies getting bombarded for purchasing equipment out of state and bringing it in here...Big sales tax audits down here hunting these folks down...They steer clear from individuals on this stuff, but technically, you should take your ass to the county and pay tax on things you "use" (which is everything) that you've bought on the net...Does that happen??? Oh hell no...Practicality matters. Everybody is guilty if you take it to the letter of the law.

[LSU]

Florida's tax is a sales and USE tax, lotta companies getting bombarded for purchasing equipment out of state and bringing it in here...Big sales tax audits down here hunting these folks down...They steer clear from individuals on this stuff, but technically, you should take your ass to the county and pay tax on things you "use" (which is everything) that you've bought on the net...Does that happen??? Oh hell no...Practicality matters. Everybody is guilty if you take it to the letter of the law.



Yep. State income tax forms ask you to declare anything you bought on the internet so that they can charge me 9.5 percent on it.

Another POS they do here is charge you on your vehicles when you move. We moved from Iowa with 2 vehicles, each of which had .5.5% sales tax on them or whatever...when we registered our vehicles here, we had to pay the difference in sales tax in addition to registration fees based on the NADA value of the vehicle...so, we had to pay 4% tax on both vehicles just for moving. Pretty sweet, huh?

[pnkpanther]

Florida's tax is a sales and USE tax, lotta companies getting bombarded for purchasing equipment out of state and bringing it in here...Big sales tax audits down here hunting these folks down...They steer clear from individuals on this stuff, but technically, you should take your ass to the county and pay tax on things you "use" (which is everything) that you've bought on the net...Does that happen??? Oh hell no...Practicality matters. Everybody is guilty if you take it to the letter of the law.

the CEO for tyco got busted for that....except it was artwork

[Jiddy78]

Yep. State income tax forms ask you to declare anything you bought on the internet so that they can charge me 9.5 percent on it.

Another POS they do here is charge you on your vehicles when you move. We moved from Iowa with 2 vehicles, each of which had .5.5% sales tax on them or whatever...when we registered our vehicles here, we had to pay the difference in sales tax in addition to registration fees based on the NADA value of the vehicle...so, we had to pay 4% tax on both vehicles just for moving. Pretty sweet, huh?

There is no income tax in Florida, so they can't put that guilty conscience voodoo on you here...:p Land of thieves I tell you.