Fairness

[MtnBiker]

What is fair? And who should decide what is fair for each of us?

Some people in this country pay a 14% tax rate. Some people pay a 30% tax rate. Should all people pay 30% or should all people pay 14%?

Is it fair that some people freely and willingly give alot to charity and some people give very little to charity?

[krisy]

What is fair? And who should decide what is fair for each of us?

Some people in this country pay a 14% tax rate. Some people pay a 30% tax rate. Should all people pay 30% or should all people pay 14%?

Is it fair that some people freely and willingly give alot to charity and some people give very little to charity?

I think the fairest thing I've heard is a flat tax. 30 sounds awful high and I bet this country could function just fine with under 20. Just quit giving able bodied people section 8 housing and funding research on why crickets chirp and it should work

[gabosaurus]

What is fair? And who should decide what is fair for each of us?

Some people in this country pay a 14% tax rate. Some people pay a 30% tax rate. Should all people pay 30% or should all people pay 14%?

Is it fair that some people freely and willingly give alot to charity and some people give very little to charity?

Life is not fair. You should know this by now.
The less money you earn, the fewer taxes you should pay. Because you are much closer to the break even point than someone who earns more.
My husband and I are near the top of the tax bracket. Obviously, we should pay more. Because we can.
Why does it baffle so many people that those who make a million per year should pay more taxes than those who make $10,000 per year?
Politicians (primarily Republicans) believe both groups should pay the same tax rate. Why? Because those who earn $10,000 per year don't make political contributions. Thus, they are worthless to those who make the laws.

[CSM]

Life is not fair. You should know this by now.
The less money you earn, the fewer taxes you should pay. Because you are much closer to the break even point than someone who earns more.
My husband and I are near the top of the tax bracket. Obviously, we should pay more. Because we can.
Why does it baffle so many people that those who make a million per year should pay more taxes than those who make $10,000 per year?
Politicians (primarily Republicans) believe both groups should pay the same tax rate. Why? Because those who earn $10,000 per year don't make political contributions. Thus, they are worthless to those who make the laws.

Guess how much federal income tax someone making $10,000 per year pays!

[ConHog]

Guess how much federal income tax someone making $10,000 per year pays!

Oh , believe me, another component of "fairness" in my mind is that 47% of the population would suddenly find themselves paying SOMETHING in income tax, burns me up that we actually have people who MAKE money off the income tax system.

I'm just saying that IF the government wanted to make a case that it could and should take extra from those who are earning obscene amounts of money, then I'd be okay with that IF those people truly are making it off the backs of the working poor. I'm not talking about small businesses. Most small business owners aren't making $20M while paying employees $12K a year. That's the sole province of corporate CEO types of companies like Exxon or IBM. And that isn't right, capitalism be damned.

[fj1200]

Why does it baffle so many people that those who make a million per year should pay more taxes than those who make $10,000 per year?
Politicians (primarily Republicans) believe both groups should pay the same tax rate. Why? Because those who earn $10,000 per year don't make political contributions. Thus, they are worthless to those who make the laws.

Psst. They do pay more taxes.

Only you would think same rate =/= fair. Besides the same marginal rate does not mean the same overall rate.

And that isn't right, capitalism be damned.

So, you would like to be appointed to the Just Compensation Board and be given the authority of determining pay rates? Why am I not surprised.

What is fair?

Fairness in opportunity or fairness in outcome?

[ConHog]

So, you would like to be appointed to the Just Compensation Board and be given the authority of determining pay rates? Why am I not surprised.

Is that what I said at all?

Nope. I just think that IF a CEO is making $20M a year while he has employees of his are on welfare b/c of their low wages then that welfare should be paid by HIM, in the form of higher taxes. Said CEO can make $80M a year for a all I care, as long as he's willing to pay the higher tax rate if he's using lower paid employees.

I don't make 100X what any employees make so why should I have to subsidize his greed?

I could fix social security as well. Anyone who in the last 5 years of their earning career averaged $1M in salary. Thanks for the donations, you're ineligible to receive social security benefits.

Psst. They do pay more taxes.

Only you would think same rate =/= fair. Besides the same marginal rate does not mean the same overall rate.

An income tax will never be fair. But it's probably not ever going anywhere. I would PREFER a national sales tax.

[fj1200]

^^:shakes head: The CEO does pay higher taxes. Do you realize that tax rates do not determine tax revenues​? Macroeconomically speaking of course.

[ConHog]

^^:shakes head: The CEO does pay higher taxes. Do you realize that tax rates do not determine tax revenues​? Macroeconomically speaking of course.

I realize he pays higher taxes, I'm saying I'd raise them more. I would also raise the levels of people who pay nothing. This would ease the burden on the middle class by getting more from both ends.

[fj1200]

I realize he pays higher taxes, I'm saying I'd raise them more. I would also raise the levels of people who pay nothing. This would ease the burden on the middle class by getting more from both ends.

Ahem.

Do you realize that tax rates do not determine tax revenues​? Macroeconomically speaking of course.

They pay enough. You also presume that them paying more will have ANY effect down the line.

[ConHog]

Ahem.



They pay enough. You also presume that them paying more will have ANY effect down the line.

Enough is of course subjective FJ. The poor who don't pay anything probably feel they pay enough to. I disagree with them as well.

[gabosaurus]

I realize he pays higher taxes, I'm saying I'd raise them more. I would also raise the levels of people who pay nothing. This would ease the burden on the middle class by getting more from both ends.

A lot of the people who pay nothing don't earn enough to pay taxes. Do you really want someone who makes less than $10,000 to pay more taxes?

Also, a lot of very wealthy people pay next to nothing. Due primarily to tax credits and shelters. I know this because my husband advises some of them.

[jimnyc]

A lot of the people who pay nothing don't earn enough to pay taxes. Do you really want someone who makes less than $10,000 to pay more taxes?

Also, a lot of very wealthy people pay next to nothing. Due primarily to tax credits and shelters. I know this because my husband advises some of them.

But a "flat tax" would STILL leave the wealthier "paying more", that's what so many can't comprehend. Let's assume we had a 20% flat tax for all:

You and hubby make a total of $150k per year = $30k in taxes

A family making $50k per year = $10k in taxes

Sounds fair to me.

[ConHog]

A lot of the people who pay nothing don't earn enough to pay taxes. Do you really want someone who makes less than $10,000 to pay more taxes?

Also, a lot of very wealthy people pay next to nothing. Due primarily to tax credits and shelters. I know this because my husband advises some of them.

Yes, I want the guy who makes $10K paying SOMETHING. WHo cares if its $10? At least they are paying in SOMETHING. Especially given that those are the very people who use most of the entitlements, so called entitlements that is.

and certainly you agree that NO ONE should be earning money from the income tax system? Just pisses me off when some ass claims they have a refund of $X coming back and then they giggle that they didn't even pay anything in. And that happens ALL the time.

47% in this country pay NOTHING, surely you aren't naive enough to believe that 47% of the people in this country earn below the poverty line?

But a "flat tax" would STILL leave the wealthier "paying more", that's what so many can't comprehend. Let's assume we had a 20% flat tax for all:

You and hubby make a total of $150k per year = $30k in taxes

A family making $50k per year = $10k in taxes

Sounds fair to me.

I prefer a national sales tax at the retail level. You buy something, you pay tax on it. You purchase something abroad and bring it here, you pay taxes on it. You are in complete control of how much tax you pay.


no deductions, no credits, no loopholes, no nothing.

[CSM]

I prefer a national sales tax at the retail level. You buy something, you pay tax on it. You purchase something abroad and bring it here, you pay taxes on it. You are in complete control of how much tax you pay.


no deductions, no credits, no loopholes, no nothing.

I'd much rather invade another country like Saudi Arabia, steal all their stuff (yep, including oil) and use all their resources, give US manufacturers as much as they need/want then get the heck out and move on to the next country. No need for taxes and eventually we end up ruling the known universe!