If I had my way, there would be a national sales tax, and no income tax. There would be absolutely no exceptions to the tax, and it would be the same percentage for all income levels. Then people culd support tax increases, but none to which they would be immune.

Aside from that, I'd get the Government out of the business of addressing most social problems.

Again, I think you could make the case that the wealthy should help the poor. But I'd forbid you to forgo your responsibility to make your case to them, and instead rob them at gunpoint.

It seems to me that it is the Left that feels that the case cannot be made, since they are so aroused by the concept of coercion.

You want me to help the poor? Then ask me, nicely, and accept that I do so voluntarily.

Oh, and if you can't afford to send money, then I expect you to labor for the poor, get your hands dirty, literally and figuratively.

And do you know, I think you'd soon discover that a rather large segment of the people you are so concerned over are in their predicaments through their own actions, and by their continuing failure to take corrective actions.

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

"Sometimes, the source of the beautiful dawning light that drives back the darkness, is your house burning"

So you want the poor to disproportionately have there buying power lowered.

Regressive taxes suck.

I want them to escape poverty. that requires that they learn self disciple, understand the nature of taxation, grasp responsibility and above all that they live within a thriving economy.

Have you ever live among people who are largely immune from taxation and largely supported by one Government program or other? I have.

The effect is much like a wasting disease. Their sense of control is grossly eroded. And they see the country as belonging to others. After all, they know that they pay little into it.

And in truth an even tax is hardly regressive. It is the same for all citizens, as it should be. The rich man uses far less of the Government services that a poor man does, so the case could even be made that he should pay a lower tax rate.

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

"Sometimes, the source of the beautiful dawning light that drives back the darkness, is your house burning"

I'd be all for that if I thought it would work. And I'm not a huge supporter of the present welfare system we have. The system we have is broke and does more to disable the poor than enable. A social safety net needs to be in place to help those who can't make it on their own. But the current system is bleeding money and not helping where it should in all cases. Keep the net. Just fix it.

Let me suggest one more government program we should put in place. An office that helps put together those in need with those willing to help. Just a thought.

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As I grow older, I grow wiser. The wiser I become, the more I understand how little I know. sunwestdog
Life isn't fair. But people should be. sunwestdog
I reject your reality and substitute my own. Adam Savage

True, there are degrees of left. The progressive, or the Obama position on the spectrum appears to suggest you start with what you're talking about, and little by little work your way to what Often Cold is talking about.

I think OC's example is acceptable, because the people he was talking to obviously didn't understand the direction they were heading with blanket acceptance of the Progressive path.

I think Progressive Democrat Maxine Waters put it best...

I'd stay away from politics at work. You're lucky the fishermen had control enough to leave you to your folly.

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What history would that be?


I thought we were discussing taxes.



What do you think GE should be paying in taxes?





Good for China or India?




Thanks for the strawmen.

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Virtually everything on Fox News is a bedtime story that only children could believe.

Alan Grayson

What? You may think that you're staying away from politics at work, but remember that neither the government nor the many political movements in this country grant you that consideration.
they are always aware of you as part of their calculations.

And what is this folly? I thought it a rather elegant illustration.

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

"Sometimes, the source of the beautiful dawning light that drives back the darkness, is your house burning"

The folly part comes in when jumping into such a sensitive subject (for some) as politics with people who are (assuming these are commercial fishermen) tough as nails and have a sort of freedom thing going on. They commit many petty crimes and hide out at sea or on foreign ports indefinitely. Even if they are bound to get caught this knowledge hives them a sort of "don't give a ****" attitude.
Why I like online debating is I don't have to put up with people shouting me down or retaliating.

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you skipped several steps in this process making it sound like the "12 fish" fisherman is giving directly to the "6 fish" fisherman...not in a democrat's fantasy world...

the "6 fish" fisherman would pay 16% in federal income taxes so he'd have to send about 1 fish to the federal government (this exercise does not include state & local taxes --- well, because they'd be inferior anyway in the eyes of a democrat) while the "12 fish" fisherman would pay 33% (because the tax rates would have to be progressive) meaning he'd send roughly 4 fish to the feds so they could in turn redistribute that among those who didn't fish at all but not until they've taken their cut --- so of the 5 fish sent to the federal government maybe 2 or 3 would get to the folks in need of them while the remaining would be given as gifts to unions,trial lawyers & GE
in the end they'd still complain that the "12 fish" fisherman still had so much more than the "6 fish" fisherman & we'd have rallies demanding we take more of his fish because it's a national resource & belongs to all of us.

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"Free people are not equal & equal people are not free." --- Mackinac Center for Public Policy