Half the country paying nothing ....

Politics 62 replies 2,317 views
Q
QuakerOats
Posts: 8,740
Apr 8, 2010 9:53am
This situation is unsustainable. For half the country to pay no income taxes, thus not contributing anything from which they and all of us benefit from (i.e. national defense etc.) verges on catastrophe. When you can vote yourself a share of the treasury, at no cost, then we are at the brink of a serious problem.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Nearly-half-of-US-households-apf-1105567323.html?x=0&.v=1

"The result is a tax system that exempts almost half the country from paying for programs that benefit everyone, including national defense, public safety, infrastructure and education. It is a system in which the top 10 percent of earners -- households making an average of $366,400 in 2006 -- paid about 73 percent of the income taxes collected by the federal government.
The bottom 40 percent, on average, make a profit from the federal income tax, meaning they get more money in tax credits than they would otherwise owe in taxes. For those people, the government sends them a payment.
"We have 50 percent of people who are getting something for nothing," said Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation."
B
Bigdogg
Posts: 1,429
Apr 8, 2010 11:38am
Looks like you should move to Mexico, Turkey, Kora or Japan then. All have lower rates per share of GDP. Everyone else higher.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/international.cfm

The average taxpayer pays 18% taxes. 45% of all taxpayers pay no federal income tax but they still pay other kinds of taxes. They pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when they work, sales taxes when they buy things and property taxes on their homes. Drivers pay gasoline taxes, and smokers and drinkers pay excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. According to research, more than 75 percent of us will pay at least some form of federal tax in 2010. The average American taxpayer pays 18 percent.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Apr 8, 2010 12:47pm
fair tax would be nice
Q
QuakerOats
Posts: 8,740
Apr 8, 2010 1:19pm
Bigdogg wrote: Looks like you should move to Mexico, Turkey, Kora or Japan then. All have lower rates per share of GDP. Everyone else higher.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/international.cfm

The average taxpayer pays 18% taxes. 45% of all taxpayers pay no federal income tax but they still pay other kinds of taxes. They pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when they work, sales taxes when they buy things and property taxes on their homes. Drivers pay gasoline taxes, and smokers and drinkers pay excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. According to research, more than 75 percent of us will pay at least some form of federal tax in 2010. The average American taxpayer pays 18 percent.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335
All these other taxes that they pay directly benefit themselves --- SS / Med / property etc..... but to not pay any federal income tax and thereby contribute nothing toward, say national defense etc... is a sham. And not only do they not contribute federal income taxes, they actually get a 'refund' even though their liability computes to zero -------- friggiiiiinnnnnnnn incredible.

We are screwed.
Mr. 300's avatar
Mr. 300
Posts: 3,090
Apr 8, 2010 1:26pm
And these are the people Obama wants us to spread the wealth with. I'll bet 50-75% of those households have a cell phone, computer, flat screen TV, at least one vehicle, etc etc etc.
I
I Wear Pants
Posts: 16,223
Apr 8, 2010 1:29pm
And yet it's the 'Pubs that always want tax cuts.
W
WebFire
Posts: 14,779
Apr 8, 2010 1:33pm
Mr. 300 wrote: And these are the people Obama wants us to spread the wealth with. I'll bet 50-75% of those households have a cell phone, computer, flat screen TV, at least one vehicle, etc etc etc.
So because the tax system is jacked and gives credits back resulting in no taxes, those people shouldn't buy anything? Would they then be paying even less taxes?
Mr. 300's avatar
Mr. 300
Posts: 3,090
Apr 8, 2010 1:36pm
WebFire wrote:
Mr. 300 wrote: And these are the people Obama wants us to spread the wealth with. I'll bet 50-75% of those households have a cell phone, computer, flat screen TV, at least one vehicle, etc etc etc.
So because the tax system is jacked and gives credits back resulting in no taxes, those people shouldn't buy anything? Would they then be paying even less taxes?
Why do we need to spread the wealth???
W
WebFire
Posts: 14,779
Apr 8, 2010 1:39pm
Mr. 300 wrote:
Why do we need to spread the wealth???
I don't believe I said we do.
Belly35's avatar
Belly35
Posts: 9,716
Apr 8, 2010 2:30pm
I hope the $#*&@%.00 taxes they are getting from me they spend it wisely ...Oh! what was I thinking
expecting someone who does nothing but leach off the goverment to do something with my hard earn money is a foolish idea.
derek bomar's avatar
derek bomar
Posts: 3,722
Apr 8, 2010 2:38pm
you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
B
Bigdogg
Posts: 1,429
Apr 8, 2010 2:50pm
I find it funny that the thread I started is included under a poster on my ignore list. Evidently all of my posts are being censored first. Got to love some of our God fearing, leave your hands of my rights, members on here.
fish82's avatar
fish82
Posts: 4,111
Apr 8, 2010 2:57pm
derek bomar wrote: you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
Everyone should pay something.
fish82's avatar
fish82
Posts: 4,111
Apr 8, 2010 2:59pm
Bigdogg wrote: Looks like you should move to Mexico, Turkey, Kora or Japan then. All have lower rates per share of GDP. Everyone else higher.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/international.cfm

The average taxpayer pays 18% taxes. 45% of all taxpayers pay no federal income tax but they still pay other kinds of taxes. They pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when they work, sales taxes when they buy things and property taxes on their homes. Drivers pay gasoline taxes, and smokers and drinkers pay excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. According to research, more than 75 percent of us will pay at least some form of federal tax in 2010. The average American taxpayer pays 18 percent.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335
All the people who pay income taxes pay all this stuff too. Your "average" means nothing.
Q
QuakerOats
Posts: 8,740
Apr 8, 2010 3:19pm
derek bomar wrote: you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
A light may have gone on ....................... a flicker of hope in the air.

And yes, everyone should pay at least something ..... they are being defended, if nothing else.
Q
QuakerOats
Posts: 8,740
Apr 8, 2010 3:21pm
I Wear Pants wrote: And yet it's the 'Pubs that always want tax cuts.
We want to cut income tax RATES, because doing so always spurs greater economic activity which, incidentally, ALWAYS results in more total tax DOLLARS being collected; but certainly everybody should pay something in terms of income taxes, otherwise they have no ownership in the entire system ---- they are free to vote themselves the treasury at no cost.
C
cbus4life
Posts: 2,849
Apr 8, 2010 3:21pm
How it could make any sense for someone to get back more than they pay in is beyond me.

You can't even call it a refund then, more like a "gift," haha.
Writerbuckeye's avatar
Writerbuckeye
Posts: 4,745
Apr 8, 2010 3:28pm
cbus4life wrote: How it could make any sense for someone to get back more than they pay in is beyond me.

You can't even call it a refund then, more like a "gift," haha.
Just ask Joe the Plumber...it's called "spreading the wealth around" -- whether you deserve it or not.
J
jmog
Posts: 6,567
Apr 8, 2010 3:33pm
derek bomar wrote: you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
One thing DB and I agree on!

I believe everyone should at least pay some income tax for sure, but making sure that there isn't anyone getting "gifts" and the lowest is really 0% would be a good start.

Currently the lower "tax brackets" actually end up at a negative tax %, meaning they get back more than they payed in the first place.
CinciX12's avatar
CinciX12
Posts: 2,874
Apr 8, 2010 3:35pm
Stupid poor people. If they put in half the effort of trying to get jobs as they do in avoiding paying income taxes they might not be considered in poverty.
derek bomar's avatar
derek bomar
Posts: 3,722
Apr 8, 2010 3:48pm
fish82 wrote:
derek bomar wrote: you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
Everyone should pay something.
I agree, but the quick fix would be to say no one is allowed to get more than what they put in...I mean, that seems like it wouldn't get a ton of push back
derek bomar's avatar
derek bomar
Posts: 3,722
Apr 8, 2010 3:51pm
CinciX12 wrote: Stupid poor people. If they put in half the effort of trying to get jobs as they do in avoiding paying income taxes they might not be considered in poverty.
wow that post is all kinds of off base...

for one, the people trying to avoid paying taxes are those who actually pay significant $ in taxes...poor people aren't trying to avoid it, the government does that job for them...
J
jmog
Posts: 6,567
Apr 8, 2010 3:59pm
derek bomar wrote:
CinciX12 wrote: Stupid poor people. If they put in half the effort of trying to get jobs as they do in avoiding paying income taxes they might not be considered in poverty.
wow that post is all kinds of off base...

for one, the people trying to avoid paying taxes are those who actually pay significant $ in taxes...poor people aren't trying to avoid it, the government does that job for them...
Exactly!

Those of us who actually pay income taxes are the ones trying to deduct everything we can.

The government does the work for the poor people.
B
Bigdogg
Posts: 1,429
Apr 8, 2010 4:03pm
fish82 wrote:
Bigdogg wrote: Looks like you should move to Mexico, Turkey, Kora or Japan then. All have lower rates per share of GDP. Everyone else higher.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/international.cfm

The average taxpayer pays 18% taxes. 45% of all taxpayers pay no federal income tax but they still pay other kinds of taxes. They pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when they work, sales taxes when they buy things and property taxes on their homes. Drivers pay gasoline taxes, and smokers and drinkers pay excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. According to research, more than 75 percent of us will pay at least some form of federal tax in 2010. The average American taxpayer pays 18 percent.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335
All the people who pay income taxes pay all this stuff too. Your "average" means nothing.
I agree. If you read the link you would understand that 75% do pay some form of federal tax. I do however have no problem with everybody paying something. My question is why has it never been done under any administration?
RedRider1's avatar
RedRider1
Posts: 3,850
Apr 8, 2010 4:10pm
derek bomar wrote:
fish82 wrote:
derek bomar wrote: you shouldn't get back more than what you pay in...this should be a quick fix, make a rule stating at the very least, you pay nothing...no refund greater than what you pay in. Can't really see anyone being against that outside of the beltway.
Everyone should pay something.
I agree, but the quick fix would be to say no one is allowed to get more than what they put in...I mean, that seems like it wouldn't get a ton of push back
Just spoke of this earlier today with a co-worker.

1. Shouldnt get more back than you pay in....you're right...easy fix.

2. Everyone should pay something, even if it's $1. All of us are the beneficiary of Defense, infrastructure, etc.