1) All current federal, state, and local taxation should be abolished.
* (With the possible exception of import taxes - a subject I’m not yet
prepared to discuss.)
* Income tax may be illegal. There is a question whether the 16th
Amendment was ratified. If not, income tax already is illegal and so is
the IRS and all the judicial actions taken as a result of this apparent lie.
Just because the 16th Amendment is a fait accompli is no reason to
perpetuate the illegality.
* Income tax is unfair. Rich people pay a lower percentage of income
taxes than do the middle class because the rich make better use of tax
avoidance strategies.
- My wife and I are self-employed. Almost everything we do is
business-related so we may claim expenses to offset income. Our
income has dropped but so has our income tax burden (from $7,500/yr
to $1,500-$2,500/yr). Therefore, our after-tax income has dropped
very little.
- Not everyone can be self-employed. Middle class employees pay a
greater percentage of income tax than any other group. Therefore,
income tax is unfair by “punishing” employees.
- Two single people pay less tax than a married couple. Therefore, the
government “fines” people for getting married.
- Tax exemptions for having children? Why? People choose to have
children and should not be subsidized by the government.
* Too many business decisions are based on potential tax
consequences rather than market-related factors.
* Americans have no understanding of the true cost of our
government.
* The government itself has no idea what all the taxation rules are,
how to implement them, how to enforce them, or what all these actions
cost taxpayers.
* Current taxation is capricious, and horribly expensive to implement
and enforce. Eliminating all current taxation policies would save the
country billions of dollars.
---------------------------------------
2) The federal, state and local governments MUST have money to
implement their goals. This should be done with sales taxes.
* Sales taxes are simple. Replace the current convoluted taxation
mess with a “you use it, you pay for it”.
* Sales taxes work. State and local systems already are in place
nationwide. Just add a National Sales tax to the current, working
system.
* Sales taxes are understandable. Every time we would buy something
we would understand what our government costs us. Americans would
tend to pay better attention to the financial activities of our various
governments.
* Sales taxes are the cheapest taxes to implement and enforce.
* Sales taxes are the least intrusive into business and personal affairs.
* Sales taxes are equitable to all Americans (only those who “buy” are
taxed).
* Savings would NOT be taxed, therefore savings would increase.
* The complicated systems of “retirement plans” would be eliminated.
* Many accountants would not have to find productive work!
* Sales taxes eliminate the “marriage penalty”.
* Sales taxes would no longer “pay” people to have children.
* Home owners would no longer be “fined” with a tax increase for
improving their homes.
* Necessities such as food could remain untaxed to reduce the burden
on low-income and fixed income Americans. This would be fair because
it applies to the rich and poor alike.
* The poor would be little or no taxes because they buy mostly
untaxed “necessities”.
* Renters would no longer be paying landlords taxes. Rents could be
reduced (through competition) and landlords would still receive their
profits.
* Businesses would react more to market needs than taxation
avoidance.
-------
By the way, do NOT ever fall for the VAT (Value-Added Tax) concept.
You end up paying tax upon tax and the total cost is still hidden from
the user. I’ve lived under it (in Germany). It’s bogus to the max!
I know this type of subject has been discussed many times by brighter
people than I am; but the conclusion always was based upon
intimidation by the speaker.
I’d be beholden to those willing to help me hash this out in a rational
manner.
----------------------------------
Thanks to Fubsy for starting this subject!
----------------------------------
* (With the possible exception of import taxes - a subject I’m not yet
prepared to discuss.)
* Income tax may be illegal. There is a question whether the 16th
Amendment was ratified. If not, income tax already is illegal and so is
the IRS and all the judicial actions taken as a result of this apparent lie.
Just because the 16th Amendment is a fait accompli is no reason to
perpetuate the illegality.
* Income tax is unfair. Rich people pay a lower percentage of income
taxes than do the middle class because the rich make better use of tax
avoidance strategies.
- My wife and I are self-employed. Almost everything we do is
business-related so we may claim expenses to offset income. Our
income has dropped but so has our income tax burden (from $7,500/yr
to $1,500-$2,500/yr). Therefore, our after-tax income has dropped
very little.
- Not everyone can be self-employed. Middle class employees pay a
greater percentage of income tax than any other group. Therefore,
income tax is unfair by “punishing” employees.
- Two single people pay less tax than a married couple. Therefore, the
government “fines” people for getting married.
- Tax exemptions for having children? Why? People choose to have
children and should not be subsidized by the government.
* Too many business decisions are based on potential tax
consequences rather than market-related factors.
* Americans have no understanding of the true cost of our
government.
* The government itself has no idea what all the taxation rules are,
how to implement them, how to enforce them, or what all these actions
cost taxpayers.
* Current taxation is capricious, and horribly expensive to implement
and enforce. Eliminating all current taxation policies would save the
country billions of dollars.
---------------------------------------
2) The federal, state and local governments MUST have money to
implement their goals. This should be done with sales taxes.
* Sales taxes are simple. Replace the current convoluted taxation
mess with a “you use it, you pay for it”.
* Sales taxes work. State and local systems already are in place
nationwide. Just add a National Sales tax to the current, working
system.
* Sales taxes are understandable. Every time we would buy something
we would understand what our government costs us. Americans would
tend to pay better attention to the financial activities of our various
governments.
* Sales taxes are the cheapest taxes to implement and enforce.
* Sales taxes are the least intrusive into business and personal affairs.
* Sales taxes are equitable to all Americans (only those who “buy” are
taxed).
* Savings would NOT be taxed, therefore savings would increase.
* The complicated systems of “retirement plans” would be eliminated.
* Many accountants would not have to find productive work!
* Sales taxes eliminate the “marriage penalty”.
* Sales taxes would no longer “pay” people to have children.
* Home owners would no longer be “fined” with a tax increase for
improving their homes.
* Necessities such as food could remain untaxed to reduce the burden
on low-income and fixed income Americans. This would be fair because
it applies to the rich and poor alike.
* The poor would be little or no taxes because they buy mostly
untaxed “necessities”.
* Renters would no longer be paying landlords taxes. Rents could be
reduced (through competition) and landlords would still receive their
profits.
* Businesses would react more to market needs than taxation
avoidance.
-------
By the way, do NOT ever fall for the VAT (Value-Added Tax) concept.
You end up paying tax upon tax and the total cost is still hidden from
the user. I’ve lived under it (in Germany). It’s bogus to the max!
I know this type of subject has been discussed many times by brighter
people than I am; but the conclusion always was based upon
intimidation by the speaker.
I’d be beholden to those willing to help me hash this out in a rational
manner.
----------------------------------
Thanks to Fubsy for starting this subject!
----------------------------------