Quote:
Originally Posted by
MJ1970 
Ultimately I'd like to see us get rid of the income tax...for a variety of reasons.
Well that would probably do it, yeah. In fact, that's just about the only thing that would do it (long term.)
You could start by eliminating all discretionary spending (including the entire defense) budget and then you'd be in balance. For a short time. Then thing would soon start getting out of balance as the remaining budget (mostly entitlement programs) begin to grow and exceed revenues. Then what do you do? I assume you would raise taxes. OK. Fine. But at some point you will not be able to raise taxes any further but the entitlements continue to grow. The entitlement programs, much to the denial and dismay of liberals, is the core problem.
MJ, you views are extreme in my opinion but if it helps you do know at least 1 Democrat here that does NOT deny how much of a problem entitlements have become. The 2009 Federal Budget expenditures speak for themselves.
SS = 20%
Medicare/Medicaid = 19%
Unemployment/Welfare = 10%
Defense/War on Terror = 23%
Interest = 5%
Each of the big Departments make up 0.5% to 2% each.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SDW2001
I don't know how many times it has to be proven that raising taxes does not result in more revenue in the long term. Tax increases are not the answer here. The answer is to cut spending dramatically, while also lowering taxes. And no, we can't get rid of entitlements at this point. It's not realistic, nor feasible. We need to reform them.
We should change the funding model for social security to a national sales tax. And we should completely start over the with the tax code. Make taxes easy and fair. Tax
everyone at 5%, then progressively after they reach 125% of the federal poverty line. Allow deductions for housing (housing market problem solved), transportation (auto industry problem solved), children, education and business expenses. It should take you less than 30 minutes to do your taxes. Eliminate the waste, fraud and mistakes from the system and institute a fair tax rate (maximum 20% federal) and you'll see the
economy explode. Every American would get a 12% raise from the SS changes.
Let's also do away with thousands of federal employees and dozens of agencies. What do the thousands of employees at the Dept. of Education, Agriculture, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, et al do? The Dept. of education has 5,000 employees. What?
I can't expect someone on the right to ever be for a tax increase. But there was
no Mad Max world pre Bush Tax cuts. I would care a little less if we had started a
war tax? in 2003.
I'm fine with simplifying the tax code to "eliminate the waste, fraud and mistakes" There are some loopholes and abuses to close. Some things are hard to enforce such as persons that get paid in cash or make cash tips and typically tax evade such as waiters, bartenders, strippers etc.
Quote:
And no, we can't get rid of entitlements at this point. It's not realistic, nor feasible
Its nice to see a righty admit this. We all know they need to be made more efficient and
slowly tapered off. Eliminating them?
I don't see how plunging millions of poor people into poverty or homelessness helps the situation like MJ wants to do.
. This has been said about everything and it doesn't seem to happen
soooo.... I'll play the odds.
