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Kasz216 on 16 September 2008
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Jandre002 said:
Kasz216 said:
akuma587 said:
A sales tax would discourage spending and hurt the economy. People are pretty shortsighted, but they do notice a 30% tax on their goods, so this would encourage people to buy things from abroad if the costs weren't prohibitive because there would be no tax. People would try to get around it on the internet as well, which would be a nightmare for the federal government to patrol since there is so much traffic.

Income tax is something they can't get around easily, and it isn't something people generally think about on a day to day basis. Same with property tax. You would notice the sales tax every time you went and purchased something, so it would shape your habits accordingly.

A flat tax would have to be at least 28-30% to actually work. It really wouldn't provide many advantages to the system we have now, and a society and economy with a progressive income tax is more stable.


The argument isn't that it will have any advantage.  It's that it's more fair. 

In general that money earned is directly a result of choices you've made and that taxing richer people more is basically taking more away from them because they made better choices.

For some people, fairness is more important then stability.

Of course this is why living expenses would have to be taken out of any "flat tax" since everyone should be provided with enough to live.

I mean... a similar comparison would be if in the NBA Kobe Bryant's field goals were worth 1 instead of 2.  And Ben Wallace's counted as 5.

Sure Kobe still will have more total points then Ben Wallace, but he has to work a lot harder to get it.

5% of America owns 95% of our money, I think thats how it goes right? First let me say that I live in region with the highest household income. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia

Northern Virginia has 6 of 20 of the highest income counties in the nation, where nearly half of the households making over 100k per year. We are also, if you are curious,  where the DC sniper took place (Home Depot in VA), the Pentagon attack (the Pentagon is in Arlington VA), and the VTech sniper was from the HS down the street from my house. So basically most of the biggest events in the past 8 years emerged from here. (Sorry forgot AOL started/is operated from here). Also, we are the location of the T.C. Titans (Remember the Titans)

We are also one of the hardest hit regions from the recent housing slump. 

Now think about this. When 9/11 hit WE were affected the most outside of New York. WE  have been hit by acts of terror. WE have the highest household income. WE are the ones with the closest ties to Washington, and the inner workings of the federal government. So the fact that the richest, most affected, most in tune with Washington voters are STILL voting democratic doesn't say something to you all? If Obama's tax cuts went in to affect they know that they would pay more money, yet they agree to because they know that "OMG MORE TAXES" is something that needs to be done to fix the mess left behind by these new war happy, dishonest Republicans (NOVA 53-46 Kerry-Bush) Also, NOVA is the reason Virginia may end up being a blue state this election.

 

The Republican party takes middle America for a ride election after election as well. All they need to say is "gay marriage" "higher taxes" "terrorism" and they jump on the bandwagon without even paying attention to what they have done to the economy or what their plans are for the future. The plan in effect right now isn't just a Bush plan, its a neo-conservative plan. You have to put country before party, because if the Republicans win again on the same game plan lord only knows what other middle-class-screwing plans they will inact in order to benefit that richest 5%. This isn't just the "liberal media" trying to control the election. This is the response of good willing people who put country before self and want the best for everyone, and right now the conservatives have gone too far right to be of help to our democracy.

None of that adresses fairness at all.

Gay Marriage is actually another example the other way.  The people who care about fairness would be for Gay marriage.  Yet even most democratic politicians like Obama are against Gay Marriage.  Why?  There is no smart gain from it.  Heck Kerry lost votes for "Not being against gay marriage enough!"

Some things make the country run smoother.  Some things are more fair.

Some people believe treating everyone equally outweighs "what's best for the country."

That would include a flat tax in some form or another.  Taking out living expenses hopefully. (within reason of course.  No 30 million dollar mansion tax break because you "live there".)