Alabama Tax Referendum (a good Republican!)

[MikeH]

Or it could tax all those rich republican voters, if the poor folks weren't too stupid to vote for it.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by MikeH
Or it could tax ...

But that's not earning money. That's just taking it.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
But that's not earning money. That's just taking it.

In return for which you get schools, roads, police, and army, regulations to protect you from those who would defraud you, etc. The rich are disproprotionaly better served by this system, and so it is only fair they pay a disproportionate share.

[Harry Seldon]

It's only fair if everyone pays the same rate. Most everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of services paid for by taxes. Being poor shouldn't exclude you from the system and placing an unfair burden on the rich only encourages them to find ways to shirk their responsibility.

[Berzerker]

Sava - From the article:

Who would Jesus tax?

No one, he never told his followers to "tax" anyone. People asking this question obviously cannot quote him and must ignore what he did say.

Last year the lowest-earning one-fifth of Alabama taxpayers paid 10.3 percent of their incomes in state and local levies. But the richest 1 percent paid just 3.7 percent.

I just love it when the left becomes disgusted with tax rates. Btw, is that a questionable stat like the one below? What is the state income tax without local levies?

Last year, the lowest-earning 20 percent of Americans had an average state and local tax rate of 9.6 percent — almost twice the 5.2 percent paid by the richest 1 percent of Americans. The figures, which count in the benefit from deducting state and local taxes from individuals' federal tax returns, were calculated by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

How horrible, those nasty rich people who are paying God only knows what in federal taxes get to deduct some state and local taxes? Shameful! But can I ask someone to translate that because it doesn't seem to make sense if it's relevant. How does this qualify as a benefit wrt state and local rates? It's a "benefit" in regard to the federal tax, not state taxes.

In fact, 46 of the 50 states take a much larger share of income from lower- and middle-income families than they do from wealthy citizens.

Hmm...I must be in one of the 4...which is strange considering this "conservative" Republican state I live in has some damn high taxes. But how can that be? Some states don't even have income taxes. Hell, many people here (you know, those nasty rich people) pay far more in property taxes than the poor pay in income taxes. In fact, we pay more in property taxes alone than the poor pay in income taxes - by far. There is something seriously wrong with these stats, Sava.

Polls show the revenue measure, which the state constitution mandates must go to popular vote, trailing by about 20 points. That's partly because low-income and black voters, who'd benefit the most, remain largely opposed — reflecting their suspicion of the Montgomery political establishment they believe has invariably scorned and disserved them.

Now there's some of that left wing bias for ya, how do we explain their opposition in nice terms while indicting the motives of everyone else?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Harry Seldon
It's only fair if everyone pays the same rate. Most everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of services paid for by taxes. Being poor shouldn't exclude you from the system and placing an unfair burden on the rich only encourages them to find ways to shirk their responsibility.

That's right. The law prevents rich and poor alike from stealing bread nd sleeping under bridges.

[Berzerker]

Maybe the law shouldn't prohibit sleeping under bridges

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Berzerker
Maybe the law shouldn't prohibit sleeping under bridges

You're a real humanitarian.

[Japher]

Oh no, I actually agree with commie Che... Taxes should start a specific income, and 4600 is way, way, way too low... I do, however, like flat tax ideas, but it would never work. I think Newt Gengridge (spelling, beer) even admitted to that, and he was the biggest pusher of flat taxes...

[chequita guevara]

Well, let me shock some here by saying that I think everyone should pay taxes, regardless of their income level. The amount should be progressive and a bearable burden on everyone, but if you pay no taxes, you have no real stake in the system. Oh sure, you might be a lazy, greedy person who collects a check "Where's "my" money," but beyond that, you won't have much interest in civic matters. But when you have your money involved, you have a reason to pay attention and take part.

Does that make any sense?

[Japher]

It makes sense, but I disagree now I'll just leave it at that.

[Berzerker]

I never slept under a bridge but I did have to sleep in the natural world quite a few times when I was "home"less. Strange thing though, I never felt I wasn't getting something I deserved.

[rmsharpe]

Jesus wouldn't tax, he'd ask, and people would give.

[Spiffor]

It makes sense Che. I completely agree with you. Paying taxes is an important element to feel part of a civic system, even if the main reaction is to ***** about the taxes themselves.

That's also why I think the taxing shouldn't be wholly automatic, but should require some input from the taxpayer himself (if only, sending a pre-written letter to the taxation centre).

[Berzerker]

Jesus wouldn't tax, he'd ask, and people would give.

Not the young man who inquired about joining his group. But yes, Jesus would ask, not force.