Tax the rich and give to the poor?

[joncha]

Originally posted by Kucinich

2) sales tax is completely voluntary

Yeah, I voluntarily decided not to buy any food. My starvation is voluntary.

[Kuciwalker]

How predictable. Yes, you voluntarily decide to buy food. No one is coercing you.

[Jon Miller]

check out what is taxed, and by how much

and tell me again that it is completely voluntary

and actually, it is well known that poor people buy (a lot) more stuff, relative to their income and wealth than rich people, so they don't pay the same percentage of their income as poor peopel for sales tax (and therefore the sales tax is not only not progressive, it is not flat either, and is in fact regressive)

Jon Miller

[Kuciwalker]

But that's voluntary - if they pay more in sales tax, sucks for them, it's their fault. I didn't force them to buy so much stuff.

You guys still haven't addressed the point that it isn't even an income tax, and so the terms regressive and progressive are essentially meaningless.

[joncha]

Yes, because people who are charged sales tax don't have any income. Transactions take place in isolation from the rest of society.

[Kuciwalker]

What does that have to do with anything? It's not an income tax, so regressive/progressive have nothing to do with it.

[Dis]

Originally posted by MikeH
US becoming socialist?!

It's happening, but at a much slower rate than Europe.

[joncha]

A tax that effects rich people more than poor people: progressive.

A tax that effects poor people more than rich people: regressive.

[Dis]

Originally posted by MikeH


Er...

So if you get sick you have to pay the first $2500 but then if they cure you of that and you get something else you have to pay another $2500 or would the first one cover it?

I can't get around the fact that someone might be sick and they wouldn't get treated because they can't afford it. To me that's just wrong.

you people don't understand.

Medical care is free in the Unites States. You just do what illegal immigrants do. Go to the emergency room. And don't pay your bill.

Who picks up the tab? Insurance companies ulitmately.

So essentually we already have socialized medicine in the U.S.

You don't have to pay anything if you are poor!!

[The Mad Monk]

Been there, done that.

[Aeson]

/me is sure the dictionary is wrong about the definition of the term "regressive".

[The Emperor Fabulous]

I like Wes Clark's plan. People under $50,000 with 2 children pay no income taxes, people under $100,000 with 2 children get a deduction, and the top 1% have a 5% tax increase (effectively giving back what Bush gave them.)

[Dis]

why do I get penalized for having no children?

[Jon Shafer]

Down with the capitalist pigs!

[Impaler[WrG]]

Kucinich: What with this "Its not an Income Tax" thing you keep refering too? What differnce dose that make? For that matter the socalled Income Tax is NOT an income tax it is a WAGE tax. Other formes of Income are taxed on completly differnt systems (mostly flat or regressive). Conservatives consistently ask for these other forms of compensation to be taxed at lower or often zero %. Ofcorse this will do nothing for the average man who isn't paid in stock options or dividends. Practicaly ALL the benifit will fall on wealthy.

Ofcorse you will argue this is completly fair because the Stock options and Dividens are all being taxed at a completly fair and flat tax for everyone, its the poor mans fault for CHOSING to be payed a Wage which will get taxed, just as its his choice to eat, rent a home and drive a car.

The point is that NOW the % of money that would otherwise end up in your pocket that is taken by the goverment (which I call called taxes regardless of when or why its taken) is a regressive tax, you conservatives are trying to make the system MORE regressive not flatter.