A flat tax in the works for the US?

[MalevolentLight]

It's not redistributive. You aren't taxing one group more than another with the idea of that one group supporting another group.

[Moral Hazard]

25% is not horrible, but I would like 20%.

I'd be willing to go higher but not lower

Shi et al:
You do realize that basically every flat tax proposal, has said that no taxes are paid on money below a certain threshold? Even the one Keys proposed in 2000.

[Agathon]

Why do you support any taxation at all ML. Isn't coercive taxation a fundamental breach of indivudual liberty.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Flat tax blows chunks.

At least with National Sales tax there are progressive elements.

[MalevolentLight]

Taxation is a necessary evil unfortunately. While I don't think people's incomes should be taxed, it is necessary in this day and age. But it should at least be very low and alot of these taxes like the death tax need to be immediately repealed.

[Shi Huangdi]

Originally posted by Moral Hazard

25% is not horrible, but I would like 20%.

I'd be willing to go higher but not lower

Shi et al:
You do realize that basically every flat tax proposal, has said that no taxes are paid on money below a certain threshold? Even the one Keys proposed in 2000.

ML seemed to be advocating for a pure flat tax.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by MalevolentLight
That thumbs up just inducted you into the Communist party. Wear the Russian flag proudly Ted...although judging by your scores they are less communist these days than you are.

My official position:

Competition is a good thing

HOWEVER, we do an extremely POOR job in the US of providing an environment for our underclass, and the CEOs just keep getting richer

A complete free market libertarian situation is very prone to situations going unchecked, such as the Great Depression when controls weren't in place to stop the madness (FDIC insurance, etc)

Sh1t happens to even the best of us, it's important to have an economic safety net

Free market going unchecked has led to a fast food society where everyone gets fat and sits in traffic jams for most of their lives.

[monkspider]

Less flat tax, more Ted Striker.

[MalevolentLight]

You look good in red Commrade Ted.

[Ted Striker]

You look good in a pickup truck with a gunrack

[David Floyd]

Indeed. Many Right-Wing Conservatives are Christians. Some of them take their Christian responsibility to help their fellow man seriously.

Great! When the flat tax goes through, those right wing Conservative Christians will still be free to do so!

Before you start with the Jesus/Christian/help the poor argument, please remember that Jesus' message was not about coercion - he did not support forcing people to help others. His message was about love and compassion, true, but he believed that this should be voluntary. God doesn't force people to be good - he gave us free will, and Jesus' views and teachings were consistent with free will.

Now that we've disposed of that, if Bush were to get us a flat tax - say, 17%, along the lines of the Dick Armey plan - my estimation of him would go up considerably. I'd probably even vote for him.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by monkspider
Less flat tax, more Ted Striker.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by MalevolentLight
You look good in red Commrade Ted.

No but lemme find some Commie chicks that look good in red, be back in a few...

[David Floyd]

But it should at least be very low and alot of these taxes like the death tax need to be immediately repealed.

And the capital gains tax.

[Agathon]

Competition is a good thing

Ted described a position quite like mine, and I'm a communist.

Not all us reds think that the socialist society could feasibly be established tomorrow, even though we do think it is inevitable.