“I don’t think is me being extremist or me being anti-business.”

Pres Obama, you are an extremist and you are a Marxist. Stop pretending that you and swine like Barney Frank aren’t trying to destroy capitalism and the free market in America.

“The secretary of a hedge fund is probably being taxed at 25%, 28%, right? And [the hedge fund managers] are being taxed at 15%. …”

-How about the secretary gets taxed like the Hedge fund manager. If the Hedge Fund manager is taxed at 15%, why can’t the secretary be taxed at 15%, as opposed to raising someone’s taxes, lower them.

This is why I’m in favor of a Fair Tax. Everyone gets taxed at the same percentage, the poor. middle-class and rich. Either way, the more money you make the more you are taxed since it’s a percentage.

Mr President, are you trying to put lipstick on a pig? You are a socialist. Some guy on some message board somewhere said so. And this dude on some back and forth news show said the same thing. And that’s science. Deal with it.

‘em…kind of off topic, but why hasn’t Mediaite done a story about the 8 Democrat politicians in Bell, California that were arrested? Oh that’s right…..you have more important topics like Snookie and some guy named Savage that wants to Masturbate or something.

Warren Buffet has said essentially the same thing in the past.

Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers said:
Warren Buffet has said essentially the same thing in the past.

So? Are we supposed to care what Buffet thinks? What I would like to see, is on tax form a taxpayer should be able to give more to the IRS. That way, we can really see what these high and mighty people would do. I mean, if Buffett wants to give more to the federal government, he should be able to but he should not tell others what they should or shouldn’t do.

@Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers: To clarify, you mean the same as Obama?

Otherwise, since I’m in here, I liked Jon Stewart’s line in response to the fellow’s question; “You quit hitting a pinata when the candy falls out” or something with that sentiment.

More Liberty said:
“The secretary of a hedge fund is probably being taxed at 25%, 28%, right? And [the hedge fund managers] are being taxed at 15%. …” -How about the secretary gets taxed like the Hedge fund manager. If the Hedge Fund manager is taxed at 15%, why can’t the secretary be taxed at 15%, as opposed to raising someone’s taxes, lower them. This is why I’m in favor of a Fair Tax. Everyone gets taxed at the same percentage, the poor. middle-class and rich. Either way, the more money you make the more you are taxed since it’s a percentage.

Except the Secretary doesn’t pay 28%. I haven’t seen a tax chart yet where the tax percentage goes down while your income goes up. More class warfare based on Liberal Facts. Liberal Facts = Lies

Yes Magister. Warren Buffett has criticized the US tax system for allowing him to pay a lower rate than his secretary.

More Liberty said:
So? Are we supposed to care what Buffet thinks? What I would like to see, is on tax form a taxpayer should be able to give more to the IRS. That way, we can really see what these high and mighty people would do. I mean, if Buffett wants to give more to the federal government, he should be able to but he should not tell others what they should or shouldn’t do.

Obama’s cabinet owes around a million in back taxes and the Federal employees owe in the Billions. They don’t pay with THEIR money, that’s for the rest of us to do.

You a

musiccityvic said:
Except the Secretary doesn’t pay 28%. I haven’t seen a tax chart yet where the tax percentage goes down while your income goes up. More class warfare based on Liberal Facts. Liberal Facts = Lies

Get a clue or get off the board. He is referencing the tax rate on capital gains.

More Liberty said:
This is why I’m in favor of a Fair Tax.

Like I mentioned before ML, I think this idea is going to get a lot of traction in the very near future…..wait and see.

Go back to Republican President Nixon’s tax rate of 74% on the top marginal rate.

Fair enough? Nixon was a Republican so he must’ve been right.

–Cobra

That might be a compelling argument, if it were true.

If he’s talking about the difference between income taxes and capital gains taxes, then he is ignoring the obvious and making a rather bold policy proposal that would doom the economy. Capital gains are taxed differently than income because they directly relate to investments in the economy. If he is proposing to start taxing capital gains at the same rate as income (25%, 28%, 37%, etc.) then the Dow will be at 4,000 by tomorrow.

If he’s talking about the fact that Social Security taxes phase out above approximately $105,000, then he is forgetting that Social Security is not a welfare program. It is a defined benefit retirement plan. The more you pay in, the more you take out on the back end. Is he saying we should change that? Social Security should become a general purpose tax? Seriously?

This is pure demagoguery. It shows Obama’s complete ignorance of taxes, the economy, and how you create jobs. Instead of growing the pie larger, he wants Americans to fight with each other about their “fair” share of an ever-shrinking pie. “Fair” of course having no relationship whatsoever to the value you create for others and what you earn from creating that value.

@FNWPPTT: I actually knew and I occasionally reference Buffett in comments.

@More Liberty: Yeah. Why should we care what a fellow who has been among the three richest people in the world for at least a decade and arguably one of the most successful people on Wall Street over some guy given a two-minute microphone?

Though, if you think about it, a fairer tax could be a step toward a fair tax.

AnonymousFinch said:
Instead of growing the pie larger, he wants Americans to fight with each other about their “fair” share of an ever-shrinking pie. “Fair” of course having no relationship whatsoever to the value you create for others and what you earn from creating that value.

…and then John Galt left.

I knew you knew Magister, but added it for emphasis.

Instead of taxing the hedge fund manager at the rate of the secretary how about taxing the secretary at the rate of the hedge fund manager.

Typical leftist, default to the higher tax rate instead of the lower.

Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers said:
You a Get a clue or get off the board. He is referencing the tax rate on capital gains.

I’ll stay on the board jerkweed if only to piss you off. If you invest in something and take a risk that helps fuel the ecomony by financing a business through investment, you don’t think getting a lower interest rate on a return is a justifiable risk/reward? I bet your in favor of the death tax too. Lets take half of the estate of a person who has accumulated wealth and contributed to society by paying taxes instead of sucking up all the resources i.e. Obama’s Illegal Aunt while contributing little. You Liberals are funny. Everyone should open their pocket up and give most of their money so we can fund washing African Genitals for 1 Million or send 150 Million to the UN for global warming reducing stoves. No thanks. I’d rather give my money to who I feel needs it. This Government has failed miserably in oversight and common sense and hasn’t earned the right to take our money.

AnonymousFinch said:
That might be a compelling argument, if it were true. If he’s talking about the difference between income taxes and capital gains taxes, then he is ignoring the obvious and making a rather bold policy proposal that would doom the economy. Capital gains are taxed differently than income because they directly relate to investments in the economy. If he is proposing to start taxing capital gains at the same rate as income (25%, 28%, 37%, etc.) then the Dow will be at 4,000 by tomorrow. If he’s talking about the fact that Social Security taxes phase out above approximately $105,000, then he is forgetting that Social Security is not a welfare program. It is a defined benefit retirement plan. The more you pay in, the more you take out on the back end. Is he saying we should change that? Social Security should become a general purpose tax? Seriously? This is pure demagoguery. It shows Obama’s complete ignorance of taxes, the economy, and how you create jobs. Instead of growing the pie larger, he wants Americans to fight with each other about their “fair” share of an ever-shrinking pie. “Fair” of course having no relationship whatsoever to the value you create for others and what you earn from creating that value.

He shows ignorance because he is ignorant. He thinks the Government IS A BIG WELFARE state. He thinks his “tax cuts” for business are great because he doesn’t know the difference between cuts and breaks. He wonders why no one will hire a person when he’ll give them a big 5K credit, when it will cost the Employer 40K to hire the person. He has never run as much as a lemonade stand and keeps turning to Professors and theory which all us sane people know doesn’t amount to much of anything in the real world.

Obamanomics. Demonize business, Destroy the Healthcare, Energy, and Financial District and then wonder why the economy isn’t booming since the “recession” is over. Weeeeee. More Unemployment and Food Stamps for everyone.

“I bet your in favor of the death tax”

It is called the estate you chump, and your and damn right I am in favor of it, just as both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are for the following reason:

“We have come closer to a true meritocracy than anywhere else around the world,” he said. “You have mobility so people with talents can be put to the best use. Without the estate tax, you in effect will have an aristocracy of wealth, which means you pass down the ability to command the resources of the nation based on heredity rather than merit.”

If we could get all the Democrats to pay their back taxes, we’d probably have enough to pay off debt to China. Obama should consider this.

For those of you who don’t understand our tax system, allow me to enlighten you. We have what’s called a Regressive Tax system where, the more you make, the less you pay. What we should have is a Progressive Tax system which would dictate that, the more you make, the more you pay. It’s based in what’s called logic so, if a Secretary makes less than her boss, the Hedge Fund Manager, can you explain why she was taxed at a rate of 29.8% while her boss was taxed at 15%? Last year Warren Buffett said that his Secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he does and that he thought it was unfair. Now, if you think Obama is a Marxist than you must also believe that Buffett is one too. As for those of you mathletes who think that tax breaks for the wealthy spur job growth, you need to explain to me why we lost 7.2 million jobs during the 8 years under Bush with those tax cuts in place?

wow, the comments on this site certainly confirm the dumbing down of america! You sick twisted lying liar repugs just have no shame in your pathetic racists ignorant comments of our democratically elected president. nope not good enough for you hypocrites. I mean, how ironic, with all the enemies this country has you creeps biggest fear is the president of the free world.LOL. YOU ARE A JOKE ALONG WITH YOUR MEDIA SUCK ASSES. can’t stand to see a black man out do you simple minded greedy bigotted limbo beck following creeps. I’ve never seen so many dumb asses think they know more than the PRESIDENT. oh that’s right he’s BLACK SO YOU CLOWNS SOMEHOWE HAVE THIS NOTION THAT YOU CAN DISRESPECT THE OFFICE NOW! history will prevail… AND I WILL REMEMBER EVERY STINKING COMMENT YOU CREEPS MADE ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT. YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO EVEN CONSIDER THE LIKES OF PALIN BUT A BLACK MAN WHO GRADUATED FROM THE TOP SCHOOL IN THE LAND COULDN’T POSSIBLY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY LIKE THAT HILLBILLY PALEN. VELMA HART DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME. I WILL DEFEND THIS PRESIDENT TILL THE BITTER END just as you dumb asses defended bush and cheney from the election they stole to the illegal wars they started and sent thousands of men and women to their deaths for OIL AND MONEY! I WILL BE GLAD WHEN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS GET HERE TOO SO YOU CLOWNS WILL SHUT THE HELL UP! AND QUITE FRANKLY I HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE EITHER WAY!

Only a small percentage of Americans even pay taxes.
Obama gets his main support from the people who dont pay anything or contribute at all to society and want the rich to pay more… What is wrong with this picture?

“Fair” Tax is anything but fair. Progressive taxation-and I know you hate the word progressive- was adopted for a reason, and it is in fact a very pragmatic reason. The rich have more to lose from a disorderly, unstable society and thus owe more to it for it to be functional and protect their own well being. Add that to the fact that the rich spend much less of their money percentage-wise than the poor, it is only logical that they give more back into the system to keep the economic system flowing. What happens when we give tax cuts to the richest americans is in fact redistribution of wealth, only upward, as money is more and more concentrated in the hands of the few. This is dangerous for an economic system that relies on consumption and flow of money, and even more dangerous for a democracy. In the golden age of America, where prosperity reigned in all classes, the highest marginal tax rate was between 50-90%. I don’t advocate for returning to such high rates, but please spare me from republican bullshit about returning to Clinton rates.

REBEL said:
wow, the comments on this site certainly confirm the dumbing down of america! You sick twisted lying liar repugs just have no shame in your pathetic racists ignorant comments of our democratically elected president. nope not good enough for you hypocrites. I mean, how ironic, with all the enemies this country has you creeps biggest fear is the president of the free world.LOL. YOU ARE A JOKE ALONG WITH YOUR MEDIA SUCK ASSES. can’t stand to see a black man out do you simple minded greedy bigotted limbo beck following creeps. I’ve never seen so many dumb asses think they know more than the PRESIDENT. oh that’s right he’s BLACK SO YOU CLOWNS SOMEHOWE HAVE THIS NOTION THAT YOU CAN DISRESPECT THE OFFICE NOW! history will prevail… AND I WILL REMEMBER EVERY STINKING COMMENT YOU CREEPS MADE ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT. YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO EVEN CONSIDER THE LIKES OF PALIN BUT A BLACK MAN WHO GRADUATED FROM THE TOP SCHOOL IN THE LAND COULDN’T POSSIBLY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY LIKE THAT HILLBILLY PALEN. VELMA HART DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME. I WILL DEFEND THIS PRESIDENT TILL THE BITTER END just as you dumb asses defended bush and cheney from the election they stole to the illegal wars they started and sent thousands of men and women to their deaths for OIL AND MONEY! I WILL BE GLAD WHEN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS GET HERE TOO SO YOU CLOWNS WILL SHUT THE HELL UP! AND QUITE FRANKLY I HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE EITHER WAY!

Rebel = Koolaid Drinking Liberal Lunatic. The Racist card just doesn’t work anymore. I wonder what your saviors grades were..Hmmm.. we don’t know because he won’t release his records.

Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers said:
Yes Magister. Warren Buffett has criticized the US tax system for allowing him to pay a lower rate than his secretary.

Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax called FICA is a payroll tax to fund Social Security and Medicare. This tax is 7.65% of wages up to $97,500 for 2007 (and 1.45% of any wages over $97,500). You will not get a refund of any FICA taxes however you get credit for the Social Security system.

Federal Withholding Tax is the tax that employers are required to withhold that is a prepayment of each employee’s income tax.

As far as actual taxes are concerned, the top 1% pay 40% of all income taxes, the top 5% pay 60%, the top 10% pay 71% of taxes, and the top 50% of wage earners pay 97% of all taxes. The bottom 50%, if they pay at all, pay just over 3% of all taxes.

roxsteady said:
For those of you who don’t understand our tax system, allow me to enlighten you. We have what’s called a Regressive Tax system where, the more you make, the less you pay. What we should have is a Progressive Tax system which would dictate that, the more you make, the more you pay. It’s based in what’s called logic so, if a Secretary makes less than her boss, the Hedge Fund Manager, can you explain why she was taxed at a rate of 29.8% while her boss was taxed at 15%? Last year Warren Buffett said that his Secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he does and that he thought it was unfair. Now, if you think Obama is a Marxist than you must also believe that Buffett is one too. As for those of you mathletes who think that tax breaks for the wealthy spur job growth, you need to explain to me why we lost 7.2 million jobs during the 8 years under Bush with those tax cuts in place?

Wall Street Journal article in 01/09 shows 3 million jobs created during the 8 years of Bush. Plus unemployment was 4-6%. That was in spite of 9/11 and a recession when he took over from the internet boom collapsing. I’d be interested to see where you got your number from. Please tell me you aren’t counting all the jobs lost during 09/10 when Obama was president

musiccityvic said:
Rebel = Koolaid Drinking Liberal Lunatic. The Racist card just doesn’t work anymore. I wonder what your saviors grades were..Hmmm.. we don’t know because he won’t release his records.

That is probably the most idiotic comment I’ve seen in quite a long time…thanks for sharing your complete ignorance.

The answers to your supposed “questions” are out there, you just refuse to accept reality and would rather dwell in your contempt for anyone different than yourself.

Have a miserable life.

Do you know why some people don’t pay any taxes? It’s because they don’t make enough money. Now, tell me, do you envy people who are so poor that they don’t make enough to pay taxes? Oh, and I noticed that not one of you answered my question but, that’s because you couldn’t! And that’s exactly why the wealthy should NOT get another tax cut. It’s been proven that it doesn’t spur investments and job growth. It did however spur investments in foreign countries.

Jonathan Rodrigues said:
“Fair” Tax is anything but fair. Progressive taxation-and I know you hate the word progressive- was adopted for a reason, and it is in fact a very pragmatic reason. The rich have more to lose from a disorderly, unstable society and thus owe more to it for it to be functional and protect their own well being. Add that to the fact that the rich spend much less of their money percentage-wise than the poor, it is only logical that they give more back into the system to keep the economic system flowing. What happens when we give tax cuts to the richest americans is in fact redistribution of wealth, only upward, as money is more and more concentrated in the hands of the few. This is dangerous for an economic system that relies on consumption and flow of money, and even more dangerous for a democracy. In the golden age of America, where prosperity reigned in all classes, the highest marginal tax rate was between 50-90%. I don’t advocate for returning to such high rates, but please spare me from republican bullshit about returning to Clinton rates.

Yeah just more tyranny. You do know how percentages work right? If I make 10K a year, I pay 1.8K in taxes. If I make 100K a year, I pay 18K in taxes, if I make 1 million a year, I pay 180K in taxes.

roxsteady said:
Do you know why some people don’t pay any taxes? It’s because they don’t make enough money. Now, tell me, do you envy people who are so poor that they don’t make enough to pay taxes? Oh, and I noticed that not one of you answered my question but, that’s because you couldn’t! And that’s exactly why the wealthy should NOT get another tax cut. It’s been proven that it doesn’t spur investments and job growth. It did however spur investments in foreign countries.

poor people should pay their fair share. If I have to pay taxes, so should they.

roxsteady said:
For those of you who don’t understand our tax system, allow me to enlighten you. We have what’s called a Regressive Tax system where, the more you make, the less you pay. What we should have is a Progressive Tax system which would dictate that, the more you make, the more you pay. It’s based in what’s called logic so, if a Secretary makes less than her boss, the Hedge Fund Manager, can you explain why she was taxed at a rate of 29.8% while her boss was taxed at 15%? Last year Warren Buffett said that his Secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he does and that he thought it was unfair. Now, if you think Obama is a Marxist than you must also believe that Buffett is one too. As for those of you mathletes who think that tax breaks for the wealthy spur job growth, you need to explain to me why we lost 7.2 million jobs during the 8 years under Bush with those tax cuts in place?

Because they are telling you the whole truth, yeah I know image in that. What they are discussing is FICA, not Federal income tax – it’s a typical lie.

Where does Obama get these numbers? If you work on Wall Street, your marginal tax rate next year will be well above 50% — and probably closer to 60% when you take into account federal income tax, state income tax, local income tax, Medicare tax, Social Security tax, alternative minimum tax, etc. –and I am not even including sales tax, gasoline tax, use taxes, etc. And don’t forget, dividends are taxed twice in the United States (unlike many countries) — when they are earned and when they are distributed to shareholders. So the increase of dividend tax next year will ensure that the government will take the lion’s share of this money too, and leave less capital for reinvestment into expansion and growth.

In contrast, half of the population pays no taxes whatsoever. Check it out:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Nearly-half-of-US-households-apf-1105567323.html?x=0&.v=1

So this is pure spin on the part of the President. The Democrats love to put the squeeze on the people who do the hiring and investing — not just in terms of taxes, but also in terms of regulation, harassment from trial lawyers, public attacks, etc. — and this is the single biggest reason why the economy is in the tank.

You can’t create jobs while punishing the people who do the hiring. You can’t create capital and growth while punishing the people who do the investing. There is a long history showing what this class envy and hatred of successful people leads to — namely, the kind of economic disaster we are living through right now.

For amusement, go and check what the Left claims about the financial impact of tax cuts, and then try to match their statements up with real world data. It’s absolutely impossible. Even now, you hear daily about the financial cost of the Bush tax cuts, which actually led to the largest increase in federal tax revenues in the history of the United States — almost $800 billion in increased tax receipts over the following four years. Go and check the track record of what happens when capital gains taxes have been increased. Go and check what happened to federal tax receipts after the Reagan tax cuts. Same thing — the claims by the Left are total fantasies and fabrications.

Here are the real numbers about wealth and taxation in the United States — namely that the top 1% in the US represent 19% of income, but pay 37% of taxes. Meanwhile almost half of US citizens pay no federal tax whatsoever. So the idea that wealthy people pay at lower rates than the rest of us is simply not supported by facts. In fact, the exact opposite is proven by the numbers

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/11/top-1-earn-19-of-income-but-pay-37-of.html

Why can’t the Democrats be honest about these numbers? Why does the Left constantly make claims about taxes that are the exact opposite of what the numbers show? Don’t they realize that this stuff is all measured mathematically, in dollars and cents, and can be easily accessed on the web? Yet the Left daily presents “facts” on taxes and tax cuts that are complete and total fabrications.

@felixw: I’m supposed to be working, so forgive me for make a brief appearance, but…

Yesterday I was at my local food co-op and there was a fellow in the parking lot repeatedly turning the key in his ignition only to keep getting that click-click-click sound. I asked him if he needed a jump and when he said no, I inquired about his starter and though he didn’t need me to say it, I joked about how it’ll eventually catch and if it doesn’t, it sometimes helps to hit it with a hammer. (Of course, unless the thing is totally shot)

More class warfare but the only trouble with “Them against Us” is “Them” pays us. The poor will always be poor until they become uncomfortable with being poor = self improvement and no one can give it away it must be done by the individual.

felixw said:
For amusement, go and check what the Left claims about the financial impact of tax cuts, and then try to match their statements up with real world data. It’s absolutely impossible. Even now, you hear daily about the financial cost of the Bush tax cuts, which actually led to the largest increase in federal tax revenues in the history of the United States — almost $800 billion in increased tax receipts over the following four years. Go and check the track record of what happens when capital gains taxes have been increased. Go and check what happened to federal tax receipts after the Reagan tax cuts. Same thing — the claims by the Left are total fantasies and fabrications. Here are the real numbers about wealth and taxation in the United States — namely that the top 1% in the US represent 19% of income, but pay 37% of taxes. Meanwhile almost half of US citizens pay no federal tax whatsoever. So the idea that wealthy people pay at lower rates than the rest of us is simply not supported by facts. In fact, the exact opposite is proven by the numbers http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/11/top-1-earn-19-of-income-but-pay-37-of.html Why can’t the Democrats be honest about these numbers? Why does the Left constantly make claims about taxes that are the exact opposite of what the numbers show? Don’t they realize that this stuff is all measured mathematically, in dollars and cents, and can be easily accessed on the web? Yet the Left daily presents “facts” on taxes and tax cuts that are complete and total fabrications.

And the Minions follow along as true believers. Of course I can never get an answer from anybody on the left as to why is it that ALL these Senate and House Dems running for election are all running as if they are conservatives, if increasing the Government by 25% and increasing taxes is such a great thing. Obama was going to go through the budget with a scalpel and reduce spending and all he did was increase the size of Government at record levels and is on the right side of all other issues, if your Chavez, Hamas, or an Illegal Alien.

roxsteady said:
Do you know why some people don’t pay any taxes? It’s because they don’t make enough money. Now, tell me, do you envy people who are so poor that they don’t make enough to pay taxes? Oh, and I noticed that not one of you answered my question but, that’s because you couldn’t! And that’s exactly why the wealthy should NOT get another tax cut. It’s been proven that it doesn’t spur investments and job growth. It did however spur investments in foreign countries.

Everytime and I mean Everytime taxes are cut, revenues increase for the Government, which is what taxes are supposed to be about, not Progressive Class warfare. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your propaganda.

SpineCrusher said:
That is probably the most idiotic comment I’ve seen in quite a long time…thanks for sharing your complete ignorance. The answers to your supposed “questions” are out there, you just refuse to accept reality and would rather dwell in your contempt for anyone different than yourself. Have a miserable life.

I’m a conservative. We work hard and generally are happy until you lunatic progressives decide to steal our money for your social justice projects.

More Liberty said:
‘em…kind of off topic, but why hasn’t Mediaite done a story about the 8 Democrat politicians in Bell, California that were arrested? Oh that’s right…..you have more important topics like Snookie and some guy named Savage that wants to Masturbate or something.

Fox news reported the story without once mentioning Democrat
also being prosecuted by a dem prosecutor

Magister said:
Like I mentioned before ML, I think this idea is going to get a lot of traction in the very near future…..wait and see.

does not look like compromise is popular here today

musiccityvic said:
Please tell me you aren’t counting all the jobs lost during 09/10 when Obama was president

Please don’t tell me those jobs were lost because he took office 1/20/09

Paula Parker Cannady said:
wow, the comments on this site certainly confirm the dumbing down of america!

Welcome Paula
I have not seen you here before

Ignorance and more ignorance from the right. Reagan the Great told you that government was the problem and the leading lights of the Republicans have worked very hard to insure that the government is the problem. Rightwingers have no memory and they aren’t good Christians either. From the 1940′s to the late 1960′s the tax rate was progressive and reached 60-70% for very high earners. We had a fairly well run country especially compared to today. In a well run society we should be willing to pay taxes if they’re going to make us happier, healthy and more prosperous. For some strange reasons rightwingers want money to line their pockets, fight made-up wars, build roads and not much more. It’s a cynical and not especially spiritual way to run things. Most of the Teabaggers are people who have never taken an active interest in the political process. Now that the chickens have come home to roost they’re all suddenly angry and upset and think they can turn the clock back to the good old days simply by shouting and backing the most outlandish people like Palin, O’Donnell, Angle, Bachmann, etc. Ain’t going to work. The Tea Party has peaked and changing demographics and common sense will prevail. The Democrats may lose a few House seats but it isn’t going to be a bloodbath.

roxsteady said:
We have what’s called a Regressive Tax system where, the more you make, the less you pay.

Wow, just make up something that is the opposite of the truth. The top 1% of earners represent 19% of the income and pay 37% of the taxes. The bottom 47% of earners among the population pay no federal taxes. How can you dare proclaim these complete and total fabrications?

More Liberty said:
“The secretary of a hedge fund is probably being taxed at 25%, 28%, right? And [the hedge fund managers] are being taxed at 15%. …”

-How about the secretary gets taxed like the Hedge fund manager. If the Hedge Fund manager is taxed at 15%, why can’t the secretary be taxed at 15%, as opposed to raising someone’s taxes, lower them.

This is why I’m in favor of a Fair Tax. Everyone gets taxed at the same percentage, the poor. middle-class and rich. Either way, the more money you make the more you are taxed since it’s a percentage.

I have a good friend who’s a libertarian and we’ve talked about this several times. I used to support it as well, Now I’m not so sure Fair Tax is an accurate name. If someone earns 30,000 and the tax is 15% they pay 4500 in tax. Someone earning 200,000 pays 30,000 , and that’s a whole lot more. The problem is what those taxes represent in real world terms for real people. On the upper end maybe no European vacation and a entry level Lexus instead of the high end model. For the folks making 30,000 it means some real basic essentials.

George Will said the Tax system is such a glutted monster filled with special interest clauses, that it will never be simplified. Pretty discouraging.

musiccityvic said:

I’m a conservative. We work hard and generally are happy until you lunatic progressives decide to steal our money for your social justice projects.

As a moderate I completely agree that social programs need to be examined to make sure we’re getting our money’s worth, and we have to be realistic about where to draw the lines of affordability. We can’t afford every idea just because it’s about “helping”

Still, I have a hard time understanding why conservatives seem to get so very upset about the idea of helping their fellow countrymen but supported a god awful war that spent hundreds of billions on the other side of the world. It’s seems way out of balance to me.
I think there are serious questions about what programs are effective, needed , too expensive etc by why is that money so terrible and money on a war seems okay?

AnonymousFinch said:
That might be a compelling argument, if it were true.

If he’s talking about the difference between income taxes and capital gains taxes, then he is ignoring the obvious and making a rather bold policy proposal that would doom the economy. Capital gains are taxed differently than income because they directly relate to investments in the economy. If he is proposing to start taxing capital gains at the same rate as income (25%, 28%, 37%, etc.) then the Dow will be at 4,000 by tomorrow.

If he’s talking about the fact that Social Security taxes phase out above approximately $105,000, then he is forgetting that Social Security is not a welfare program. It is a defined benefit retirement plan. The more you pay in, the more you take out on the back end. Is he saying we should change that? Social Security should become a general purpose tax? Seriously?

This is pure demagoguery. It shows Obama’s complete ignorance of taxes, the economy, and how you create jobs. Instead of growing the pie larger, he wants Americans to fight with each other about their “fair” share of an ever-shrinking pie. “Fair” of course having no relationship whatsoever to the value you create for others and what you earn from creating that value.

You say If at the beginning of your paragraphs. Are they questions or statements of facts?

Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers said:
“I bet your in favor of the death tax” It is called the estate you chump, and your and damn right I am in favor of it, just as both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are for the following reason:

I’d hardly say that Bill Gates or Warren Buffet are good examples of the average American, or even the standard wealthy American. They both literally have money to burn and could pay incredibly high taxes without it missing a beat. Other than that, the goal most people have had for years is to make things better for their children than they were for themselves. So, are you saying we work our entire lives for benefit of the government? It’s a bad thing to leave my children in a better position than I was?

roxsteady said:
Do you know why some people don’t pay any taxes? It’s because they don’t make enough money. Now, tell me, do you envy people who are so poor that they don’t make enough to pay taxes? Oh, and I noticed that not one of you answered my question but, that’s because you couldn’t! And that’s exactly why the wealthy should NOT get another tax cut. It’s been proven that it doesn’t spur investments and job growth. It did however spur investments in foreign countries.

Actually, somebody did answer your question. I will add that the unemployment rate through most of the Bush administration was about the same as it was under Clinton, only jumping a bit higher after 9/11 and when the housing boom went bust.

So, let me ask you a question you won’t answer. If raising taxes spurs job growth and the economy, why was unemployment at 19% after four years under Jimmy Carter?

CosmosDan said:
You say If at the beginning of your paragraphs. Are they questions or statements of facts?

“If” is a conditional, not an interrogatory.

AnonymousFinch said:
“If” is a conditional, not an interrogatory.

Is he talking about changing that rate for all investments or only such items received as compensation?