There are 6 strings on that guitar Gene, don't get seduced by the sound of just one.

Leave it to you to decide that everyone being treated equal isn't fair.

Why don't we just take what you call "the rich" and have them flogged every second Tuesday of the week, just to make sure they understand suffering?

I'm not a supporter of anything dubbed "Fair" because I'm smart enough to realize that there isn't such thing.  However, I know something that isn't "fair" and that is laws that demand more from some than from others, for completely arbitrary and meaningless reasons.

But that seems to be the rule you live by.

And?  I never seen anyone so happy to tax other people.

Maybe now you should focus on how we will pay for all the democrats social programs.

What you overlook, Gene, is that there is a segment of our wealthy who can afford to live off of their assets. They could live quite comfortably without producing another cent of income.

What a national sales tax would do, is tax their CONSUMPTION. And before you say that a consumption tax is regressive, look at who is paying the most. A $10,000 plasma screen TV nets 100 times the revenue of a $100 CRT television set.

I'll concede that the "fair tax" isn't perfect, but neither is our current system. And at least Fair tax proponents are DISCUSSING the issue!

Reply By: Island DogPosted: Thursday, November 29, 2007Their taxes would be cut in half!And? I never seen anyone so happy to tax other people.Maybe now you should focus on how we will pay for all the democrats social programs.

First, What I posted is correct. This plan will REDUCE the taxes on the upper income Americans and increase the taxes on the low and middle income Americans!

Second, I have said many times I do not support NEW spending programs until we have balanced the current budget AND begun paying down the National debt.

The ONLY way to balance the budget and begin paying down the debt is to cut spending and increase tax revenue from upper income tax payers. We do need to simplify the tax code which will mean getting rid of tax breaks to special interest groups who for the most part are the wealthy taxpayers. Low and middle income taxpayers have access to only the basic deductions such as exemptions for the tax payers and their children, Real Estate taxes, chartable donations and interest on mortgages. The lower tax rates for dividend and capital gains do not help most middle income taxpayers.

Why don't we just take what you call "the rich" and have them flogged every second Tuesday of the week, just to make sure they understand suffering?

No just ask them too pay a little more from their wealth so we can pay for the programs that help the majority and enable us to keep the promises we have made to our retired workers!

Second, I have said many times I do not support NEW spending programs until we have balanced the current budget AND begun paying down the National debt.

But you do support spending more money on medical care for children, medical care for elderly and retired, and a host of other programs so you are being incredibly disingenuous and showing, yet again, what a bitter old coot you can be.

You aren't "asking" anything of them, you want it set up so they will be imprisoned for not "paying a little more".

What promise have we made to our retired workers? We never promised them health, wealth or that they could maintain their standard of living. We only promised them a stipend called "Social Security"... and that promise was always contingent on what was in the system when they retired.

Social Security has never been a guarantee, neither has Medicare... for that matter, being able to keep working until retirement age has never been guaranteed either.

Quit demanding the government make up the difference between what we hope for and what actually happens.

Reply | Edit | DeleteReply By: ParaTed2kPosted: Thursday, November 29, 2007You aren't "asking" anything of them, you want it set up so they will be imprisoned for not "paying a little more".What promise have we made to our retired workers? We never promised them health, wealth or that they could maintain their standard of living. We only promised them a stipend called "Social Security"... and that promise was always contingent on what was in the system when they retired. Social Security has never been a guarantee, neither has Medicare... for that matter, being able to keep working until retirement age has never been guaranteed either.Quit demanding the government make up the difference between what we hope for and what actually happens.

YOU are DEAD WRONG. There is a promise to honor BOTH Social Security and Medicare. Try and sell YOUR BS to the majority of the VOTERS. ANY Member of Congress that would not insure these two plans are fully paid will be gone!!!! Today a person making $50,000 pays about 6.25% in Social Security taxes. A person making $200,000 only pays a little over 3%. The rich get away with paying less and the middle income and poor pay more!

The "Fair Tax is the same BS plan!

Reply By: terpfan1980Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007Second, I have said many times I do not support NEW spending programs until we have balanced the current budget AND begun paying down the National debt.But you do support spending more money on medical care for children, medical care for elderly and retired, and a host of other programs so you are being incredibly disingenuous and showing, yet again, what a bitter old coot you can be.

That was paid for with a tax on Cigarettes.

Who pays the tax on Cigarettes? Rich people?

Also, you seem to live in a world where the rich actually pay taxes. Here's a big tip for you - the rich don't pay ANY taxes. They get the poor people to pay their taxes for them, by firing them to save money and make up what they would pay in taxes. So raising taxes on the rich is just making the poor pay. Because rich people aren't stupid. They will find a way to keep their money.

By the way, ColGene,

While I disagree with you on this position, I appreciate you posting this particular topic for discussion. It's a good topic for discussion, and I'd like to see you address more meaty issues like this. It's a refreshing change from your usual fare.

Sure gene.




You are really a hypocrite gene.  You were the one complaining about s-chip, and you support democrats who all want more social programs.  I think you just like complaining.



It's not the only way, and you have been shown this countless times.  Just because you choose to ignore it isn't my problem.




Oh what BS!  Why does everyone need "help"?  All you want gene is for successful Americans to pay for lazy people, plain and simple. 



The "rich", that you have such a jealousy for, have the majority of tax burden in this country.

Socialism doesn't work gene, understand that.

Reply By: JythierPosted: Thursday, November 29, 2007Who pays the tax on Cigarettes? Rich people?

Who ever is dumb enough to smoke Ricn and Poor like.

Reply By: JythierPosted: Thursday, November 29, 2007Also, you seem to live in a world where the rich actually pay taxes. Here's a big tip for you - the rich don't pay ANY taxes. They get the poor people to pay their taxes for them, by firing them to save money and make up what they would pay in taxes. So raising taxes on the rich is just making the poor pay. Because rich people aren't stupid. They will find a way to keep their money.

That is why we need to remove all the special interest provisions, increase the threshold where the AMT takes effect to a point where it does not impact the middle income tax payers and make it impossible for the wealthy to avoid paying taxes. There are also many small business owners that cheat on their taxes by charging personal items and work to their company. They keep cash payments and do not report the income and then claim the Acc Rec. is open and get a second bite by deducting it from any revenue they do report. That is why Bush reducing the number of IRS agents was not a smart move! At a time when we are running a deficit we should insure that as many as possible are paying their taxes.

You are really a hypocrite gene. You were the one complaining about s-chip, and you support democrats who all want more social programs. I think you just like complaining.

That was paid for by a tax on cigaretts

It's not the only way, and you have been shown this countless times. Just because you choose to ignore it isn't my problem.

You are wrong and I have shown you that. There is not enough in the discretionary section of the budget to balance the budget and begin paying down the National Debt!