Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:27:49 +0100

Arguably taxation is the price we pay to live in an orderly society. The less tax we pay, the fewer services there are, the larger the underclass becomes, and ordinary living becomes more dangerous.

We should pay more tax. We should give the people at the bottom of our society something to loose. People with something to loose tend to become law abiding. That makes it better for everyone.

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:01:21 +0100

the current system, while ridiculously complex, is probably best suited to achieve current and future commitments, while distributing the burden in a fair manner.

Sadly, taxex are little more than a political tool these days (summer gas tax holiday, tax cuts during deficit spending) leaving politicians on both side hollering for reform.

The real answer is to allow the market to solve as many problems as it can, give government enough money to solve the other problems, and make the government spend money in a responsible manner. Servicing the debt will become an increasing problem, tempered only by equally dangerous inflation due to the fed's monetary policy of increasing the money supply whenever there's a problem. Wealthy conservatives who see the tax system as their greatest enemy fail to recognize that inflation is probably a bigger threat to their wealth, and the current administration's inflationary policies are probably surprisingly progressive given they reward the poor (pay back today's debt in tomorrow's dollars) and punish the rich (today's wealth is devalued in tomorrow's dollars).

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:11:25 +0100

state intervention is the reason why you have taxes in the first place. as in the case of health, when you use the money raised through taxes to pay the private sector for *not* doing what it is supposed to do, or as in the case of diplomacy, to send missiles and troupes, followed by humanitarian assistance, such a debate on tax reforms, would remain but a red herring.

It would be healthy to have a parallel debate or two.

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:59:59 +0100

Tax is almost an issue of social engineering. Before you can reform the tax system you have to have some form of consensus about what sort of country your want to be. I dont think that America is capable of having that sort of conversation with itself.

RO

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:11:20 +0100

Sorry, health care is an individual's responsibility. I don't want the tax levels of Canada!

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:08:28 +0100

For the amount of taxes we pay, it is almost criminal that we do not have health care. I would have no problem with the taxes we pay were there health care.

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:55:34 +0100

Yes. Given the amount of money I just paid to Uncle Sam, something has to change. Maybe a national sales tax which seems market friendly on its face, and reflects consumer confidence. I'd be curious to hear arguments for the "fair" or "flat" tax which Huckabee and Steve Forbes ever really seemed to explain clearly enough to the voting public.

Comment on: Should we rethink income tax?

Bigthink — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:46:27 +0100

Find me a nation sans tax and I'll find you a unicorn.