Huntsman's Economic Plan

[barfo]

Flat tax. Everyone pays the same percentage of their income. Seems fair to me.

A flat tax that raised the same amount of revenue as the current system would likely mean tax increases for everyone making less than $200k/year.

barfo

 

[barfo]

The republicans aren't my buddies.

Oh, right. The republicans aren't your buddies. You just happen to agree with them on pretty much every issue of the day, but you're a libertarian, dammit! It's completely different!

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

Oh, right. The republicans aren't your buddies. You just happen to agree with them on pretty much every issue of the day, but you're a libertarian, dammit! It's completely different!

barfo

I don't agree with them on religion, on gay rights, on abortion, on policing the borders, on their military spending, on their spending in general...

 

[Denny Crane]

A flat tax that raised the same amount of revenue as the current system would likely mean tax increases for everyone making less than $200k/year.

barfo

So what? Weren't you just posting the other day about how paying taxes is part of being in society?

 

[barfo]

I don't agree with them on religion, on gay rights, on abortion, on policing the borders, on their military spending, on their spending in general...

What party does your hero Ron Paul belong to? Doesn't he disagree with them on those things too?

barfo

 

[barfo]

So what? Weren't you just posting the other day about how paying taxes is part of being in society?

I think it is interesting to look at who wins and loses under a tax reform proposal, don't you?

Any tax reform, there will be winners and losers. In the flat tax proposal, those making less than $200K are losers, and those making more than $200K are winners.

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

What party does your hero Ron Paul belong to? Doesn't he disagree with them on those things too?

barfo

You got me. I favor one republican. I've voted for more democrats in my lifetime than republicans, and by a big margin. However, I always felt it was a mistake within a short time of doing so.

 

[Denny Crane]

I think it is interesting to look at who wins and loses under a tax reform proposal, don't you?

Any tax reform, there will be winners and losers. In the flat tax proposal, those making less than $200K are losers, and those making more than $200K are winners.

barfo

Anyone who pays taxes are losers.

That aside, the people who I suggest pay $100 in income tax are already paying 15% in FICA payroll deductions. You don't seem to mind.

 

[barfo]

Anyone who pays taxes are losers.

That's amusing.

That aside, the people who I suggest pay $100 in income tax are already paying 15% in FICA payroll deductions.

Actually, they aren't, because there was a cut of 2% in the SSI rate, over the objections of the Republicans.

You don't seem to mind.

What gives you that erroneous idea?

barfo

 

[barfo]

You got me. I favor one republican. I've voted for more democrats in my lifetime than republicans, and by a big margin. However, I always felt it was a mistake within a short time of doing so.

Kind of a slow learner, huh?

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

That's amusing.



Actually, they aren't, because there was a cut of 2% in the SSI rate, over the objections of the Republicans.



What gives you that erroneous idea?

barfo

You said there were winners and losers in any tax scheme. The losers must be the ones paying actual taxes.

But I know what you mean.... it's really a privilege and a joy to pay taxes, since the rewards we get from government are so great.

 

[Denny Crane]

Kind of a slow learner, huh?

barfo

I'm not unhappy with Jerry Brown yet.

 

[barfo]

You said there were winners and losers in any tax scheme. The losers must be the ones paying actual taxes.

But I know what you mean.... it's really a privilege and a joy to pay taxes, since the rewards we get from government are so great.

It's better than the alternative. No one likes to pay taxes, not even me. Some of us realize it's our duty as members of society, and that there are benefits, intangible if not tangible, to doing so. Some of us don't.

barfo

 

[barfo]

I'm not unhappy with Jerry Brown yet.

I'm not either, so I guess we agree on something, anyway.

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

It's better than the alternative. No one likes to pay taxes, not even me. Some of us realize it's our duty as members of society, and that there are benefits, intangible if not tangible, to doing so. Some of us don't.

barfo

So all I'm saying is it should be EVERYONE's duty. Especially if everyone is going to vote, serve in the military (if drafted), etc.

 

[barfo]

So all I'm saying is it should be EVERYONE's duty. Especially if everyone is going to vote, serve in the military (if drafted), etc.

Well, tax the poor, and you will either make them poorer (which isn't really a good outcome in my opinion) or you have to provide them with some benefit that makes up for the tax. I'm quite sure you'll agree that taking money from the poor in tax and giving it back to them through some other program is less efficient than just leaving them alone in the first place.

As for being drafted, I'm not sure why being drafted should mean that you have to pay taxes?

As for voting, I guess we could reinstate the poll tax, keep those damn poor people from cluttering up our polling places. Or we could take it a step further: $100 to vote, and you can vote as many times as you can pay.

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, tax the poor, and you will either make them poorer (which isn't really a good outcome in my opinion) or you have to provide them with some benefit that makes up for the tax. I'm quite sure you'll agree that taking money from the poor in tax and giving it back to them through some other program is less efficient than just leaving them alone in the first place.

As for being drafted, I'm not sure why being drafted should mean that you have to pay taxes?

As for voting, I guess we could reinstate the poll tax, keep those damn poor people from cluttering up our polling places. Or we could take it a step further: $100 to vote, and you can vote as many times as you can pay.

barfo

How about we tax them $100 and give them 100 weeks of unemployment instead of 99 weeks, to go with their new free health care?

I'm not suggesting a poll tax. I'm suggesting an income tax that, you know, people who have income pay.

Drafted? If you have skin in the game, you might think twice about eating your $100 to pay for the war in the first place. It's hard to complain that your tax money is being misspent if you don't pay any tax.

 

[julius]

How about we tax them $100 and give them 100 weeks of unemployment instead of 99 weeks, to go with their new free health care?

I'm not suggesting a poll tax. I'm suggesting an income tax that, you know, people who have income pay.

damn poor people and their not having jobs.

 

[Denny Crane]

damn poor people and their not having jobs.

http://taxes.about.com/od/income/qt/Unemployment.htm

Unemployment benefits are taxable income for federal income taxes, although states usually exempt unemployment benefits from state income taxes.

For 2009 only, the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits will be exempt from federal income taxes, due to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Benefits in excess of this amount are still subject to federal income taxes.

 

[julius]

http://taxes.about.com/od/income/qt/Unemployment.htm

Unemployment benefits are taxable income for federal income taxes, although states usually exempt unemployment benefits from state income taxes.

For 2009 only, the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits will be exempt from federal income taxes, due to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Benefits in excess of this amount are still subject to federal income taxes.

damn poor people and their not having jobs.

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, the unemployment benefits are taxable. Seems like that would make them poorer, no?

 

[huevonkiller]

No doubt.