Is the Purpose of Taxes to Raise Revenue or Punish the Rich?

Oh it's much worse than that. Our current tax code is nothing more than an attempt to micromanage human political and economic and social behavior. It also codifies corruption.

 

But the very system you love is what causes the very situation of which you complain. HIgh taxes do not destratify wealth they concentrate it. You should also note that Prince John was the government and Robinhood was the first tax rebater.

 

It's a moot point. There will be no tax reform.

The Clown Prince can't put anything thorough and comprehensive together.

And Congress can't review it with any degree of unity.

 

Which would be a MASSIVE tax increase for everyone but the top 5% or so and a big tax cut for the wealthy.

 

I would love to see proof of those assertions

 

If you want to win, you must compete, not complain because others are running while you walk and calling it unfair. The opportunity for wealth is basically open to all, but many just can't set their priorities and make consistently sound decisions to get there. This is a self-discipline issue that nobody can fix for you- you must do it yourself. It's easier to blame those who have performed than it is to admit that you haven't. So, wealth- the prize in the game that you are surely entitled to- must have been stolen by those who have it. Much more comfortable rationality.

The wealthy already support many times their share of expenses, are the majority source of funds for charities and environmental projects, and still- the whiners who are being subsidized so heavily say the wealthy just aren't doing their part.

Giving people money does not make them rich- because they will squander it without the discipline to take care of it. It also does not promote self-reliance or self-esteem; indeed it makes people dependent and resentful. I've tried to teach many people how to become rich, but most can't hear what is said because they already know everything. Lots of criticism, no performance... and they won't learn.

If you can't do it on your own- you don't know how to do it. If you can't learn from those who know how to do it- chances are you will never know.

If you had invested $1K with Buffet in 1970, it would now be worth 4.7 Mil, without adding a dime. I will be seeing Buffet May 6th at the shareholders meeting;
absolutely brilliant man who has helped hundreds of thousands of people become rich, and you don't have to be a genius- just make it more important to invest in your future rather than in a new car or boat.

 

Got a better explanation for having a tax code several times as long as Tolstoy's "War and Peace" and no where near as well written that is literally festooned copious set asides for engaging in this or that behavior?

 

Not if there were no loopholes or deductions the wealthy could use. I have no problem with people using the current tax code to pay less in taxes if it is legal. When I pay taxes I take all deductions legally allowed so as not to pay more then is required, why is it wrong for rich people to do the same?

 

It is not over yet. Never count your chickens before they have hatched.

 

You couldn't be more wrong..

 

Actually no that would have been only one founding father a fairly influential one early on but one of the few that wasn't involved in writing the constitution and one of very few who died a pauper. The Original constitution had to be amended in 1916 before the government could do an income tax. And never forget the chief accomplishment of screwing the rich is the buggering of the middle class.

 

When it was pointed out to Obama that a lower tax rate would actually increase tax revenue, he didn't care. He wanted higher rates simply "to punish" higher earners, even if it meant less revenue for the government.

 

The typical Republican/conservative/whatever wants to live free, pay no taxes but SUCK up all the benefits that some mystical "other" pays for...they never got out of "mom's basement".... they want to USE but don't want to pay for what they use, they want no taxes...they want everything for free, handed to them like spoiled children who don't want to earn what they get....they truly do want the HOME OF THE FREE, free benefits for them.... they want the magic fairy to build their freeways and bridges and courthouse and government buildings and preserve the safety of the water they drink and for GAWD'S sake no regulation of the food we eat (that cost money doncha know), let the magic fairy watch over our food and drugs, we'll be fine... and we'll dissolve our military 'cause we don't have to pay no &^$@$% taxes .. ...la la laaa lal al la laa la

 

The middle class and poor pay no more that about 15% effective tax rate now and that's WITH a hefty mortgage deduction.

You have no idea what you're talking about

 

They pay 13% of their pay in FICA alone.

 

I always love it when you guys put up "the typical liberal". It's cyclical really. They need to raise revenue for the government through taxes and in doing so end up punishing the rich. They are fine with sacrificing liberty for equality, whereas you guys are fine with sacrificing liberty for security.

I would retort that you aren't very practical and just want to punish liberals. But I digress.

 

Good.

 

Thus speaks the Republican Party

 

Yeah, there are over 23,000,000 government workers in the United States. We don't see any reason they should be paid, we just want to do nothing more than punish the rich!! Duuuuhhhhhhhhhh!

 

I'm not a member of any political party.

 

You have been brainwashed by the rw media. We have a ridiculous separation of wealth in this country. It is shameful.

 

Now flip that chart to show us who pays all the taxes... sure as F not the bottom half.

 

Mostly true. The left doesn't want to punish the rich per se, they just want their money so they can redistribute it.

 

Obviously they don't pay nearly enough taxes to offset a ridiculous disparity.

Are you arguing that the top 1% work 100 times harder?

 

Do you know the expected result of dramatic wealth disparity?

In France they chopped off the heads of anyone who didn't have callouses. Here we literally saw people with pitchforks heading for the homes of executives of AIG, during the crash, in 2008.

Was it ever intended that the top few percent would own almost everything? Is that what you call the American dream?

As manufacturing is lost, as we have to compete with countries where workers earn a fraction what workers here do, as mom and pop shops disappear and online business is scooped up by Amazon, as the trades disappear, what is to stop the now runaway train that drives all wealth to the top and decimates the middle class?