Can anyone explain to me why we shouldn't have a flat tax in the United States?
Posted Mar 18, 2011, 11:47 PM UTC
114
We've had this question asked at least 2 times this week. Perhaps doing a search in the search bar to the right is appropriate?
3
Can anyone explain to me why so many people think the only tax in the US is the federal income tax?
My wife and I make less than 80K a year between the two of us. We paid out approximately 35 - 40% of that in taxes last year.
The flat tax rates talked about by proponents of the flat tax would rape my ass and leave me bleeding in a back room at a frat house party while the rapers high five each other after their latest scam to reduce their taxes.
Don't drink the flat tax kool-aid. The flat tax is advocated primarily by the wealthy and those who have drank the kool-aid. The wealthy know they would be better off (because the flat tax would be about what they are paying on capital gains), and their little minions would continue to believe that they will someday be rich if only the rich of today get what they want.
2
If the percentage was the same for everyone, how would that only benefit the rich?
-1
I assume you are talking about the federal income tax, right? So unless the flat tax is going to be 35% they will benefit greatly from a flat tax rate.
1
Alright, so what if it was 35%?
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Then that is a 25% hike for me, plus I still have to pay all the other taxes I pay all the freaking time, leaving me ass-raped in the back room of a frat house.
1
Say the flat tax is 10%.
You make $40,000 per year, so you end up with $36,000.
Another guy makes $400,000 per year, so he ends up with $360,000.
It’s far easier to make ends meet with $360,000 than with $36,000; the guy who makes $400,000 would not have any problem living with a 50% tax rate whilst you would be almost kicked back to poverty.
1
there are a lot of reasons, but mainly because we have to. When there is as big a disparity in wealth as we have here between the rich and the poor, the rich simply have to be taxed more. The rate would have to be high enough that it would instantly send millions of americans into poverty.
2
Because it will hurt the poorer people and fail to provide enough revenue. The poor cannot afford to pay, say, 10% income tax, but the very rich can afford to pay 70% income tax.
2
I'm not flat, I'm big-boned!
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Charlie Sheen.
1
Being able to manipulate taxes seems more likely to benefit the rich.
1
Variable costs of living in each state/county/city. Variable costs to run the local or state governments. Need I go on?
Yes. Please go on.