Why are people so against taxes?

[JYD]

I've always pondered this question...I just don't get it. This is not the Revolutionary War times. Taxes build schools, that turf field for your high school football, soccer, and field hockey team, and roads that YOU travel on EVERYDAY.

 

But it seems like everybody is ALWAYS complaining about taxes...as if that money just goes to the the Devil.

 

I understand that sometimes taxes get out of control, and I understand that the MIDDLE/LOWER CLASS needs a BREAK...but what is up with these Tea Party morons saying we need to limit/get rid of them...

 

And yes, I understand that there is wasteful spending, ON BOTH SIDES (Repubs and Dems, so you Republicans can stop acting like Democrats are the only ones running up the deficit. Because last time I checked, Clinton had record surplus' and a booming economy. Under Bush, a trilion dollars of debt to fund that stupid [expletive]ing war...So lets stop acting like JUST Democrats have wasteful spending and are contributing to the deficit. It has been, and always will be both sides of the gov't at fault. Just need to clear that up.)

[Nitro]

How old are you? When you're of age to pay taxes and realize a huge portion of your annual salary is going to a government that is not spending all of its taxpayer money in beneficial ways, then you'll understand why people complain.

[JYD]

How old are you? When you're of age to pay taxes and realize a huge portion of your annual salary is going to a government that is not spending all of its taxpayer money in beneficial ways, then you'll understand why people complain.

lol...that's not my point. I realize it sucks when you get your check and there's money taken out for taxes. But what people fail to realize is that it goes to services that people take for granted.

 

For example, when my High School wanted to build a turf field the past few years, everyone was up in arms over the tax increase for a new turf field...when it would raise taxes $50 dollars a year for the next 5 years for all the families in the town.

[EastCoastNiner]

lol...that's not my point. I realize it sucks when you get your check and there's money taken out for taxes. But what people fail to realize is that it goes to services that people take for granted.

 

For example, when my High School wanted to build a turf field the past few years, everyone was up in arms over the tax increase for a new turf field...when it would raise taxes $50 dollars a year for the next 5 years for all the families in the town.

 

I don't think taxes are bad, but don't screw hard working people that make a lot of money out of their earnings. I understand that taxes pay for things, but they are often used for stupid [expletive].

 

And, if $50 isn't much, then there's no excuse for the family that had its house burned down not to have paid the $75.

[Nitro]

lol...that's not my point. I realize it sucks when you get your check and there's money taken out for taxes. But what people fail to realize is that it goes to services that people take for granted.

 

Read my post more carefully. Of course the majority of taxes are needed and will help benefit society. The issue is that a good chuck of our money is going towards things that come with little to no benefit whatsoever, and that is where people start to [expletive]. How the government allocates its money is where debate comes (i.e- pumping money into war as opposed to education, when we are currently 25th in the world in education).

 

For example, when my High School wanted to build a turf field the past few years, everyone was up in arms over the tax increase for a new turf field...when it would raise taxes $50 dollars a year for the next 5 years for all the families in the town.

 

That's $250 per family for a new turf, and as it is many families are living paycheck to paycheck. If it isn't necessary, which it probably isn't, then I don't see the issue with delaying the new turf.

[Flash]

Taxes aren't bad because they're a necessary part of life in America. However, I think its ridiculous to increase taxes on those who are making over 250K a year when the majority of that bracket are small business owners who create tons of jobs. Taxing them more limits their revenue which in turn limits the amount of people they can employ.

 

We also have a ton of people who don't pay taxes here either which just adds to the animosity people have towards higher taxes.

 

What are you guys' thoughts on a flat tax? I've heard that idea floating around several times before but I never really looked into its benefits.

[fish7718]

Taxes aren't bad because they're a necessary part of life in America. However, I think its ridiculous to increase taxes on those who are making over 250K a year when the majority of that bracket are small business owners who create tons of jobs. Taxing them more limits their revenue which in turn limits the amount of people they can employ.

 

We also have a ton of people who don't pay taxes here either which just adds to the animosity people have towards higher taxes.

 

What are you guys' thoughts on a flat tax? I've heard that idea floating around several times before but I never really looked into its benefits.

I love the people who make over 250K and complain about getting more taxes. Just goes to show you selfish and cold hearted America really is.

[EastCoastNiner]

I love the people who make over 250K and complain about getting more taxes. Just goes to show you selfish and cold hearted America really is.

 

You do realize that $250k isn't THAT much in today's society? Yes, it's more than the "average" person, but it's not nearly as much as you're trying to make it sound.

 

With paying for homes, colleges, ect, it's really not nearly the amount you're trying to make it sound. Would a homeless person or very poor person love to make that? Yes, but it's really not a ton of money nowadays.

Edited October 18, 2010 by EastCoastNiner

[Flash]

I love the people who make over 250K and complain about getting more taxes. Just goes to show you selfish and cold hearted America really is.

 

Yeah, so cold-hearted that those people are the ones who create the most jobs through small businesses. You're still taking more away from their hard earned money than you should be. Whether its a 2% or 10% increase they're still losing money.

[Guru]

If you are making 250 K a year that is a lot of [expletive]ing money.

The average American makes about 40 K, that is a [expletive]ing 625% increase.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Guru™

[fish7718]

You do realize that $250k isn't THAT much in today's society? Yes, it's more than the "average" person, but it's not nearly as much as you're trying to make it sound.

 

With paying for homes, colleges, ect, it's really not nearly the amount you're trying to make it sound. Would a homeless person or very poor person love to make that? Yes, but it's really not a ton of money nowadays.

I didn't realize I mad it sound like you hit the lotto, but you make it sound like nothing.

 

250k is lower upper class. No doubt about it.

 

 

Yeah, so cold-hearted that those people are the ones who create the most jobs through small businesses. You're still taking more away from their hard earned money than you should be. Whether its a 2% or 10% increase they're still losing money.

LOL, yeah I'm sure they are creating jobs because they care. More like they are creating jobs so people can go make money for them. Don't try to candy coat [expletive]. Losing money? Their money is being reinvested in the nation, and used to make schools, fire departments, get the country out of a recession. If you have more to give back than you should give back. Plain and simple.

 

250k isn't rich, but in 10 years that's 2.5 million, trust me those people aren't too bad off.

[Flash]

If you have more to give back than you should give back. Plain and simple.

 

They already give back more than anyone else does. Now you're saying in a time of recession and a poor economy its smart to raise their taxes? That makes absolutely no sense.

 

LOL, yeah I'm sure they are creating jobs because they care. More like they are creating jobs so people can go make money for them.

 

Them creating those jobs, whether they care or not, provides a job and a paycheck for countless Americans. Increasing their taxes limits their ability to do that.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Flash

[EastCoastNiner]

If you are making 250 K a year that is a lot of [expletive]ing money.

The average American makes about 40 K, that is a [expletive]ing 625% increase.

 

It's really not THAT much money. It's not like you hit it big if you make $250k. Would many people love to make that much money? Sure. Is it an extraordinary amount of money? No, not at all.

 

The average income takes into account the many, many people that are working minimum wage jobs that may not have graduated high school and that completely skews the entire scale.

 

Also, you need to take into account where in the country you are living, as it make a HUGE difference with how much $250k can get you.

 

Again, you can live comfortably off of it, but it's not an amazing amount.

Edited October 18, 2010 by EastCoastNiner

[Flash]

It's really not THAT much money. It's not like you hit it big if you make $250k. Would many people love to make that much money? Sure. Is it an extraordinary amount of money? No, not at all.

 

The average income takes into account the many, many people that are working minimum wage jobs that may not have graduated high school and that completely skews the entire scale.

Also, you need to take into account where in the country you are living, as it make a HUGE difference with how much $250k can get you.

 

Again, you can live comfortably off of it, but it's not an amazing amount.

 

Definitely a huge part in how well you can live off of 250k. I know in Miami it ain't gonna get you anything special but you can live off of it in a decent neighborhood.

 

And like he said, it really isn't a huge amount of money once you take taxes into account and all your other expenses.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Flash

[Nitro]

Yeah, so cold-hearted that those people are the ones who create the most jobs through small businesses. You're still taking more away from their hard earned money than you should be. Whether its a 2% or 10% increase they're still losing money.

 

Stop making it seem like the majority of people who make about 250K are small business owners...it's just not the case. A small percentage of those people are small business owners, yes, but then you have a crapload of doctors, lawyers and a whole mess of other people with a huge variety of jobs. That money is going into their pockets, not for helping others get jobs.

 

And I don't see the logic of taxing the average Joe, who makes 40K per year, the same as people making 250K+. Those making 250K+ will still live life rather lavishly and will be able to afford their bills as well as the necessary accomidations for thesmelves and their familites, regardless of being taxed more than those struggling to meet end's meet on the average American's salary.

[EastCoastNiner]

So, just because somebody has worked hard and can afford to pay more in taxes means that they should be required to?

[Nitro]

So, just because somebody has worked hard and can afford to pay more in taxes means that they should be required to?

 

You don't think people working 2, 3 jobs just to get food on their table for their family in a tiny apartment deserve a bit of a tax break over those who have a big surplus of money even after acquiring those basic necesseties? Just because one doesn't have a family who can afford to put them through college, or didn't do particularly well in high school does NOT mean they are working any less hard than those making 250K.

[Guest The REAL STL10]

Question...

 

Who works harder?

 

The single guy with 3 minimum wage jobs who is trying to support his infant son or....

 

The CEO who makes 75 million a year, but just made his company go bankrupt and cause a lot of people to lose their jobs while he golfs every Wednesday, and flies his personal airplane on the weekends...

Edited October 18, 2010 by The REAL STL10

[OSUBucksfan09]

The problem is Nitro for every case like you said, there are cases the exact opposite way.

A flat tax is the only thing fair, where everyone is required to pay the same percentage of the money they earn. But it will never happen because with 50 percent of Americans not paying any taxes, the government would have no one to get the amount of money for their new projects that they require.

I don't get though how people are like so you are saying in this case that ....

I mean, the problem is that the system no matter what side you see it from is not fair. It never will be and the best thing you can do is understand that.

America was built off big business, and continues to go as big business goes, no matter what the government or anyone else tries to make you think.

Sad truth, but back to taxes, i feel taxes are something really subjective. Sure I am going to have to pay them, but the fact that I have had to yet did not have even the opportunity to vote in the last election and am living under a representative that is not mine, or I had no impact upsets me, as well as the fact I have to pay taxes for things that I don't want, let alone think are wrong.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling just my two cents on a lot of stuff.

 

 

Oh and The Real STL10, who works harder the person with 6 kids who benefits from all the welfare and still doesn't spend it on there kids or the CEO of a small company who with hard work now makes 300k but now has to be taxed more for it.

My point- Leave ridiculous situations/ exceptions out of comparison, all they are are exaggerations to one side or the other.

Edited October 18, 2010 by OSUBucksfan09

[Guest The REAL STL10]

The problem is Nitro for every case like you said, there are cases the exact opposite way.

A flat tax is the only thing fair, where everyone is required to pay the same percentage of the money they earn. But it will never happen because with 50 percent of Americans not paying any taxes, the government would have no one to get the amount of money for their new projects that they require.

I don't get though how people are like so you are saying in this case that ....

I mean, the problem is that the system no matter what side you see it from is not fair. It never will be and the best thing you can do is understand that.

America was built off big business, and continues to go as big business goes, no matter what the government or anyone else tries to make you think.

Sad truth, but back to taxes, i feel taxes are something really subjective. Sure I am going to have to pay them, but the fact that I have had to yet did not have even the opportunity to vote in the last election and am living under a representative that is not mine, or I had no impact upsets me, as well as the fact I have to pay taxes for things that I don't want, let alone think are wrong.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling just my two cents on a lot of stuff.

 

 

Oh and The Real STL10, who works harder the person with 6 kids who benefits from all the welfare and still doesn't spend it on there kids or the CEO of a small company who with hard work now makes 300k but now has to be taxed more for it.

My point- Leave ridiculous situations/ exceptions out of comparison, all they are are exaggerations to one side or the other.

 

 

The problem with a "flat tax" is that wealthy people define "income" as a far lower percentage of their gross income than the middle class, working class and poor. So it's effectively extremely regressive.

The flat tax as proposed by American conservatives is wildly regressive because it does have enormous loopholes. No taxation of capital gains and none of inheritance.

 

The state and local tax burden on America’s rich, after taking the federal offset into account, is 5.2 percent.

Middle-income families — to be precise, those families who make up the middle fifth of America’s income distribution pay, after the federal offset, 9.4 percent of their incomes in total state and local taxes. Tax collectors take 10.9 percent of the incomes of households in the nation’s bottom 20 percent, more than double the share they take from the incomes of the nation’s top 1 percent.

The flat tax is set up by the rich, for the RICH!

Oh, and LOL at calling my situation ridiculous.

Have you not seen the former BP CEO who was GOLFING and in his YACHT during the crisis!?

Edited October 18, 2010 by The REAL STL10

[Poe]

For a second I thought the thread title said: "Why are people so against Texas?"

[fish7718]

It's really not THAT much money. It's not like you hit it big if you make $250k. Would many people love to make that much money? Sure. Is it an extraordinary amount of money? No, not at all.

 

The average income takes into account the many, many people that are working minimum wage jobs that may not have graduated high school and that completely skews the entire scale.

 

Also, you need to take into account where in the country you are living, as it make a HUGE difference with how much $250k can get you.

 

Again, you can live comfortably off of it, but it's not an amazing amount.

 

 

Definitely a huge part in how well you can live off of 250k. I know in Miami it ain't gonna get you anything special but you can live off of it in a decent neighborhood.

 

And like he said, it really isn't a huge amount of money once you take taxes into account and all your other expenses.

You guys are insane, 250 K is not gold bars and Lamborghini's but 250k will get you a nice big house with a 2 car garage, 2-3 family cars and vacation home and will support a family of 5 just fine.

 

40k isn't great but it is enough to support yourself with a middle class life. 120k is about what it takes for a middle class family to be supported.

 

[expletive]ing greed man, pathetic.

[Real Deal]

Leaving out weekends, a person can work 261 days a year (paid holidays, vacations). Typical eight-hour day (giving them 40 hours a week, full-time)...

 

That's 2,088 hours a year.

 

$250,000 a year, working full-time, 40 hours a week?

 

That's $119.73 an hour. It's $20,833 a month.

 

Does anyone here touch that? Anyone here have parents that make that money?

 

So how does $250,000 a year compare to $40,000? Well, whoever is making $250k can make that $40k in two months, six times quicker than the $40k worker.

 

The fact is, $250,000 is a LOT of money. It's 1/4 of a million dollars, in just one year. It's nearly $120 an hour. Don't try to sugar-coat it.

[Flash]

You guys are insane, 250 K is not gold bars and Lamborghini's but 250k will get you a nice big house with a 2 car garage, 2-3 family cars and vacation home and will support a family of 5 just fine.

 

A vacation home? Highly unlikely. Maybe if you have 250k left over after taxes you can think about a vacation home.

[Flash]

The fact is, $250,000 is a LOT of money. It's 1/4 of a million dollars, in just one year. It's nearly $120 an hour. Don't try to sugar-coat it.

 

If you have 250k left over after taxes that's enough to live comfortably, I agree. However, taking into account all the taxes on a 250k income and other expenses then that 250k doesn't look like as much as it did before.

Edited October 18, 2010 by Flash