A symbolic issue what (CA) Republicans are about

[Craig234]

The Republican tactic of talking the populist talk while actually representing the very wealthy against the public interest usually works, but sometimes it's harder for them to hide.

In California, there was a bill to repeal a loophole for the wealthy, allowing them to avoid sales taxes for the purchase of yachts and similar ultra-luxury purchases.

This is at a time of a 'budget crisis' when large cuts are being made to schools and programs for the poor.

Who opposed the repeal of the loophole to let the wealthy escape paying sales tax like everyone else? Nearly all the Republicans in the Assembly (one of the two houses).

The repeal had passed the Senate (and even had some Republicans there, with Gov. Schwarzeneggar, support it), but the Republicans in the Assembly voted no or abstained.

Unfortunately, this is one of those measures that falls under misguided rules requiring a two thirds vote, and so even though democrats have a majority, Republicans blocked it.

This does expose their priorities, though, for all the rhetoric to the contrary, and should provide a clue to some who fall for that rhetoric.

Link

 

[Arkaign]

Disgusting.

 

[Fern]

Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

Sorry, it worked for me and I don't subscribe. Here are a couple others:

Link 2

Link 3

Assembly Republicans blocked an attempt to ease the state's revenue woes by forcing the wealthy to pay sales tax on yachts, private planes and recreational vehicles, a move that would have boosted state coffers by about $21 million a year.

 

[blackangst1]

Good thing this wont affect rich Democrats like Kerry 😉

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

 

[GroundedSailor]

I'll just quote what Thomas Frank says on page 7 of his book, What's the Matter With Kansas, about how the conservatives fool the average people. His comments are telling.

The trick never ages; the illusion never wears off. Vote to stop abortion; receive a rollback in capital gains tax, Vote to make our country strong again; receive deindustrialization. Vote to screw those politically correct college professors; receive electricity deregulation. Vote to get government off our backs; receive conglomeration and monopoly everywhere from the media to meatpacking. Vote to stand tall against terrorists; receive Social Security privatization. Vote to strike a blow against elitism; receive a social order in which wealth is more concentrated than ever before in our lifetimes, in which workers have been stripped of power and CEOs are rewarded in a manner beyond imagining.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

Seems a wee bit important part of the story.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Good thing this wont affect rich Democrats like Kerry 😉

The problem isn't rich people who are happy to pay a fair share - the Bill Gates, the Warren Buffets, the John Kerrys.

You confuse being wealthy with supporting policies that are too much in favor of the very wealthy.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

It's what I said - a loophole for those items purchased by the wealthy giving them a way to avoid paying sales tax to the state of CA.

It's not unlike what Schwarzeneggar himself did when he bought a plane - the millions involved made it an easy choice to arrange for purchase in Nevada to avoid CA sales tax.

It's a law written specifically to benefit the very wealthy with just enough cover for them to rationalize it as TLC predictably tries to do.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

It's what I said - a loophole for those items purchased by the wealthy giving them a way to avoid paying sales tax to the state of CA.

It's not unlike what Schwarzeneggar himself did when he bought a plane - the millions involved made it an easy choice to arrange for purchase in Nevada to avoid CA sales tax.

It's a law written specifically to benefit the very wealthy with just enough cover for them to rationalize it as TLC predictably tries to do.

So if you had a way to save $$$ on purchases would you do it? If its legal? Or are you going to play the martyr and say you wouldnt?

"Thats great Mr Chevy dealer I can buy this tax free. But, if you dont mind, Id rather pay my $2000 in sales tax."

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

From my reading of the story that is not correct. It appears that the purchases are being made in state, but the yacht owners are arranging to take posession of the ship out of state.

Why else would the Republicans be justifying their 'no' votes by saying that closing this loophole would push luxury item purchasers out of state? I sincerely doubt they are arguing that people are going to pack up and move out of California because they can't get a tax break on their yacht.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

It's what I said - a loophole for those items purchased by the wealthy giving them a way to avoid paying sales tax to the state of CA.

It's not unlike what Schwarzeneggar himself did when he bought a plane - the millions involved made it an easy choice to arrange for purchase in Nevada to avoid CA sales tax.

It's a law written specifically to benefit the very wealthy with just enough cover for them to rationalize it as TLC predictably tries to do.

So if you had a way to save $$$ on purchases would you do it? If its legal? Or are you going to play the martyr and say you wouldnt?

"Thats great Mr Chevy dealer I can buy this tax free. But, if you dont mind, Id rather pay my $2000 in sales tax."

Of course people are going to do it if its legal... nothing wrong with that at all. We should all avoid paying all taxes that we can. From a good governance standpoint though, this loophole should obviously be closed.

 

[blackangst1]

Is it wrong for me when I travel out of country a couple times a year I spend a couple thousand tax free?

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Is it wrong for me when I travel out of country a couple times a year I spend a couple thousand tax free?

No you don't. You may not pay U.S. taxes/duties on whatever you are purchasing, but rest assured you are still paying taxes on it.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Is it wrong for me when I travel out of country a couple times a year I spend a couple thousand tax free?

Of course not, that doesn't appear to be what this article is about though.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Arent all out of state purchases exempted from state sales tax? I'd say your post is extremely misleading.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Craig234
The Republican tactic of talking the populist talk while actually representing the very wealthy against the public interest usually works, but sometimes it's harder for them to hide.

In California, there was a bill to repeal a loophole for the wealthy, allowing them to avoid sales taxes for the purchase of yachts and similar ultra-luxury purchases.

This is at a time of a 'budget crisis' when large cuts are being made to schools and programs for the poor.

Who opposed the repeal of the loophole to let the wealthy escape paying sales tax like everyone else? Nearly all the Republicans in the Assembly (one of the two houses).

The repeal had passed the Senate (and even had some Republicans there, with Gov. Schwarzeneggar, support it), but the Republicans in the Assembly voted no or abstained.

Unfortunately, this is one of those measures that falls under misguided rules requiring a two thirds vote, and so even though democrats have a majority, Republicans blocked it.

This does expose their priorities, though, for all the rhetoric to the contrary, and should provide a clue to some who fall for that rhetoric.

Link

Yes, and the house gets to vote on their own pay raises as well. Why would anyone vote for them to pay more?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

It's what I said - a loophole for those items purchased by the wealthy giving them a way to avoid paying sales tax to the state of CA.

It's not unlike what Schwarzeneggar himself did when he bought a plane - the millions involved made it an easy choice to arrange for purchase in Nevada to avoid CA sales tax.

It's a law written specifically to benefit the very wealthy with just enough cover for them to rationalize it as TLC predictably tries to do.

Of, right. What was I thinking? I meant "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

And, of course, everyone knows that Democrats love to pay their taxes and do so with unbridled glee.

:roll:

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

Seems a wee bit important part of the story.

Not really. Not if it's that easy to get around it by simply setting up large $$$ purchases out of state. I wouldn't be surprised to find this loophole being exploited quite frequently.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Of, right. What was I thinking? I meant "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

And, of course, everyone knows that Democrats love to pay their taxes and do so with unbridled glee.

:roll:

Not making special tax breaks for yachts = communism? Interesting.

Have you re-read the article? It appears that the sales are taking place in California and yet people are taking posession of the boats outside the state in order to avoid taxes. Do you believe that this is how sales taxes are supposed to function, and do you support this?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

How about we start taxing out-of-state online purchases as well? After all the complaint by Craig here seems to be that the law is unequally applied and that the wealthy are pulling one over one everybody else.

Great, let's make it apples-to-apples in that case.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: Fern
Your link doesn't work for me. Looks like it requires a subscription.

I have a difficult time believing this is "loophole" made just for "rich" people.

I'd like to see the rest of the story (besides your sumary of it).

Fern

The rest of the story, or at least the part that was left out by the OP, is that the purchase of yachts, cars, etc. that are exempted from taxes are only for those items when purchased out of state.

It's what I said - a loophole for those items purchased by the wealthy giving them a way to avoid paying sales tax to the state of CA.

It's not unlike what Schwarzeneggar himself did when he bought a plane - the millions involved made it an easy choice to arrange for purchase in Nevada to avoid CA sales tax.

It's a law written specifically to benefit the very wealthy with just enough cover for them to rationalize it as TLC predictably tries to do.

So if you had a way to save $$$ on purchases would you do it? If its legal? Or are you going to play the martyr and say you wouldnt?

"Thats great Mr Chevy dealer I can buy this tax free. But, if you dont mind, Id rather pay my $2000 in sales tax."

Some of the responses are beginning to be nonsensical, like TLC's as usual, but to answer this response:

I want to pay my fair share of taxes, to pay for the government our society wants.

I'll consider tax consequences in my decisions; that's not the issue, the issue is that I want the tax consequences to be fair, not to give the wealthy unfair advantage.

You and many on the right don't seem to understand the idea of the 'responsible citizen' who wants a fair structure even when it means paying more themselves.

There were two versions of the recent government program to stimulate the economy; I don't mind that they picked the one that gives me zero.

I'm not going to write a check for $600 to the government just myself, but I will happily vote to pay that $600 as long as it's part of a fair tax that adds up to the billions we need.

Your and others here inability to see this issue for what it is, the wealthy using their influence to get special treatment at the expense of the public, is the problem.

They say you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, and you can lead a victim of Republican propaganda to a story showing their agenda, but not make them get it.

 

[fskimospy]

Does nobody care about the original article anymore?

I SEE NOTHING IN THE ARTICLE THAT SAYS CALIFORNIA IS ATTEMPTING TO TAX OUT OF STATE SALES WITH CALIFORNIA SALES TAX. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO TAX SALES INSIDE OF CALIFORNIA WITH CALIFORNIA SALES TAX.

If there is that information somewhere I would like someone to link it please.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Of, right. What was I thinking? I meant "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

And, of course, everyone knows that Democrats love to pay their taxes and do so with unbridled glee.

:roll:

Not making special tax breaks for yachts = communism? Interesting.

And a fine example of the irrational delusions of the right - not to mention how they inconsistently apply these absurdities, depending on the issue.

I'm just waiting for one of them to propose the only really fair tax system, the real flat tax where the total tax needed is divided by the number of citizens and each pays the same $.

So, say the budget is $2 trillion - and that it's about $10,000 for every taxpayer (they're not going to tax children, obviously, that's just crazy).

So, Bill Gates owes $10,000, you owe $10,000, the homeless guy owes $10,000, everyone owes $10,000, and anyone who doesn't pay - confiscate, imprison, whatever is needed.

Remember, anything less than that level of 'equality' is communism, TLC said so - what is unfair about treating everyone equally that way?

Edit: TLC is clearly the top troller here - try as I do to ignore his trolling, I sometimes respond to his nonsense, and the thread is not helped. Back to the topic...