What's your opinion of taxation in general?

[Locut0s]

Simple poll which side of the line do you fall on. Yes it's oversimplified but it's intentionally so, just pick the one you are closest too.

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My own view is that taxation has been turned into a sacrilegious term by those on the right. No one likes paying taxes but used properly they can help to fund many a good program. If we take a look at the top 10 highest taxes nations on earth in terms of personal income:

http://www.nationmaster.com/gr...ax-wedge-single-worker

We don't exactly see a list of the worst countries to live in.

Most of the countries BELLOW the US on the list still manage to have universal health care.

 

[winnar111]

Half the country essentially doesn't pay income tax. It's gotten out of control.

 

[Moonbeam]

I love taxes. I think of them as charity and my heart fills with joy.

 

[shira]

The OP's choices for this poll are confusing. I have no idea what is being asked. I think each choice is half right and half wrong. The choices are not opposites, so I can't choose between them.

Hint: If one choice includes, "funds some of societies needs," then if there are only two choices, the other choice should include, "funds none of societies needs" or "funds all of societies needs."

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: shira
The OP's choices for this poll are confusing. I have no idea what is being asked. I think each choice is half right and half wrong. The choices are not opposites, so I can't choose between them.

Hint: If one choice includes, "funds some of societies needs," then if there are only two choices, the other choice should include, "funds none of societies needs" or "funds all of societies needs."

I was trying to make the poll question as unbiased as I could. Basically the top one is funds all of societies needs and the bottom choice is funds none of societies needs but again that sounds biased, they are worded more like how each side would word their own choice.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I love taxes. I think of them as charity and my heart fills with joy.

only in the mind of a leftist are taxes - "charity".

 

[brad310]

I think we'd be alot better off if they disbanded the IRS and just made everyone pay a flat tax % of income. No loopholes. Just a flat tax. It is the most fair thing that can be done. I cant believe nobody is pushing it harder.

 

[ProfJohn]

As others have said your poll is messed up.

No one is suggesting we get rid of all taxes.

Perhaps a better poll would be:
Do you favor more taxes and more government programs
or
Less taxes and less government programs.

 

[Drakkon]

Taxes make sense for funding an army, police and other emergency services, roads/infrastructure, and utilities. Beyond those its tough to see why money has to go to programs that don't fall under those umbrellas and the market couldn't handle them.

 

[Dissipate]

All taxation is extortion. Everyone in the tax collection agencies should be in prison.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I love taxes. I think of them as charity and my heart fills with joy.

only in the mind of a leftist are taxes - "charity".

They must be good because I was commanded to render them unto Caesar and the guy giving the order was top notch. Of course I don't expect you to be enthusiastic like I am. You're in the pocket of our nemesis.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
No one is suggesting we get rid of all taxes.

Excuse me but you are wrong because that is precisely what I am suggesting.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Dont like it, but seem it as some thing that is necessary.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
All taxation is extortion. Everyone in the tax collection agencies should be in prison.

Extremist statements seem like they should be backed up by some kind of argument, as that statement makes absolutely no fucking sense to me.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
As others have said your poll is messed up.

No one is suggesting we get rid of all taxes.

Perhaps a better poll would be:
Do you favor more taxes and more government programs
or
Less taxes and less government programs.

As GWB and the pre-2006 Republican Congress proved, those obviously aren't the only two options. One other one that they practiced a lot would be less taxes and MORE government programs.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Taxes make sense for funding an army, police and other emergency services, roads/infrastructure, and utilities. Beyond those its tough to see why money has to go to programs that don't fall under those umbrellas and the market couldn't handle them.

Well that's the big question, just what can "the market" handle. It's not a magical unicorn, there are a lot of things I'm not sure we're better off leaving to the invisible hand to keep running smoothly.

 

[wirelessenabled]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
As others have said your poll is messed up.

No one is suggesting we get rid of all taxes.

Perhaps a better poll would be:
Do you favor more taxes and more government programs
or
Less taxes and less government programs.

So what of Shrub's $400 billion per year overspending would you want to get rid of?

Not as simple as you make it out.

Is Iraq a "government program"?

How about the $70 billion for veterans affairs?

$30 billion in earmarks?

$50+ billion farm welfare program?

Kneejerk generalities are one thing, how about some specifics?

 

[ProfJohn]

Wireless, the key is to control spending.

We didn't 'cut' spending in the 90s to reach a balanced budget, we controlled the increase in spending.

If Bush had controlled spending we could have rebalanced the budget by now, instead him and congress went wild.
With the Democrats in charge I expect things to get even worse.

 

[SigArms08a]

According to that list in the OP weblink, we're only taxed at 30%? That's incredibly inaccurate when you factor in all of the taxes that we end up paying. Wages are taxed, taxed on many of the consumer goods purchased, license&plates, costs rolled up into the goods bought (gas), etc.....list goes on and on.

Taxes are necessary, but the careless spending gov't inefficiencies requires tax levels that seem too high.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Wireless, the key is to control spending.

We didn't 'cut' spending in the 90s to reach a balanced budget, we controlled the increase in spending.

If Bush had controlled spending we could have rebalanced the budget by now, instead him and congress went wild.
With the Democrats in charge I expect things to get even worse.

Why would you expect that? In your example of the 90's, a Democrat was in the white house.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: ebaycj

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Wireless, the key is to control spending.

We didn't 'cut' spending in the 90s to reach a balanced budget, we controlled the increase in spending.

If Bush had controlled spending we could have rebalanced the budget by now, instead him and congress went wild.
With the Democrats in charge I expect things to get even worse.

Why would you expect that? In your example of the 90's, a Democrat was in the white house.

Which probably had something to do with Newt Gingrich and the ?Contract with America? takeover of Congress in 1994, which forced Clinton to yield to conservatives.

Takes a very special person to suggest socialists would control spending, as you seem to suggest.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: ebaycj

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Wireless, the key is to control spending.

We didn't 'cut' spending in the 90s to reach a balanced budget, we controlled the increase in spending.

If Bush had controlled spending we could have rebalanced the budget by now, instead him and congress went wild.
With the Democrats in charge I expect things to get even worse.

Why would you expect that? In your example of the 90's, a Democrat was in the white house.

Which probably had something to do with Newt Gingrich and the ?Contract with America? takeover of Congress in 1994, which forced Clinton to yield to conservatives.

Takes a very special person to suggest socialists would control spending, as you seem to suggest.

The heavy lifting on containing spending was done by the Democrats before the Reps took over the Congress. After Newt took over, we had stalemate and stupidity. It takes a fool to think Clinton was a socialist.

 

[Jaskalas]

This is in the context of electing Obama, is it not?

He?s going to give you every socialist program ever conceived, and yet you?ll claim to control spending. Rather marvelous, where is your money tree, in your back yard? Better go shake it some more, we?re going to need some.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: winnar111
Half the country essentially doesn't pay income tax. It's gotten out of control.

:roll: Everyone in this country pays taxes unless they're living like the Unabomber (both in a remote cabin or in prison).

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I love taxes. I think of them as charity and my heart fills with joy.

Except they're not charity. The best and truest analogy for taxation IMO is that it is the "house's cut." If you want to do business, then you have to pay the house.

Originally posted by: Dissipate
All taxation is extortion. Everyone in the tax collection agencies should be in prison.

TANSTAAFL

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
This is in the context of electing Obama, is it not?

He?s going to give you every socialist program ever conceived, and yet you?ll claim to control spending. Rather marvelous, where is your money tree, in your back yard? Better go shake it some more, we?re going to need some.

No he won't. Bush and the Republicans have already spent any money Obama could possibly dream of spending. Obama will be mopping up after the Republican fiscal disaster and that will likely consume his entire time in office.