Deep in the heart of Taxes

[guido911]

Boy, you'd never know it from a lot of posts on TNF.

The purpose of the estate tax is to tell people they have no say in their assets.  It also insures that family farms and small businesses get sold to a large conglomerate or broken up and dismantled. 

Quite insightful and accurate--except we don't need ALL people to pay for government services--only the rich and those selfish bastards that want to leave a legacy to their children.

As for estate tax avoidance, I always wondered if there was a spike in reported "break ins" into wealthy homes where loads of cash is stolen, sudden massive gambling losses ($10M bet and hitting on 20 while dealer stays on 19, same bet Generals over Globetrotters) or expensive illicit drug addictions near a rich persons' passing. Just sayin...

[nathanm]

The purpose of the estate tax is to tell people they have no say in their assets.  It also insures that family farms and small businesses get sold to a large conglomerate or broken up and dismantled.  

You can go yell at Thomas Jefferson (and Adam Smith, if you like) about that first bit. That second bit is actually not verifiably true. No specific instances of family farms being sold to pay estate tax have been proffered in the debate, despite all the weasel worded rhetoric. Moreover, under current law small business owners and farmers can pass up to $9 million to heirs tax free, before even examining any tax shelter opportunities.

The advanced age of that particular right wing talking point does not make it any more true. It does score highly on truthiness, though.

Guido, each fifth of the income earners pay about 17.5%, quit your whining. You may also have noted Michael's earlier thread about the rich folks not paying any tax. Or if you are going to whine, at least whine about the folks above you in the income distribution shifting most of their tax burden onto you. Or the folks who evade at least $200 billion in tax every year but go unprosecuted because the IRS' enforcement budget is so small.

[guido911]

Guido, each fifth of the income earners pay about 17.5%, quit your whining. You may also have noted Michael's earlier thread about the rich folks not paying any tax. Or if you are going to whine, at least whine about the folks above you in the income distribution shifting most of their tax burden onto you. Or the folks who evade at least $200 billion in tax every year but go unprosecuted because the IRS' enforcement budget is so small.

Who's whining? I'm not the one b!tching that those wealthier than me are not paying enough or are somehow getting over so back off. And I read RM's post of that whopping 21K not paying income tax. Oh My God. I want to know how I can avoid paying income tax so I can b!tch about it like you.

[swake]

Who's whining? I'm not the one b!tching that those wealthier than me are not paying enough or are somehow getting over so back off. And I read RM's post of that whopping 21K not paying income tax. Oh My God. I want to know how I can avoid paying income tax so I can b!tch about it like you.

You aren't b!tching? Good lord, I'd hate to see you upset over something. You complain about taxes more than anyone on here. You are like a little girl who dropped her ice cream cone the way you whine about taxes. Boo friggin hoo.

[nathanm]

Who's whining? I'm not the one b!tching that those wealthier than me are not paying enough or are somehow getting over so back off.  

You're constantly complaining about people who don't pay income tax despite the fact that if you take total tax burden into account everyone (with income) pays almost exactly the same rate. You constantly whine about wanting to raise their fscking taxes, so no, I won't back off.

I want to know how I can avoid paying income tax so I can b!tch about it like you.

It's pretty simple. Either become very, very poor, very, very rich, or a hedge fund manager. In the first case, you don't pay because you have nothing to take. In the second, you don't pay because the government showers you with tax breaks whether you ask for them or not. And if you aren't getting enough to zero out your tax burden, you can always ask for more (and likely get it). In the third you don't pay because you can wait to declare your income until whatever time you desire.

[Red Arrow]

You're constantly complaining about people who don't pay income tax despite the fact that if you take total tax burden into account everyone (with income) pays almost exactly the same rate. You constantly whine about wanting to raise their fscking taxes, so no, I won't back off.

I won't back off about you failing to recognize/admit that 7-1/2% (15% counting your employer's contribution) goes directly to making sure you don't starve to death in your old age. You fail to understand cost/benefit.

[guido911]

You aren't b!tching? Good lord, I'd hate to see you upset over something. You complain about taxes more than anyone on here. You are like a little girl who dropped her ice cream cone the way you whine about taxes. Boo friggin hoo.

F off and your "little girl" crap. Punk.

[guido911]

You're constantly complaining about people who don't pay income tax despite the fact that if you take total tax burden into account everyone (with income) pays almost exactly the same rate. You constantly whine about wanting to raise their fscking taxes, so no, I won't back off.

It's pretty simple. Either become very, very poor, very, very rich, or a hedge fund manager. In the first case, you don't pay because you have nothing to take. In the second, you don't pay because the government showers you with tax breaks whether you ask for them or not. And if you aren't getting enough to zero out your tax burden, you can always ask for more (and likely get it). In the third you don't pay because you can wait to declare your income until whatever time you desire.

I was very very very poor once. I lived in a 350 sq. ft apt with my wife while we worked our @sses off through undergrad and grad school--after our military hitches were over. During all those years (from 93-99), we had nothing. But we NEVER demanded someone with more than us owed us anything or that they should pay more in taxes. Perhaps back then, instead of envying them we became inspired.

[nathanm]

I was very very very poor once. I lived in a 350 sq. ft apt with my wife while we worked our @sses off through undergrad and grad school--after our military hitches were over. During all those years (from 93-99), we had nothing. But we NEVER demanded someone with more than us owed us anything or that they should pay more in taxes. Perhaps back then, instead of envying them we became inspired.

Between 93 and 99 the federal budget deficit was shrinking with surpluses forecast. There was no need to raise taxes on anyone. That is clearly not the case at the present time, largely, but by no means completely, due to tax cuts made since then. Combine that $400 billion a year with the $100 billion a year we're spending on Part D and a few hundred billion more for Homeland Security and the wars and somehow you've pretty much accounted for most of the deficit. So the question becomes what do we do about it?

Which programs do you want to cut? Are you OK with the sequestration plan written into current law?

[swake]

F off and your "little girl" crap. Punk.

See, just like a little girl.

[Hoss]

See, just like a little girl.

Master of the 'ad hominem'.  He never fails to disappoint.