Flat Tax and Tithing

[Stoked]

I agree with the general themes of what PKM and Green are saying. There is enough revenue. Sending is out of control. It is managed horrendously and waste is obscene.

 

[jimmy eat jazz]

SPENDING IS TOO HIGH.

Tax hikes DO NOTHING.

Until politicians (on both sides) are ready to make REAL, LARGE CUTS, then we are all just wasting our breath.

Spending is probably too high.

Tax hikes don't do nothing, they increase the revenue stream coming into the federal government. That's a lot more than nothing. Deficits are products of both revenue and spending. That's an accounting fact. I disagree 100% that only spending matters. That to me is indicative more of ideology than sound, reasoned thinking.

I personally think that the gloom and doom over govn't spending/deficits is grossly overstated. The current situation does not, in my opinion, warrant European like austerity cuts. Recent economic data is showing that the deficit is coming down to much more reasonably levels due in large measure to increased revenue resulting from improved economy and tax increases. IMHO, the most important thing we can do to keep deficits reasonable is to get the economy growing again--and draconian budget cuts will probably tend to do the opposite.

While the US may not want to emulate Europe in terms of welfare state apparatus (common conservative talking point that I agree with to a point), nor do we want (I think) to emulate Europe in terms of austerity. There's a more balanced approach to tackle deficits that includes revenue enhancements, reasonable spending cuts, and policies that promote economic growth (and no I'm not referring to yet more reductions in upper marginal tax rates).

 

[One Brow]

Did you know that if you work in Philadelphia, but live outside of the city limits, there is an additional tax you have to pay?

I've had to pay income tax to a city where I worked, and then since where I lived had a higher income tax, I needed to get the difference paid as well. Is that what you mean? Are you saying residents get a break on their income tax (since they pay property taxes, I can see that)?

 

[One Brow]

2 wars - Obama took us from 2 to 4.

Where are those troops located? How many Americans died in those 2 you say Obama got us into?

 

[One Brow]

I love how every whines about healthcare and regulation, passes Obamacare then whines some more when healthcare costs go up.

That's what happens when you pass a conservatives's healthcare plan.

Did you guys know that it is ok for Health Insurance companies to get together, decide what they will pay for/not pay for, then release similar plans, so we are stuck with the crap they give us?

It's not that hard to get a copy of another company's plan, even if you are not cooperating.

Did you also know that if all the doctors banded together and decided to drop those plans from their Provider lists, they would be committing felonies?

Details?

 

[Stoked]

Where are those troops located? How many Americans died in those 2 you say Obama got us into?

Personally I see it all as 1 war. Just different theaters of battle. The actions in Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa... all tie together.

 

[franklin]

Bernanke is scheduled to buy back twice as much new debt as we'll issue this year. The Federal deficit has already been going down while revenues are coming back up toward more normal levels. Spending cuts are in the pipeline and other programs set to expire. The debt problem has been largely addressed.



And One Brow, don't forget that Bill Clinton paved the way into Iraq.

 

[One Brow]

And One Brow, don't forget that Bill Clinton paved the way into Iraq.

Well, sometimes it's just not enough to bomb the heck out of Europeans; you gotta find some brown people to beat up as well.

 

[Stoked]

Bernanke is scheduled to buy back twice as much new debt as we'll issue this year. The Federal deficit has already been going down while revenues are coming back up toward more normal levels. Spending cuts are in the pipeline and other programs set to expire. The debt problem has been largely addressed.



And One Brow, don't forget that Bill Clinton paved the way into Iraq.

To me the debt is only a symptom of reckless and irresponsible government spending. That is the problem in my book.

 

[green]

I've had to pay income tax to a city where I worked, and then since where I lived had a higher income tax, I needed to get the difference paid as well. Is that what you mean? Are you saying residents get a break on their income tax (since they pay property taxes, I can see that)?

https://www.phila.gov/Revenue/businesses/taxes/Pages/WageTax.aspx

It's a tax Philly has passed for the privilege of using Philadelphia.

 

[green]

That's what happens when you pass a conservatives's healthcare plan.



It's not that hard to get a copy of another company's plan, even if you are not cooperating.



Details?

For example, Delta Dental, TDA, Dental Select and a few other dental insurance companies got together and decided that they were going to set the market prices for dental services in Washington State. They all had the same crown fees, filling fees, exam fees, etc, and they all dropped their prices together. Perfectly legal.

So, the dentists of Washington all got together and decided that they would all drop Delta Dental (Delta used to pay out the highest, but had the most hoops to jump through. Why jump through the extra hoops if the other 5 all pay the same, right?). Delta caught wind of this and sent out letters saying that if they dropped, they would go after them for anti-trust laws.

This is just one example where laws have completely screwed over the common man. Insurance companies can reduce their payouts, increase their fees, and profit out the yin-yang, and it all perfectly legal because anti-trust laws don't apply to them.

Fix the anti-trust laws (don't make anyone exempt, specifically unions and insurance companies and you would fix a LOT of healthcare problems. And probably actually get decent cable/satellite/internet tv service.

 

[MoreFeasts]

Insurance companies ... ... anti-trust laws don't apply to them.

I did not know that.